Sawtooth Legacy Qtly - Winter 2014

ED Letter

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WINTER 2014 Featuring: A Howling Year in Review (pg 8) • The Future of the Lobo (pg 12) Summer Celebration (pg 30) • Sawtooth Legacy Films (pg 32) • Ask the Biologist (pg 34) • Wolf Behavior 101 (pg 38) • And much more...

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Winter 2014 Table of Contents

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1 Letter from the President 3 What is WERC Howling About?

4 Meet the Team 8 A Howling Year in Review 11 Funding Discussion 12 The Future of the Lobo 21 Another Year at Wolf Camp 26 Like us on Facebook 27 Intern Experience 2014 29 Adoptions 30 Summer Celebration 32 Sawtooth Legacy Films 34 Ask the Biologist 38 Wolf Behavior 101 42 Dates to Remember 44 Area Attractions 45 Fun Facts about Winchester, ID.

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The Sawtooth Legacy is a publication of the Wolf Education & Research Center (WERC). The purpose of the magazine is to provide interesting and engaging information to children and adults about the gray wolf species that promotes a broader understanding of wolves, wolf recovery, their place in healthy ecosystems, and the state and federal policies that impact their survival. Â

Board of Directors

Sharon Lander, Treasurer Danielle Hawthorne, Secretary Jamie Burch, Board Member Dennis Olson, Board Member

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WERC Staff

Chris Anderson, Staff & Board President Jeremy Heft, Sanctuary Manager/Biologist Jessica Collins, Assistant to the Biologist Lori Prichard, Gift Services /Reservations Steve Urke, Program and Logistics Alan Lacy, Mexican Gray Wolf Education

Dear Friends,

It’s never a challenge to be proud of our staff...

It’s always exciting at Wolf Camp. Our activities are so diverse, it can be a challenge. However, it’s never a challenge to be proud of our staff who reach out to visitors and new WERC fans -- all while caring for the Owyhee Pack. In 2014 our summer operations met a recent record of 3,500 people. Venues at local and regional state parks also contribute to the steady flow of guests eager to see a wolf.

Our modest team operated with recordhigh motivation to help people comprehend complex issues and discover their possible roles in the solutions. This summer’s interns were especially motivated and we continue to learn about making the most impact with our Intern Experience program.

Over the past few years, it has been exciting to work to attract a core team that can help me address the coming needs of this community. While some of us represent the veteran perspective, the newcomers have brought a fresh enthusiasm and new eyes to this project. I’ll introduce you to some of these folks a little later in this publication.

In this issue, you’ll be re-introduced to Jeremy Heft, our seasoned Biologist and Site Manager. You’ll meet Jessica Collins, an assistant to the biologist and “jill” of all trades.

Her help has far exceeded the call of the wild. You’ll also be introduced to Lori Prichard who, as the person in charge of Gift Services and Reservations, has made herself indispensable by helping our organization express our gratitude to each of you. Lori is the one who makes sure you receive some of the fun items we promote. As of this week, you’ll have an opportunity to meet Steve Urke, an avid canine lover who will put his logistics and inventory management systems skills to work and help us create a viable revenue stream through merchandise sales.

Each of these people brings an important perspective and talent to this program. With each passing season, we SL - WINTER 2014 1

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President’s Letter

learn more about helping the public understand complex issues and why we should all be invested in the outcomes. But, we also learn more about the importance of our own survival during a time of tough competition for resources.

While we focus on the practical function of caring for the Owyhee Pack and the facility management, I clearly realize that a future in advocacy for top predators requires that we address some of the changing media and trends that exists today.

The most obvious accomplishment over the past year was the completion of Sawtooth Legacy Films’ first installment of The Great Wolf Divide: A Predator’s Dilemma. It was my goal to pay tribute to the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce and their dedicated supporters, many of whom have supported this outreach since the very beginning. One supporter has not missed a monthly $10 installment in 18 years.

Remarkable! I hope you “old-timers” feel the love and appreciation we hoped to convey in the video. If you haven’t already watched it, please do so soon. It’s earning us new friends.

Beyond paying respect to the elder eight and the pups, we wanted to explore the divided attitudes toward this species throughout the West and around the world. As we continue to speak with people around the globe, we find many cultures have faced this same dilemma. While the video states it is a predator’s dilemma, it is clearly a human dilemma.

For this reason, our team agreed that bringing back Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly (SLQ) was necessary, as a valuable tool of education and understanding. I’m especially inspired by this publication as it profiles the breadth of our work. This particular issue shows you our growth as an organization -- growth I’ve been blessed to achieve with our team’s hard work and your continued confidence.

I’m so proud of this team’s dedication and sacrifice. You all inspire me to work harder for my team, our animals, and each and every one of you who support us.

Thank you for making our “WERC” possible.

Warm Regards, Chris Anderson, President Connect with us at Facebook.com/WolfCenter, Facebook.com/SawtoothLegacy, Facebook.com/OwyheePack, or personally at LinkedIn.com/in/ccanderson.

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What is WERC Howling About?

We at the Wolf Education & Research Center, are howling about some very exciting developments!

Many of them, such as the creation of Sawtooth Legacy Films, the bring-ba ck of this Quarterly, and our ongoing soci al media success (310,000 followers at last count) are the most obvious. But som e less obvious and possibly more profound howls : ea Ar film, Gray n Adoption of the include the t es Wolves of the Southw following: Wolf Recovery n Southwest Gray Outreach and Education

ional Upcoming events in reg eat Wolf cities premiering The Gr Divide and n Increased interest Cascades the of developments er nt Ce r Apex Predato rchandise n Adoption of a me development plan and management

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ld Return of the RadioWi on m gra pro Blogtalkradio the d an y Da Thanksgiving nth first Monday of each mo thereafter

2015 Summer Ce lebration featuring documen tary presently in development tit led “The Great Predator Debate ” n An ev er-expanding web site featuring videos and educat ional material n Wild Artists Guild core leadership team emerging an d planning February 2015 Ki ck-off Gala with premier of The Gr eat Wolf Divide n E xciti ng new adoption choices with the ability to spon sor schools and individuals n

Planning for the ABCs: Advocate Boot Camps

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It’s an exciting time to be a Wolf Camp Supporter! this year?

What will you choose to engage in SL - winter 2014 3

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Meet the Team

Meet the Team 2015 WERC is excited to introduce you to our team of long-time staff members, dedicated advocates, and selfless volunteers. Get to know these key players of the organization through these brief bios. Join us in recognizing these few key individuals for their long-term efforts that make our organization work.

Chris Anderson WERC President

Chris Anderson

Order your 2015-16 calendar by visiting wolfcenter.org today!

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My name is Chris Anderson. Beginning in 2006, I served as Consultant to the WERC Board of Directors and Executive Director. I began running the organization as President in 2011. Previous to 2005, besides my children taking me to a Washington wolf sanctuary for Father’s Day, I had no previous exposure or thoughts about wolves. Like many people, I found them to be mysterious and beautiful, but I had many subtle and conflicting thoughts concerning them. I saw them as dangerous and to be feared by humans and their tasty prey.

Dialoguing about wolves and top predators consumes me and has to be one of the most satisfying activities I engage in. If I weren’t educating the public about wolves, I probably would be spending a lot of time at the WSU Raptor Club learning about the rehabilitation of raptors.

Birds of prey fascinate me for many of the same reasons that wolves do.

If I could communicate one message to our supporters, it would be this reality: the world is watching and depending on us to get these issues and attitudes right. The precedent we set impacts many cultures who respect, study and mimic our actions. Our vigilance and resolve must be steady and, while respectful to other opinions (or more commonly--no opinions) we must be free of judgement and be inspiring so that we ignite the passion in others for the benefit of all creatures without a voice, both human and otherwise.

Meet the Team

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Jeremy Heft Biologist/Sanctuary Manager I am the Biologist and Wolf Camp Director for the Wolf Education and Research Center. I have been with WERC for the past 17 years, beginning my tenure as an intern in 1997.

I later assumed full management responsibilities of the Sawtooth Pack in 1998. I have lived in Wolf Camp during this entire tenure in a rustic cabin without electricity or plumbing in order to be near the captive packs for constant monitoring of their health and security.

I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Biology from Kutztown State University, in my home state of Pennsylvania. My fascination with wolves began as a teenager, and I have been studying all aspects of wolves since. I am particularly interested in the complex social structure of wolf packs. In addition to wolves, I enjoy studying large predators and their interactions with humans. Being a former marine biologist, I am very much a beach bum at heart.

The most rewarding aspect of working for WERC is the relationship I maintained with the individuals of the Sawtooth Pack. Each wolf was unique, and the feeling of being accepted into each of their lives as their “alphahuman” has been a spiritual experience.

Jeremy Heft

Jessica Collins Assistant Biologist I am the Assistant Biologist at WERC. I originally started at WERC in 2005 as an intern. After my internship I went back to Arkansas Tech University and graduated with a Bachelors in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. I returned to volunteer in March of 2012 then returned for good in December of 2012. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to work with wolves. When I was little and teachers would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said I wanted to play with wolves.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is daily interactions with the wolves and seeing how they interact with each other. Also, I enjoy talking to people about wolves and being able to see the change in people when they look at wolves in a new light. If I wasn’t able to work with wolves then I would enjoy working with other large carnivores. I like to study the social interactions of large

Jessica Collins

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Meet the Team

Jessica Collins, cont. carnivores, both con-specific and between carnivores and their prey animals.

For those that support everyone and the animals here at WERC I would like to say thank you. Without your support I wouldn’t have a chance to do something that I love and have always wanted to do with my life.

Lori Pritchard Gift Services/Reservations

Lori Pritchard

My name is Lori Prichard and I’ve been fortunate enough to be friends with WERC for more than three years.

My passion for wolves began when our family visited a Southern California wolf sanctuary over 15 years ago.

My children’s (and my husband’s) deep fascination and admiration was contagious and we have been avid wolf enthusiasts ever since. From a young age, I have been a wild animal lover but wolves have found a special place in my heart.

I’ve been blessed with many rewarding experiences over the years, I will never get tired of hearing back from supporters who have had the opportunity to visit Wolf Camp. Their experiences are all unique and with excitement in their voices, they tell how they locked eyes with Kuckuc, or how they could hear them howling driving up to Camp.

I am so grateful for the generous supporters and hope each and every one could make a trip to Wolf Camp. The Owyhee Pack is waiting for you!

Alan Lacy Mexican Gray Wolf Education

Alan Lacy

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Hello, I’m Alan Lacy. Over the past 3 years I have been making a film on the Mexican gray wolf and have joined forces with the Wolf Education and Research Center this summer. I have had a passion for wildlife as long as I can remember, and have been fascinated with large predators in particular. I’ve been a volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Arizona and have worked closely with bears, mountain lions, and, most importantly, wolves.

I believe in the importance of educating people on the facts about wolves and other large predators. This is what

Meet the Team

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I find the most rewarding in working towards the goals and mission of WERC. I find it extremely rewarding when the work you have done inspires someone else to take action and get involved. I have learned a lot about wolves, however, I’ve learned more about how you can make a difference by putting words into action and believing in yourself.

For anyone who supports our mission, I want to thank you, but I also want to challenge you. I want to challenge you to consider making a difference towards a better future. Not just for wolves, but for all species: us included.

No matter how small or large the impact is, it is important! Inspire someone else to get involved in some capacity! What greater legacy could you ask for?

Steve Urke Program and Logistics My name is Steve Urke and I am a friend of WERC through my long-term friendship with President Chris Anderson. He has persuaded me to ‘walk my talk’ in supporting wolf conservation, and I have gladly joined the effort in a consultative role.

My passion for wolves truly started with a tremble (bordering on fear) when, as a small child, I would ask my mother to play our copy of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’ LP record on our RCA phonograph. Usually this was late at night when I couldn’t sleep, so listening to this work in the dark while being rocked in her lap, was the only place I could feel safe enough to listen. If you’ve ever heard it, then you know that the composer did a brilliant job of matching the sound of an orchestral instrument to each animal character in the story. If she would’ve let me, I would replay it again and again until finally I would wear out, be put back to bed, and dream that I was Peter and reenact the whole story, dramatic soundtrack included!

Since that time my initial fear of wolves has matured into a healthy respect, which I hope will continue to deepen in my new role. I am anticipating meeting our wolves at WERC and getting to meet the Owyhee Pack in person!

Steve Urke

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A Howling Year in Review It’s been an exciting and instructive year to look back on, here at the Wolf Edu-

cation & Research Center. Had anyone told me we’d release foxes into the twenty-acre enclosure in the fall of 2014, I’d have chuckled.

Of course, I’d have chuckled with the possibilities. Really? Let’s do it! And many visitors excitedly looked through binoculars to see our new residents.

That’s how the year went, though. It was full of interesting new projects unfolding alongside our longer-term and regular activities. Here’s a summary of some of WERC’s activities. I’ll also share new areas of opportunity that we are experiencing and considering.

Earlier in the fall, the Wolf Education & Research Center’s team gathered to identify and state a clear mission and vision for the Wolf Education & Research Center.

Already, crafting these couple paragraphs has steered the team with more clarity in our day-to-day activities.

A good mission statement will become a filter of our priorities.

WERC’s mission is to provide the highest quality captive animal care and education possible and to inspire greater public tolerance and stewardship toward apex SL - winter 2014

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predators. We engage the public to support sustainable relationships with nature to become a social norm.

Our vision is a growing community which works toward a more sustainable relationship with nature. This is achieved through captive animal care, regional interpretive programs, and ongoing development of contemporary media. We partner with diverse cultures and traditions to build a united and stronger future for all species.

It is interesting how someone recently described the Wolf Center to me, following a conversation about other similar sanctuaries. He described several other organizations as insular. Their activities were

WhatCA lookin’ at?

A Howling Year in Review

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the Owyhee Pack with the dedication of a parent. A good parent, that is.

Together Jeremy and Jessica keep the property buttoned up and their work is the core of our purpose. With the help of our summer interns, a smattering of volunteers and one multi-tasking assistant, Jeremy, as our staff biologist and sanctuary manager, is one of the most respected in the business. Additionally, Jeremy’s continued, excellent care for our wolves, The Owyhee Pack, has earned him admiration from supporters and respect from his peers in biology and beyond. The four remaining wolves thrive under his high standards of care. focused on bringing people to them. WERC,

Our onsite summer visitation and travsimilarly, does that, but with an added obeling outreach level was as high as it’s been jective of directing others toward other in recent years, reaching more than 3,400 groups at the same time. And he’s right. guests.

Partnerships with regional parks We work hard to suggest that our friends and educational facilities proved again that for wolves visit any sanctuary to deepen our work in Idaho is far from their understanding of why over.

Interestingly enough, top predators are critical A good mission this was one of Jeremy’s to protect. It’s truly about commentaries in the docucreating community and, statement will mentary The Great Wolf sometimes, that happens become a filter of Divide. It’s true. Our work, to the benefit of our peers. while an uphill climb, is far When we began 2014, our priorities. from over and not withwe did so with one fullout momentum. Consider time staff member assisted this: We accomplish this terrific result in by another. Jeremy Heft has taken responsibility for caring for 300 acres since 1998. the heart of hostile and anti-wolf territory.

While one would assume that his work got While we have many friends locally, it’s safe lighter with the emptying of the enclo- to assume that largely, Idahoans are not sure that was home to the Sawtooth Pack: excited about our presence. This is part of Wolves of the Nez Perce, it just doesn’t what makes our accomplishment so prowork that way. Thankfully, Jeremy has found. some backup in Jessica Collins who helps We rang in 2014 by planning for two with the enclosure walks, fallen tree main- major projects, followed by the re-introtenance, driveways that need graveling, duction of a third. Early on, WERC leaderfence lines that need mending, and a yurt ship adopted a project titled Sawtooth that needs a decking and a roof. There is Legacy Films, an enterprise to build inconstant repair work to the Visitor’s Center terest on the subject of wolves and other -- too much to describe briefly. Jeremy and predators while revealing some of the chalJessica do all this -- in addition to caring for lenges that the public perceives. My initial SL - winter 2014 9

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A Howling Year in Review

Visitors learn about wolves under the attentive eye of Jeremy (Upper left). Providing accurate information to a curious public is a large part of our mission.

interest was to pay homage to the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce and their faithful supporters, many of whom have migrated their support over to the Owyhee Pack with much enthusiasm.

The outcome of that video has been remarkably positive and the public response has affirmed our follow-up efforts (described later in this quarterly). It is clear that Sawtooth Legacy Films is exciting our base. It’s fascinating and encouraging to witness the level of interest from the film and production community, best depicted by the addition of Alan Lacy to our team.

Alan’s work with The Last Pack, in the form of his important film Gray Area, has been a great adoption by WERC. His contributions to our audience are very significant.

It should be noted that, with Alan’s help, WERC is bringing back our BlogTalkRadio show titled RadioWild, a 30-minute monthly discussion about conservation and enterprise. Our leadership does not think that those two pursuits are mutually SL - winter 2014 10

exclusive. We will be engaging with guests ranging from our own team members to leaders in industry who practice predatorfriendly production to public figures who can share their experiences with our public.

We introduced RadioWild on Thanksgiving Day 2014 and the first Monday of December, but you can catch it via our website.

Look for the RadioWild icon to find past episodes. It’s a great way to introduce others to your passion for our work.

Another developing project includes exploring the feasibility of an Apex Predator Park that focuses on four iconic species.

The concept includes providing regional transitional rehabilitation and residency to animals who require care or observation, including animal husbandry for endangered or threatened species. Every regional rehabilitation center is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of opportunity from a caring public.

Our short list includes raptors, cats, bears, and wolves from the Pacific Northwest whose presence often creates polarizing debates among their human neighbors. The objective of this exploration is to determine if we can secure property, build a world class exhibit, add other attractions and revenues from art exhibits, merchandise sales, an event venue, and

A Howling Year in Review

even a retreat center for travelers while continuing our legacy of captive and transitional animal care. All this in the context of exposing a curious public to these iconic species while revealing our earliest human history of hunting, where we emulated our competition to modern hunting, where we often eliminate our competition.

Our hope is that this park will locate within 45 minutes of a major northwest city, such as Portland, Oregon, and in a center of tourism where sales and memberships will lighten the burden of a generous donation effort. The timeline for this project is essentially the life of the Owyhee Pack. As they leave their home in death, we hope to emerge on the other side with a solid plan for a more impactful future.

Finally, among the projects WERC is restoring to our lineup, there is the Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly. Stretched resources required the suspension of it a couple years ago. After three years of leveraging social

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media, gaining anchor supporters who fund about 15% of our budget, introducing better communications, and even suspending my own position and working as a volunteer to keep the WERC legacy alive, I’m excited to say that the efforts worked.

The fact you’re holding this important production in your hand is a testament of your faithfulness and our team’s vigilance and determination. I’m very proud of this issue and, in it, you’ll meet our growing team.

Going forward, our team will continue to work hard to motivate the public through any means possible. Whether it is through documentaries, magazines, social media, or our favorite --- getting face to face with an actual wolf, we are excited about the future of WERC. We are committed, as your ambassadors to our shared mission, to providing the highest quality captive animal care and education possible and inspiring greater public tolerance and stewardship toward apex predators.

FUNDING DISCUSSION Below is a projection of WERC’s fundraising and sales goals. We receive about 92% of our funding from private donations, matching gifts, and bequests. Our objective is to increase the sales of DVDS, t-shirts and other merchandise. To that end, we have enlisted the parttime help of an inventory specialist. 2014 brought a net addition of 314 donors (about a 10% increase). New merchandising efforts will help us capitalize our steadily-expanding donor base.

PROJECTED 2015 BUDGET: $164,600 Payroll............................................ $108,000 Intern Experience...........................$4,800 Insurances..........................................$7,800 Wolf Care Plan............................... $12,000 Internet, Phones, & Utilities........$6,000 New Media & Outreach (SLQ, Mailings, DVD).........................$22,000

Graphic Design & Layout.............$4,000

REVENUE STREAMS IN 2015 TO RAISE $164,600

Subscriptions, Merchandise & Promotions...........................$24,300 Donations & Wolf Adoptions..................$140,300

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ED Letter

Article - Future of the Lobo

The Future

by Alan P. Lacy SW Wolf Recovery Outreach

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As the Mexican wolf continues towards its recovery,

its future remains in the balance between man and nature.

At the end of 2013, eighty-three wild-born Mexican wolves roamed the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) of Arizona and New Mexico. The BRWRA is an area nearly twice the size of Yellowstone National Park, comprising roughly 4.4 million acres of forest, grasslands, and meadows. The wolves share this landscape with a variety of human activities such as hunting, camping, ranching, farming, and hiking, as nearly all of this area is on public land. Currently wolves are restricted to remain inside the boundaries of the BRWRA, which means as the number of wolves increases, so do the number of human and wolf conflicts. Recent proposals by the US Fish and Wildlife Service may offer a temporary reprieve from the current situation however.

ED Letter

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Research has produced some surprising and relevant information about the role of wolves throughout the West and its ecosystems.

of the Lobo Wolves require a significant amount of space in order to survive and thrive in the wild. They can travel great distances in a day, sometimes up to 30 miles. They are continually patrolling their territories, which can be anywhere from 50 square miles to several hundred square miles in size, depending on prey availability. In the BRWRA, there are currently eighteen packs of Mexican wolves, and five single wolves dispersed throughout the recovery area. As their numbers continue to increase, more and more wolves will cross the boundaries and leave the recovery area to establish new territories. However, due to the current rules in place, any wolf that leaves the recovery area must be captured and either returned back inside the BRWRA, or placed into captivity. This has become one of the biggest challenges for wildlife managers in dealing with the

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The Future of the Lobo

wild population of Mexican wolves. Anytime too small for the number of wolves currently biologists need to capture a wolf there are within its boundaries. This has also created inherent risks that must be taken into account, additional worries for biologists, as it means such as terrain, accessibility, how to capture that wolves are more likely to encounter the animal, and the health and safety of the human activities. Wolves are a top predator, animal itself. which means they can and do take livestock as With the population of wolves prey on occasion. This has ranchers concerned expanding, this means biologists are faced and worried that as the number of wolves with a growing problem of keeping the increase inside the recovery area, so will their wolves inside the boundaries losses. For some ranchers of the BRWRA. Every day, the loss of just a few head of members of the Interagency cattle can be devastating to Field Team for the US Fish and them financially, therefore “Wolves require a Wildlife Service monitor the it is important that they movements of each pack on implement pro-active significant amount the ground. They use both techniques to help ward of space in order to GPS and radio telemetry to off any potential predation determine the exact locations survive and thrive...� events. These tools, such as of the wolves they have set range riders, fladry, turbo out to locate. Additionally, fladry, Radio Activated Guard every week a biologists flies boxes, pasture rotations, and over the entire recovery area, acquiring the carcass removals can significantly help reduce signals from all the active radio collars within or even eliminate depredations by wolves. the population of wolves. These techniques The BRWRA is different than other regions help them track the daily movements of where wolves have been reintroduced to the each pack. The hope is that the wolves will wild. Mexican wolves are not protected by the remain inside the BRWRA, thus preventing boundaries of the recovery area like wolves any risks associated with capturing. This are in Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife close monitoring is also helpful in protecting receive a much higher level of protection livestock from potential predation by wolves. in the National Park system, as hunting and The recovery area, in essence, has become cattle grazing are not permitted. The BRWRA, SL - winter 2014 14

The Future of the Lobo

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Far Left: Range riders help protect herds of cattle while they graze.

Middle Left: Radio Activated Guard Boxes, a.k.a. RAG Boxes, make loud sounds and flash lights to scare trespassing predators.

Left: Dogs can deter wolves by simply being present amoung livestock.

however, consists of National Forest Service Lands comprising of both the Apache and Gila National Forests. For Mexican wolves this means that cattle are permitted to graze on these lands, and hunting is allowed for various species (Mexican wolves are excluded, still protected by the ESA). Because National Parks are protected this way, they become a safe haven for many wildlife species. For wolves, Yellowstone has become a source population, a ground zero of wolf recovery in the Rocky Mountain Ecoregion. In Arizona and New Mexico, elk and deer compete with cattle for forage, and wolves often get caught in the middle of the conflict between protecting cattle or protecting an endangered species.

Mexican wolves are considered an experimental nonessential population. This means that even though they are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and are protected, they do not have full protection under the ESA. This was set up in order to accommodate local businesses and residents who oppose wolf reintroduction by allowing a little more flexibility when managing this species. The experimental designation under the ESA is often referred to as 10j rules. The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s website describes the experimental population status as such: (See Sidebar A)

Sidebar A “An experimental population is a geographically described group of reintroduced plants or animals that is isolated from other existing populations of the species. Members of the experimental population are considered to be threatened under the ESA, and thus can have special regulations written for them under section 4(d). In addition, if the experimental population is determined to be “nonessential” to the survival of the species, for some activities the experimental population is treated like a species that is proposed for listing as threatened or endangered. In other words, the nonessential experimental population is not given the full protections of the ESA.”

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The Future of the Lobo

Proposed Increased Range to the MWEPA Boundary

Arizona

Flagstaff

40

40

93

60/89

10

Phoenix 10

19

Revised MWEPA Boundary

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Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Fort Apache Indian Reservation

The Future of the Lobo

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New Mexico

Gallup Albuquerque

40

285 285

Las Cruces Silver City 146

10

26

25

81

70

54

506

El Paso Texas

Mexico

0 Scale

25

50

100 Miles

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The Future of the Lobo

The 10j rule for the Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Program has recently received a lot of attention from both sides of the wolf issue. This is mainly in part to the proposed revisions to the 10j rule itself by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Two of the most prominent changes include increasing the boundary of the recovery area itself to encompass a much larger area. This new boundary would run from the I-40 along Northern Arizona and Northern New Mexico all the way to the Mexican border, giving Mexican wolves more freedom to disperse to more suitable habitat. This new area would be called the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA), and the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) would no longer be used. The other important component is the designation of three separate zones within this new boundary that establish how Mexican wolves will be managed. Zone 1 would allow for initial releases or translocations of wolves to take place throughout all of the ApacheSitgreaves, and Gila National Forests, and sections of the Tonto and Cibola National Forest. Zone 2 would be an area where Mexican wolves can naturally disperse or be translocated, and encompasses suitable habitat across Central Arizona and Central SL - winter 2014 18

New Mexico. Zone 3 would be managed slightly differently, only allowing wolves to disperse naturally into these areas, and managed more heavily considering it is less suitable habitat.

One new area of the proposed revision, is the addition of a permitting process in which the appropriate designated department can issue a permit to a domestic animal owner to legally take a wolf or wolves based upon the specifications of the permit on any non-federal lands. In other words, officials may determine that a wolf needs to be removed and can issue a permit to an owner of domestic livestock for a specific period of days to legally hunt and take a Mexican wolf in reaction to a depredation event if the wolves are not on federal lands.

It also allows for wildlife managers to lethally remove wolves if ungulate populations begin to decline below ideal numbers in attempts to boost the ungulate populations.

Mexican wolf advocates strongly support the extension of the boundaries, allowing for a greater area for wolves to recover, while ranchers and other locals strongly oppose this new proposed rule change to the 10j rule. Advocates wish however, that Mexican wolves could be allowed to recover without the definition of specific boundaries. Ranchers and locals are supportive of the new measures which allow for the lethal take of wolves that become a problem, however wolf advocates oppose these new changes strongly, believing it could result in another downturn in the overall population of Mexican wolves. Some even fear it could prove fatal to the overall survival of the Mexican wolf itself.

The Future of the Lobo

Another key element to this new proposal is the listing of the Mexican wolf under the Endangered Species Act itself. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to de-list all wolves in the US from the Endangered Species Act, except for the population of Mexican wolves in the Southwest. They would re-list Mexican wolves as Endangered under the 10j rule as an experimental, nonessential population. It’s important to note that Mexican wolves have been operating off of a 1982 recovery plan, and the old 10j rule from

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strong feelings out of both parties. These hearings listened to the concerns expressed by both parties, along with the thousands upon thousands of public comments on the proposed rule changes posted online. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to make a ruling on this later in 2015.

The future of the Mexican wolf remains in the balance of human hands. As their numbers continue to increase, and they push into new expanded territory, we must also expand our minds to learning how to live with

Courtesy AZGFD

1998 since their reintroduction into the wild.

These measures only intended to prevent the Mexican wolf from going extinct rather than defining steps towards full recovery.

Several hearings have taken place during 2013 and again in 2014. These hearings allowed for both sides of the issue to voice their concerns about the proposed rule changes to the 10j rule. At some of the hearings, emotions ran high on both sides. Wolves are a highly polarizing species, often evoking

Biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department release a young Mexican Wolf back in to its natural habitat.

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The Future of the Lobo

With continued efforts of advocacy and population management, this beautiful apex predator has a chance to recover and thrive.

apex predators such as wolves, bears, and mountain lions. Wilderness cannot be wild without that which makes it wild. Mexican wolves will continue to populate the land if we allow them to behave naturally. It is exciting to think that soon these wolves may have an opportunity to inhabit areas they once thrived in over 100 years ago if these new proposed rule changes take effect. The question is, will we let them?

References: “LITTLE KNOWN BUT IMPORTANT FEATURES.�

Www.fws.com. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. <http://www.fws. gov/pacific/news/grizzly/esafacts.htm>.

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Another Year in Wolf Camp

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Another Year in Wolf Camp

by Jeremy Heft Biologist/ Sanctuary Manager

, ORa g e 29 re on p r.org See mo w.wolfcente ww visit at:

December 1, 2014 marks my 17 year anniversary

with WERC! There have been many ups and downs through the years working for WERC, but one part of the job has remained relatively constant the entire time — Wolf Camp.

For those who have never visited our remote outpost (and there are many who have never seen Camp, due to high security for many of the early years), I’ll attempt to paint a picture of life in Camp. First, why have a camp? Well, since we lease the site from the Nez Perce Tribe, there are certain restrictions we adhere to, one of which is no further permanent structures built. The Visitor Center and my cabin were built when the compound was developed in 1996, and since that time every other resident in Camp has survived in a tent. In addition to my quaint cabin, there are four resident tents, one of which is where Jessica resides.

The other three are occupied by interns in the summer… and squirrels in the off season! There is our Cookshed, where interns and Jessica store and prepare food. It is the social meeting area of Camp. A yurt also resides in Camp and is typically used by visiting VIPs of the organization.

In addition, a small shed housing fencing supplies and SL - Winter 2014 21

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Another Year in Wolf Camp

tools is at the center of the work area. Finally, the all important outhouse, that we call â&#x20AC;&#x153;Big Bearâ&#x20AC;?, is located in the center of the living area. Now, what makes our living situation rustic, and more of an adventure rather than pleasure, is the fact that we have no electricity, plumbing, or consistent phone service. Sound like a fun place to live? Maybe in the summer, but try it in winter, with snow depths reaching 5 feet and temperatures plummeting to -20F! Thankfully, 2014 began with only an average- weather winter, where temperatures were relatively moderate for most of the season, and snow depths did not exceed three feet at any given time. Of course, the wolves love winter, the season when they are the most energetic and undergo their breeding routines. Even though the Owyhee Pack only consists of females now, they still are affected by the natural hormone upswing from January to March.

This time of the year is by far the most dominant-oriented within the hierarchy of wolves, where they are engineered to compete for the right to breed. Traditionally, Xayxayx and Kuckuc both significantly increase their dominance posturing, however for the past two years both females have been relatively subdued with dominance. There are two leading theories why this change has occurred. First, it is possible that the lack of males within the pack has caused the females to not compete for rank. Or, secondly, the girls have just reached the age where hormones do not have as significant of an impact on their behavior. I tend to believe the latter is the most likely cause of the recent mellow breeding seasons.

Then, spring finally arrived and we prepared for the summer by hiring our intern crew in February for the upcoming summer. We were pleased with our summer interns this year, and be sure to read more about them in a separate article within this issue. The spring season is typically very short here, when the snow and ice gives way to mud for a month or so before the wildflowers of summer rise. This is a busy time for us to prepare the site for summer SL - winter 2014 22

Top: Our Interns experience rustic living conditions, while gaining valuable work and life experience.

Middle: Home sweet home found inside one of our four on premises Intern tents.

Right: Wolves are more energetic during winter time as Xayxayx (left wolf) and the late Himtuuqin (right wolf) display.

Another Year in Wolf Camp

The below image will be featured in our 2015-16 calendar.

Visit wolfcenter.org to order yours today!

visitation and repair the damage of winter. Painting signs, repairing decks, and wood chipping trails are all typical duties for this time, and this past spring was par for the course. Spring is a low energy time for wolves as they sleep off the rigors of winter and the breeding season. Thus, they do not require as much attention during this season, which allows us to prepare to accommodate all the humans that will be visiting us soon. Before we knew it, the summer interns arrived in May and summer began.

Since about 80 percent of our annual visitation occurs over the three summer months, plus a multitude of off-site programs are also performed, summer can be a very hectic time of teaching. We literally run educational programs seven days a week for long hours of the day to reach an average of 3,000 people each summer. In addition to educational programs, some of the aging infrastructure inevitably breaks down and needs replacing immediately in order to continue hosting the constant influx of visitors.

In addition to all the usual tasks of summer, we also accomplished a major upgrade to all of our interpretive trail signage this year. The old signage had faded beyond recognition, so was replaced with new prints that required mounting and posting. Once completed, the trails looked much better and more informative.

We were fortunate enough to have two visitor species around Camp this summer, one planned, and the other

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Another Year in Wolf Camp

unexpected. First, in May, two black bears made their presence known around Camp by knocking over our recycling receptacles and then stealing a small amount of wolf food that was thawing outside from frozen storage.

One of the bears was a small yearling, who was very inquisitive of the intern tents, and the other was a large sow (female), who typically kept her distance. It is unknown if the two bears were related (possibly mother and subadult offspring?), however the two were never observed together. Thankfully, this meant the potential mother was not guarding the youngster anymore, which is about the only time a black bear could be dangerous toward humans.

Both bears moved on without any incidents and have not been seen since mid-summer. Then, our invited guests arrived in July.

Wolf Camp became home to three orphaned young red foxes in July as we assisted Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (WSU) in rehabilitating these kits for placement back into the wild. The four month old foxes were previously given to WSU after being taken out of the wild prematurely by a good-meaning family. WSU Vet Med nursed them back to proper health, but does not maintain a large enough enclosure to “train” them to be

Below: A close up of the Wolf Camp’s new, crafty residents.

Right: When ready, they will make their way into the wild to live out their lives as nature intended.

Another Year in Wolf Camp

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wild, so WERC was contacted. We have a long history of cooperating with the Exotics Department of WSU Vet Med, especially since our attending veterinarian, Dr. Nicky Finch, is also the head of the Exotics Department. Together, our plan was to release the young foxes into the vacant 20-acre enclosure, feed and provide water, and protect them for a couple months until they were ready for life in the wild. This plan was immediately revised only hours after the release when we realized our large enclosure was not foxproof. All three foxes escaped the enclosure quickly; however all remained nearby and made their first wild home within our Camp. We fed them every couple days at first, but weaned them off to about once a week by October. They took up residence under one of the intern tents and under our maintenance shed, and dug small holes all over our trails and roads! It was a common sight to see one of them run across Camp, and the resident interns loved living side by side the novice foxes. As of October, sightings of the foxes had greatly diminished, and it is believed at least one has probably moved on away from our area. We will steadily decrease their feedings as winter sets in, as we attempt to make them find their own food and venture on. This always was the goal, so although it is sad to say goodbye, we are proud to have assisted them back into the wild.

As the temperatures cooled and the sun lowered on the horizon, the interns departed and headed back to college, and the human visitors became less frequent as we welcomed autumn. The site moves from hectic-busy to nearly empty in about one weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time after school begins.

Both the staff and wolves collectively take a deep breath and change gears to head back into winter. The Visitor Center is closed up and winterized. All trail signs must be covered to preserve them from the harsh winter elements, as well. This is also the time of year for maintenance on the enclosures, such as removing the old bones that have collected all summer. We still perform some school group presentations on the site, in between buckling down the SL - Winter 2014 25

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Another Year in Wolf Camp

hatches for the onslaught of snow and cold.

As you can see, there is no dull season in Wolf Camp— something is always going on or needing done. This may be why the past 17 years have seemingly flown by for this “old intern” who became stuck here back in 1998. As I have always told the interns — this is not just a job, but rather an adventure. It certainly has been an adventure in the past year, as usual. I am not sure how many more years in Camp I have left in me, but one thing is for sure — I’ll live them to the fullest, just like I set out to do 17 years ago.

Hard work and a good attitude are required toward the “mildly” gruesome cleanup task.

Like us on Facebook Why exactly might one join WERC on Facebook? We give a daily dose of educational information about wolves and other fascinating and beautiful species. We administrate three pages that have different areas of focus. Our main page is the Wolf Center wall. It has over 310,000 followers from around the globe. It’s the kitchen sink and often includes inspirational messages, challenges to our convention, and, of course, education about wolves. The next page, the Sawtooth Legacy page, serves the dual purpose of paying tribute to the Sawtooth Pack while moving forward with Legacy projects such as the films. And finally, our Owyhee Pack page is our staff page where daily happenings and educational thoughts emerge onto your screen.

Why is a Facebook page important? For starters, it’s a free medium. We don’t pay to reach tens of thousands of people with a positive educational message that happens to be centered on wolves. This form of social media also produces results that lighten our supporters’ financial burden. When we faced dire financial circumstances in 2008, it was the introduction of social media that brought in new revenue. Today about 20% of our budget can be traced back to such promotions and challenges. As we learn to use the medium better, that number will continue to grow, allowing us to add important outreaches and projects that meet a growing curiosity about wolves.

Check us out. Like us today.

And if not, we’ll still like you the old-fashioned way.

SL - winter 2014 26

Intern Experience

by Jessica Collins Assistant Biologist

See more on Page 32

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2014

Intern Experieince 2014

Each summer the Wolf Center has three interns who join us for the season. During the summer interns interact with the visitors that come to learn at the Wolf Center. Some of the ways interns teach visitors include giving tours, answering questions, and doing programs outside of the Wolf Center. Interns also work daily with the captive wolves doing health and wellness checks.

Another part of the internship includes building and maintenance of the facility’s interpretive signs and trail system.

This past summer, we had three interns working with us to help reach more visitors with our message about wolves. The three interns: Emily Clark, Kate Williams, and Amy Fontaine joined us from all over the United States. Each intern had their own favorite part of their internship. For Emily, hers was the alone time she spent with the wolves and being able to watch them interact together. Most of all, Emily enjoyed teaching the public about wolves. She says, “If just one person’s mind changed because of me, that’s awesome.” For Kate, the parts of her internship that she best enjoyed were learning and experiencing wolf behavior and SL - winter 2014 27

SL

Intern Experieince 2014

Emily Clark

talking to people about wolf issues, “My favorite part was watching people think about what we were saying.”

For Amy, she most enjoyed the interaction and time spent with the wolves. The time she spent doing health and welfare checks on the captive wolves allowed her to get to know each wolf individually. Another favorite part of Amy’s internship, aside from the camping, was the interactions with visitors. “I loved meeting people from a lot of places with a diversity of perspectives and hearing their stories,” said Amy.

Kate Williams

Amy Fontaine

Whether guiding tours along the paths of the WERC property, or helping our guests inside our Visitors Center, being available for questions is an important part of an intern’s tasks.

SL - winter 2014 28

WOLF CENTER

ADOPTION PROGRAM

$165,000

Caring for four ambassador wolves costs nearly $165,000, including their health and upkeep, food that is not donated, and the maintenance of the Wolf Camp. You can make a significant impact in our programs by adopting one or all of the Wolf Center’s wolves. Preserve the legacy of the Sawtooth Pack by giving an adoption to someone or a local classroom.

e for mor

e giving op

portuniti

te olfcen w w w.w

See websit

$25

es!

Juvenile

r.org

$50

Yes!

• Poster of history and benefits • DVD • Photo Pack of Owyhee 8x10 Running • Certificate for

• Piyip photo for each child while supplies last • Info kit with individual adoption form and fundraiser challenge

CLICK HERE

$25

Yes!

Adult

• Photo pack 5x7 • Wolf plush with name tag • Certificate

Classroom- Juvenile

Visit our website to see photographs of each wolf.

Adopt one of the Owyhee Pack, or ALL of them!

• Photo of adopted wolf 5x7 • SLQ • Certificate • 1 free adult admission to WERC

$100

Adopt the Pack

Yes!

Yes!

• Photo pack of Owyhees 5x7 • SLQ • Choice of 1 Owyhee Pack name t-shirt • “Running For Home” Book • Certificate

Home

$250

Can you find the book, hidden animals in this including the two on this cover?

by Gail McDiarmid &

Marilyn McGee

Illustrated by Durwood

Coffey

Yes!

Sawtooth Memorial Adoption • Photo pack of • DVD Owyhee 5x7 • Tribute Poster 11x14 • SLQ • Running For Home book

• Certificate • Choice of 2 Owyhee name t-shirts • Free admission for a family of 5

$500

Yes!

Sawtooth Memorial Adoption • All 11 wolves photo pack 8x10 • Tribute print 16x20 • Choice of 4 Owyhee name t-shirts • Premium Certificate

• SLQ • DVD • Free admission for a family of 5 • “Running for Home” book

n Please mail the Adoption or Gift Adoption Packet to the following person, business, or school: Member Number_______________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________________________ School/Business_________________________________________________________ City_________________________________ State__ Zip________________________ Email________________________________ Phone (____)_______________________ Please mail completed form with check or money order to: WERC, P.O. Box 12604, Portland, OR 97212 or Visit: www.wolfcenter.org, click on the “Adopt a Wolf ” menu.

29

SL

ED Letter

Summer Celebration Running For Home This past season’s Summer Celebration had their way. And the ladies continued to was a weekend to remember. It was fill in and help in every way possible for the intended to be a weekend to premier next day and a half. In addition to lending WERC’s Sawtooth Legacy their book’s title, “Running for Home,” as Film titled “The Great our theme, they continue to be Wolf Divide: A Predator’s great friends to WERC. Dilemma,” followed by The Winchester Lake activities led by dynamic State Park staff were remarkable Running teaching, speaking, and hosts to our 120 guests. They for Home some exciting activities. were not only flexible, but Some technical allowed our group to take difficulties resulted in us liberty with the parking while emphasizing dynamic we utilized the amphitheater teaching, speaking, and and the Yurt Loop where we some exciting activities. prepared a Wolf Camp Buffet.

But, by Saturday night, The BBQ was vigilantly manned we overcame our tech by volunteer Bud Lancaster and obstacles and were able to show the video.

WERC President Chris Anderson.

Some remarkable outcomes were revealed We’re pretty sure we fed some people through the difficulty and we discovered who wandered into a free lunch. That’s many profound and wonderful attributes okay, though. We’re a friendly bunch. of our guests and presenters.

Following lunch, Owl Brand Discovery When one sets aside an hour for a Kits was on-hand, as was the Washington video presentation and the DVD doesn’t State Raptor Club who brought owls work, it’s a tall order to come up with Plan to complement the afternoon activity: B on the spot. But our leaders are problem- owl pellet dissection. solving miracle workers and before anyone “That’s the largest group I’ve ever done fully realized it, authors Gail McDiarmid a dissection with,” described Anderson. and Marilyn McGee were in front, leading “You just have to start the lab with kids. singing. There’d have been dancing if they’d Once they start, human curiosity takes Can you find the hidden animals in this book, including the two on this cover?

by Gail McDiarmid &

Marilyn McGee

Illustrated by Durwoo d Coffey

SL - winter 2014 30

Summer Celebration ‘14

over and the rest is history.

That’s how education is. With the proper inspiration, good things unfold.”

The park staff led an afternoon hike with most of the children, numbering over 60, around Winchester Lake. They had the beautiful flora and fauna described in detail.

Guests came from as close as Lewiston, Idaho and as far away as England to enjoy the festive two-day event. The Tierra Vida Community from Pasco, Washington joined WERC as well. This community development group focuses on leadership development for families and children.

We’re excited that they are planning to join us again next year

SL

and have recruited more families to enjoy the retreat where they can learn about wolves and other wildlife challenges. To imagine what role these young people will play in the future of wilderness stewardship makes this event worthwhile.

We’ve begun planning the 2015 event for the first full weekend in June and hope you’ll consider marking your calendar. This year’s event will premier the new production from Sawtooth Legacy Films titled “The Great Predator Debate,” the second in a threedisc series WERC is producing. In addition, filmmaker Alan Lacy will bring an update of “Gray Area and the SW Wolf Recovery Efforts,” formerly “The Last Pack.” We’re also working with Gail and Marilyn who will be returning for the third consecutive year with their wonderful and contagious teaching.

That’s just the start. Look for details and reservation information in the Spring Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly. Plan to join us for our big family reunion!

SUMMER

CELEBRATION

2015

SL - winter 2014 31

Sawtooth Legacy Films Great Divide Series When we began working on a film, we walked beneath the shadows of towering figures that had gone before us. The Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce continue to capture the imagination of the public by film and publication alike, long after they’ve departed us. WERC’s story and future is the epilogue to those days of filmmaking and the mystique of those eleven wolves.

Our motivation with The Great Wolf Divide was to pay tribute to the Sawtooth Pack while exposing the paradoxical place wolves find themselves in. Not just the United States – the world has a recent history of eliminating many species at an alarming rate. Sawtooth Legacy Film’s goal is to present different perspectives and SL - winter 2014 32

find a place for discussion and growth in classrooms, homes — any place where learning is found.

Our hope is that every single one of our supporters will view this foundational film.

Many have described enthusiasm for our next film that will broaden the discussion to four iconic western predators -- raptors, cats, bears, and, of course, wolves. The backdrop to our entire educational efforts is to make stewardship of the wilderness a social norm. To accomplish that, WERC is pursuing new activities that will help us anticipate and contribute to a better future.

You’ll see the Sawtooth Legacy Films logo accompany our regular activities. The goal is simple. We will mobilize the public toward greater critical thinking on these

complex issues. You are an important part of that goal.

For only $20.00 per school, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll mail the DVD and a cover letter describing your sponsorship of this DVD to teachers in your community. Your endorsement is critical and as a community member, you have influence.

Together, we can direct young minds toward great outcomes on behalf of wolves, other predators, and even humans.

Send The Great Wolf Divide and a note to your local schools for only $20! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do all the work!

Contact Info@WolfCenter.org for more details.

SL - winter 2014 33

SL

Ask the Biologist

by Jeremy Heft, Biologist/ Sanctuary Manager

1.

ee Why doesn’t the Owyh

Pack have puppies?

ated 8, after they were confisc from the USDA in April 200 k Pac e yhe total A Ow rly. the pe ted We accep ing for them pro vious owner was not car pre the ere Prior wh ts. ard die cky from a ba with inadequate in ver y small enclosures ed tain con unty re Co e we s yhe lve of 19 wo lves, both the Ow ed in removing the wo olv inv ing tion, era com op be lf DA to the US p the captive wo Game attempted to sto and h Fis ho se.

Ida cea to and rs ce ne Sheriff’s Offi ted forcing the ow with each agency preven d ate oci the of ass s g rin law ute the however ners to allow the ne Game convinced the ow ure to Thank fully, Idaho Fish and ditions. Since the proced con enter the living uld wo ies pp pu de to w ma ne s wa no wolves so aper; a decision r, less invasive, and che ple sim ch ver mu we is ho , le ed ma a urr castrate when this occ . We do not know exactly ty” cili s “fa les the me at ho les the ma g neuter all C acceptin at least a year prior to WER ted ple th com bo s er, wa est ure nch the proced ck were moved to Wi and Miyooxat of the pa ver the pack. So when Himtuuqin o unable to breed, howe Saw tooth Pack was als e Th . ed en the riliz wh ste y is ad ich were alre al ligation, wh females underwent tub e Th nt. ere yhee diff Ow s the wa ate procedure WERC is for tun sed, or “tied”. In a way, clo d ure ess sut str are the es ate tub cre fallopian resources or nce we did not spend the he ; red y ilit ute ne fac y lf ad wo alre s tive Pack wa ponsible cap ation ourselves. Every res riliz ste of the tial rm ten rfo po pe to tic on them ls because the bio th control on their anima provides some sor t of bir nt. wolves is food-depende

Miyooxat

Himtuuqin SL - winter 2014 34

Ask the Biologist

2.

SL

What is “biotic potent ial”?

Biotic potential is defin ed as the number of offspring a mother ma produce, given the env y ironmental conditions in which she resides. For wolves, which only rep roduce once a year, thi s means how many wo can be born into a pack lves each year. When an ind ividual reaches their ful biotic potential, they are l able to have the maxim um number of offspring Environmental condition . s always inhibit the bio tic potential of individual and populations of a spe s cies. Which primary env ironmental stress affect the biotic potential var s ies for each species. For wolves, which are an ap predator, the limiting fac ex tor in reproduction, or biotic potential, is food availabilit y. This restric tion is common among top predators, and is ho populations do not exh w aust the local prey sup ply for the next generation of predators. If this ada ptation did not exist, the n predators could overhar vest all their prey and crash the herbivore popu lation. By doing so, the future generations of pre dators would have no pre y to eat, causing mass starvation, and would crash themselves. This pro ces s is the foundation for the law of nature tha t predators never comple tel y deplete their prey, even in Idaho! Anyway, when in captivity, wolve s receive an abundanc of food; therefore the pa e ck’s biotic potential wo uld be at maximum, and four to eight puppies could be born to every captive pack every yea Since there remains an r. overpopulation of cap tive wolves across the countr y (remember, the only facilit y available for housing the Ow yhee Pack’s cousins was loc ated in Florida!), allowin g an increase of captivecondemned wolves eve ry year would not only be illo gical, but arguably unethical as well.

SL - winter 2014 35

SL

Ask the Biologist

3.

4.

Do we trim the claws of

our captive wolves?

keratin and rnails; they are made of ver y similar to our finge are s lve n when wo of ctio tra ws cla and e g Th No. claws is for diggin lves, the purpose of the wo In nting. w. hu g gro y rin du usl d uo tin lize con agility, are not uti and ed spe g sin rea . Unlike felines, running, and besides inc her only use their mouth rat , ws cla ir the ng usi y the wild and Canines do not attack pre ted back into the toe. In nar y and cannot be retrac tio sta are because of ls nai wn do toe ar ine can omatically we h as WERC, the claws aut suc es iliti vents the fac pre g tive arin cap e we larg g upon. This lves are constantly movin wo the e contrast, fac In y. sur sar gh ces rou the ng them is not ne hence artificially trimmi ls; nai sof t and the the of to th e ow du is rgr ove asionally. This ir nails to be trimmed occ the e uir off of a e req rcis do exe gs of do k st mo gs reside or the lac do st mo t tha s use ho sur faces do smooth sur faces of the d to a backyard. These se outside dogs relegate tho for n eventually law and ssy w, gra gro sh plu continue to sufficiently, hence they we do not ly, ful ank not wear down the nails Th if not trimmed. ion dit con l nfu pai a se can cau you imagine ng our wolf’s claws — can need to attempt trimmi ever seen a e on any s nails? Ha wrestling a wolf to trim ming? dog that enjoys nail trim

Where do wo in the winter?lves get their water

Have you ever thou ght about this ques tion? We recently hosted the 7th gr ade class from Jenif er Jr. High School, located in Lewisto n, Idaho (~45 min.

North of Wincheste their presentation r), and this questio . At first, it seems n arose during like a simple ques is assuming all wo tion and answer… lves live in a tempe however, this rate environment Actually, gray wolve — which they certa s thrive in cold cond inly do not! itions, and some wo for a couple month lves may only see s of the year. Here liq uid water in Winchester (Nor ponds freeze over th-Central Idaho), in early November str ea ms and an d do not thaw until until May! Due to th April, and sometim e high sodium cont es no t even ent of red meat, wo to remain healthy, lves do require subs so what is a norther tan tia l water n climate wolf to do? ever y kid who plays The answer is simple in the snow all day — do what do es…eat snow! Obvio so over winter it is usly, snow is just fro a very common sig ze n wa ht ter, to see the wolves sc and eating it. It ge ooping up a mouth ts so cold here, th ful of snow at this is the only water over winter. method the Ow yh We attempt to brea ee Pack obtains k the ice off their ar average daily tempe tificial pond, howe rature is around 15 ver when the -20 F, ice forms over th even leave the enclo e pond before us ha sure! Due to the lac ndlers can k of electricity on not an option. The our remote site, he Sawtooth Pack lived ate rs are also their entire life eatin wild wolves, and no g snow all winter, w the Ow yhees do as do most the same.

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36

Ask the Biologist

5.

SL

What is the difference be een pre dator species eyes and prey species eyetw s?

Again, this question was discussed during Jenifer Jr. Highâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit (thanks Ms. Stamper for the ideas!), and I thought it was a very clever question, so it is wor th sharing.

Perhaps some readers may not even have noticed there is a pronounced difference in the placement of predator eyes versus prey eyes? Ungulates and mos t herbivore small mammals have their eyes loca ted more so on the sides of their skull, where wolves and other carnivores have their eyes positioned more toward the front of the skull. Why? The side placement on the preyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head allows a widened vision of the surroundings, therefore making it easier to detect predators approac hing from all sides. However, this adaptation has its downfalls, particularly that the animal has poor vision immediately in front of them. Ever notice that when near a deer directly in front of their nose, they turn thei r heads to look at you? This poor visio n in front of them is the reason. On the cont rary, the frontal placement on pred ators allows for very good stereoscopic vision directly in front of the animal, whil e inhibiting peripheral vision. Wolves and othe r predators use the close proximit y of the eyes to create good depth perception, thus enabling accurate lunging toward the prey and adequate paw to eye coordination . Both eye position adaptations amo ng prey and predators increase the survivability of individuals, therefore benefiting both species as they continue to evolve together .

If you have any questions pertaining to wolves, etc., please let me know so I include them in future segments. Please email me with future questions/topics at: jeremy.heft@wolfcenter.org ~Jeremy Heft Biologist/Sanctuary Manager SL - winter 2014 37

SL

Wolf Behavior 101

Lesson 18: Urination posturing

by Jeremy Heft

Biologist/ Sanctuary Manager

SL - winter 2014 38

olves constantly display hierarchy rank toward one

W another within their pack structure. Most often,

these displays are quite subtle and possibly even go unnoticed by the untrained eye. Other times, the posturing can be intense. The daily life of a wolf revolves around these consistent signals of pack orderâ&#x20AC;Śeven when excreting waste from the body! Although possibly not the most pleasant of topics, in wolf language the position an individual assumes when either urinating or defecating is very important. In this installment, we shall only discuss the less obnoxious category of urination posturing. Perhaps if interest remains, I may address the other category in an

Wolf Behavior 101 SL

upcoming issue? Let me know your thoughts…

There are three main postures observed regarding urination among wolves.

First, the most notorious—the Raised Leg Urination (RLU) is when the canine remains standing and simply raises one hind leg straight out to the side. This well known action is indicative of a dominant wolf, and typically only performed by an alpha (male or female), beta-male, or other high-rank wolf. The meaning behind the posture is clear, to exhibit the highest authority of the pack. A Raised Leg Urination is also common among intact male dogs… historically, on fire hydrants! Why? A dominant canine often chooses pronounced objects within their territory to announce their presence, and exhibit their authority (this is known ...imagine if as Scent Marking—a topic for a future Behavior 101). humans needed to The second and less-dominant uricommunicate with nation posture is the Standing Urination (STU). This behavior is when the wolf retheir family ...even mains standing and leans forward. Most when peeing! often, this style is performed by mid-rank wolves, and the meaning is one of neutrality. Both male and female mid-rank wolves will do a STU to show neutral status within the pack during a social rally.

The third posture is known as the Squat Urination (SQU), and is clearly a submissive signal to all pack mates.

This occurs when the canine bends both hind legs and SL - winter 2014 39

SL

Wolf Behavior 101

Careful observation of what posture an individual

Alpha Posturing

wolf assumes while urinating can tell a biologist what social rank an animal holds within a pack.

Raised Leg Urination (RLU)

, ORa g e 29 re on p r.org See mo w.wolfcente ww visit at:

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lowers the rump toward the ground, creating a squat, or sitting position. Usually performed by the omegas, or other low rank members, this style portrays active submission, and the least authority of the pack. It is also very popular among both male and female neutered dogs, as well. There is a variation of the SQU, where the wolf first squats down and then raises one hind leg into the air. This less common style is known as a Tripod Urination (TRU), and I have only witnessed select alpha-females perform it.

Although it is considered a dominant posture, it is more closely related in movement to a SQU. To complicate the issue, these postures are not static within each wolf, but rather change according to the surrounding of each particular wolf. For example, a mid-rank wolf may perform a Standing Urination when near an

Wolf Behavior 101

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Mid-rank Posturing

Standing Urination (STU)

See more on Page 32

Omega Posturing

Squat Urination (SQU)

alpha-male; however the same wolf may perform a Raised Leg Urination when only in the presence of an omega.

Since wolves are just like humans in that we all must go at some point, by watching these frequent urination postures, we are able to decipher the relative rank for each pack member easily.

Just imagine if humans needed to communicate with their family so extensively that certain postures were required even when peeing! Perhaps you are happy to be human today?

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Dates to Remember

& Sites Within Howling Distance Each year our season for visitors runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Here are some other dates to keep in mind that may help you plan your visit to the panhandle of Idaho.

Here’s some dates to remember. Due to limited space, you’ll have to Google these events but we’ve provided some keywords for you.

31

JAN 2 0 15

Ice Fishing Derby – Winchester Lake State Park

2

MAY 2 0 15

Citywide Yard Sale & Flea Market 7 a.m Winchester and Craigmont

MEMORIAL DAY-LABOR DAY: Visitor Center opens in Winchester on Fri. and Sat. 12-4 p.m.

Museum of Winchester History opens Fri. & Sat. 12:30-3 p.m.

Summer Events at Winchester Lake and Wolf Education Research Center

25

MAY 2 0 15 Ice Bowl Fishing Derby, Winchester Lake, 2014

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Memorial Day Services, 11 a.m. Craigmont Cemetery, Craigmont

Dates to Remember

27

JUN 2 0 15

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Craigmont June Picnic & Winchester Lake State Park Fishing

JULY 4 & 5 - 2015 Winchester Days and Rodeo Cowboy Breakfast; Arts & 2 0 15 Crafts; Parade; childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s games; food; 2 p.m. Arena in the Pines Rodeo starts; fireworks over the lake roughly at 10 p.m.; July 5 - 2 p.m. Rodeo continue.

4-5

JUL

8

JUL 2 0 15 WERC Summer Celebration.

Two-day event featuring entertainment and expertise 2 0 15 on the subject of wolves and other predators

JULY 8, 15, 22, 29 2015 Jammin In The Park, Craigmont

5-6

JUN

JUNE 2015 - Summer reading program begins with the Prairie River District Library

SUMMER

CELEBRATION

2015

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AREA ATTRACTIONS

The Nez Perce National Historical Park Confluence Center Lewis and Clark Timeline â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Located at the Hells Canyon Resort Marina in Clarkston.

Lewis Clark Discovery Center Hells Canyon Recreational Area Museum of Winchester History ILO Vollmer Historical Society Asotin County Historical Society Museum Nez Perce County Historical Society & Museum The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude

Top: Hells Canyon rafting is always popular.

Right: The Nez Perce National Historical Park

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RIVER ACTIVITIES Hells Canyon Dworshak National Fish Hatchery Fields Spring State Park Heller Bar & Rogersburg Lower Granite Dam

Area Attractions

BREWERIES

The area surrounding Lewiston and Winchester is ripe for craft beer enthusiasts.

Whether you like a light ale, a rich IPA, or the texture and depth of porters and stouts, here’s some suggestions to get you on the path. Our next issue will list area wineries!

MJ Barleyhopper’s 621 21st Street, Lewiston, ID 208-746-5300

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The Moscow Brewing Company 630 North Almon Street, Suite #130 Moscow, ID 83843 208.874.7340 www.moscowbrewing.com Whiskey Barrel Cider Company 3431 Airport Rd. Pullman, WA 99163 www.whiskeybarrelcider.com

Riverport Brewing Company 150 Ninth St., Ste. B, Clarkston, WA 509.758.8889 www.riverportbrewing.com Paradise Creek Brewery 245 SE Paradise St. Pullman, WA 99163 509.338.9463 www.paradisecreekbrewery.com

Fun Facts about Winchester, ID. It seems in the late 1950’s, Winchester’s Story was on TV’s “Death Valley Days.” As the televised story goes, Chief Joseph’s band of Indians were being chased by the US Cavalry. They had just crossed the Salmon River, (which as the crow flies is about 12 miles from Winchester). Everyone was frightened and ran to the little outpost with no name.

Gathering at the hardware store was the best choice, for it seems that store had gotten a case of NEW WINCHESTER REPEATING RIFLES. The owner opened the case and gave everyone a rifle. Chief Joseph heard of the guns at Winchester and decided not to come toward the settlers, but went on down the river. So the town was named after the gun.

That was a Great Story. The Real Story is not as much fun, but it’s factual. The town of Winchester got its name when group of residents gathered at a private home to choose a name. When rifles were counted, it seems there were more Winchester rifles being carried than any other rifle. Thus the name Winchester, after the gun.

Source: Greater Craigmont Area Chamber of Commerce

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P.O. Box 12604 Portland, OR 97212

WOLF EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER

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WEST PALM BEACH, FL. PERMIT 593

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Our mission is to provide the highest quality captive animal care and education possible and inspire greater public tolerance toward apex predators. We engage the public to support sustainable relationships with nature to become a social norm.

Our vision is a growing community who work toward a more sustainable relationship with nature. This is achieved through captive animal care, regional interpretive programs, and ongoing development of contemporary media. We partner with diverse cultures and traditions to build a united and stronger future for all species.

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