Wolf recovery plan

Wolves were listed as endangered in the Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and central Idaho region in 1974. In 1974, a recovery plan recommended natural dispersal and reintroduction be used to restore wolves, and the plan was later revised in 1978 (Bangs and Fritts, 1996). The specific plan recommended: (1) promotion of natural recovery in northwestern Montana, (2) reintroduction of wolves designated "nonessential experimental" in YNP and, (3) other measures (presumably reintroduction) would be instigated in central Idaho if two breeding pairs had not naturally established there by 1992 (U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., 1987 cited in Bangs and Fritts, 1996). Wolf reintroduction was expected to result in a significant impact on the human environment, and for this reason the decision to reintroduce wolves was very controversial and involved extensive research and planning before reintroduction began. In addition to the recovery plan, an environmental impact statement (EIS) was required and completed in 1994, supporting the proposal that wolves be reintroduced to both YNP and Idaho (Bangs and Fritts, 1996).

The recovery plan proposed the reintroduction of 15 wolves to Idaho and YNP annually for 3-5 years (U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., 1994 cited in Bangs and Fritts, 1996). The source populations were from the Canadian Rocky Mountains, under the stipulations that the wolf populations were living in mountainous areas where elk and deer were the primary prey, and livestock and potentially infectious diseases were rare (Bangs and Fritts, 1996). The process resulted in about 10-20 wolves in Canada being radiocollared and monitored before and after reintroduction. The goal for the recovery was 10 breeding pairs of wolves in each of the 3 areas (northwestern Montana, YNP, and central Idaho) for 3 successive years. Meeting this goal would result in delisting the gray wolf from ESA protection in the northern Rocky Mountains of the United States (Bangs and Fritts, 1996). Biologist predicted this goal of productive wolf populations in the wild would be met in approximately 7 to 10 years.

On January 14 1995, four wolves were released in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. On January 20 1995, eleven more wolves were released in Idaho and six wolves were placed in acclimation pens in YNP, which were released in the Park on March 21. In YNP and central Idaho, wolves were released in 1995 and 1996. Now, daily wolf movements are monitored to investigate the dynamics of the new wolf packs and how they are adapting into their environment. This is the first reintroduction of a large carnivore in the United States. Therefore plans and predictions for this reintroduction were supported with studies on existing wild wolf populations, biological systems and interactions, and information from other regions supporting wolf populations. A primary concern in this step towards biological conservation is whether reintroduction will work as a means of re-establishing wolf packs in an area that they were eliminated from over 50 years ago. Also the best method of reintroduction must be considered. The recovery plan outlined different strategies for the reintroduction in YNP and central Idaho. In YNP the wolves were acclimated in pens near the release site for ten weeks before being set free. Acclimation would hopefully reduce a wolf's homing ability and they would remain close to Yellowstone (Phillips and Smith, 1996). The wolves reintroduced in Idaho on the other hand were released immediately after translocation. Data and observations from both strategies will provide information on the best method of reintroduction and the specific success of each. To fully understand reintroduction, the associated biological issues must be studied. The importance of the presence of the wolf in its ecosystem has to be determined.

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