Male wolf from Wenaha pack was fitted with a radio collar on Aug. 4, 2010. ODFW photo.
For the first time, wildlife officials have captured one of the wolves in the Wenaha pack in Northeast Oregon.
The two year old male was caught on Wednesday, outfitted with a tracking collar, and released.
It’s a big deal for Oregon Fish and Wildlife. That’s because it will now be a whole lot easier for the agency to monitor the pack and learn more about how well the wolves are doing.
There’s a lot wildlife officials don’t know about this pack. While they’ve counted at least four members, there could be more. The pack could also have produced some pups this spring, but we don’t have any evidence of that. Now that this male is wearing a tracking collar, ODFW hopes to start answering some of those questions.
Russ Morgan, ODFW, and Allison Field, OSU student, evaluating captured wolf. ODFW photo.
“This is an important milestone in monitoring the Wenaha pack,” says Russ Morgan, ODFW Wolf Coordinator. “Now, we will be able to determine specific use areas of this pack, pack numbers and pup production.”
The capture of the wolf was a collaborative effort between ODFW, Umatilla National Forest and the Pacific Northwest Region of the US Forest Service. The 97-pound wolf was in good condition.
Oregon’s other pack, the Imnaha pack in Wallowa County, could have as many as 14 members. The alpha female, an adult, and four pups were caught on camera this summer rollicking through a field. The fate of the alpha male is unknown. His tracking collar went silent May 31.
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