Wolves - Managing Breeding Pairs

[KillBilly]

Ok, I am looking for some constructive input on this Topic. Given that WDFW has to identify successful Breeding Pairs, I am strapped to figure out how they can be successful. So, do you any of you have ideas on how you would be able to keep track of 2 wolves and their pups from birth to Dec 31 for three years. That's just one of the fifteen BPs.... give it some thought and then describe how you would do it.

I am not looking for arguments, just good ideas that might be plausible solutions to what I see as an almost impossisble task.

Wolf Plan & WDFW definition of a successful breeding pair:
(a male and female with 2 or more pups that survive to Dec. 31)

Take into consideration that:
Packs establish territories and defend them from trespassing wolves. Territory sizes usually average about 200 to 400 square miles in the western United States. From late April until September, pack activity is centered at or near den or rendezvous sites, as adults hunt and bring food back to the pups.

[wraithen]

Collars. RFID microchips?

[KillBilly]

So far the only way I can see it happening is if they can successfully trap and collar both parents and pups. Of course the pups collars would have to be changed as they grow. If not collared then they would be very hard to tell which set of parents they belong to. 3 years is a long time even to track one breeding pair let alone locate and track multiple BPs.

[6x6in6]

I've been wondering this myself and have given it a little bit of thought.
Collars and distinctive markings are about the only 2 I can think of. 
No matter what the method it's going to cost a lot to be a 3 year wolf sitter.

[KillBilly]

Collars. RFID microchips?

Fair question-not argument.....
You haven't explained how you are going to find a pack and identify a BP. Remember, WDFW thinks they can do it. How would you start and how much of your time do you think it will take?

[wraithen]

Would've started YEARS ago and I would trap and dart them using bait whenever possible. If I had the dough I would involve helo's but that's probably not on the table. I would attempt to track every single wolf. You never know when a few leave the pack to make their own bp and if they're already collared. Recollaring pups wouldn't be too difficult. Factor in a small amount of elastic in the middle of excess material in the collar and you wouldn't have to recollar quite as soon. If I were WA and using their brains? I would just wait until 15 bp's sat on the steps in olympia for 3 years.

[KillBilly]

So far the only way I can see it happening is if they can successfully trap and collar both parents and pups. Of course the pups collars would have to be changed as they grow. If not collared then they would be very hard to tell which set of parents they belong to. 3 years is a long time even to track one breeding pair let alone locate and track multiple BPs.

Ok, RFID/Microchip...good idea, no worry about fit changes as the pups grow.

how much travel is involved? Do I have other responsibilities to keep up? December is cold... brrr.

How practical is it to believe that I can get into a denning area in late Sept. early Oct. and chip/collar the right family? Wolves look a lot alike and a bunch of pups running around and playing... when they start running with the pack is it going to be easier to trap and collar the right 2 pups that go with the correct parents?

You can see I am confused as to how they are going to do it. Todays trappers are having difficulty trapping sighted wolves to collar them

[denali]

Drones ( I'm serious) not the armed ones of course, they wold give you the ability to stay over an area for an extended period of time, thermal-photo-video-gps- RIFD, now some one smart figure out how to pay for it. 

[KillBilly]

Drones ( I'm serious) not the armed ones of course, they wold give you the ability to stay over an area for an extended period of time, thermal-photo-video-gps- RIFD, now some one smart figure out how to pay for it. 

I'm still stuck on accurately capturing the BP and pups for your drones to track. All the ground work is what is going to hurt us... lack of money equals lack of personell.

[wraithen]

I'm liking this game. And its almost bedtime. *censored* you killbilly!
The problem with the rfid microplant is its not cheap and the range is virtually nil. You would have to get pretty close to them to find them so you would constantly have to be near them. Unless that technology has gotten a lot better and they can talk to the chip long range via satellite. If it's short range you're basically remotely chasing any wolf that leaves the pack. The other challenge is the lone wolf that strikes out and moves hundreds of miles away.

Just found a new one that has just over a mile range so babysitters are needed. Seems like collars are the way to go :-(

[KillBilly]

Would've started YEARS ago and I would trap and dart them using bait whenever possible. If I had the dough I would involve helo's but that's probably not on the table. I would attempt to track every single wolf. You never know when a few leave the pack to make their own bp and if they're already collared. Recollaring pups wouldn't be too difficult. Factor in a small amount of elastic in the middle of excess material in the collar and you wouldn't have to recollar quite as soon. If I were WA and using their brains? I would just wait until 15 bp's sat on the steps in olympia for 3 years.

That's funny  except those 15 BP would be 250+ wolves in three years....

[buckfvr]

Look for the rules of pack distribution and territories to change dramatically as they eat their way through  north east wa.   THe afore mentioned rules and territory size is based on food source availability.....I do believe packs will have to move more frequently in this state than they do in the larger less populas areas of the other states.   

Oh yea, we should all be pressuring our district legislators to introduce new law that would deal with the up coming litigation storm that will hit once the 3 year period ends.

[KillBilly]

I'm liking this game. And its almost bedtime. *censored* you killbilly!
The problem with the rfid microplant is its not cheap and the range is virtually nil. You would have to get pretty close to them to find them so you would constantly have to be near them. Unless that technology has gotten a lot better and they can talk to the chip long range via satellite. If it's short range you're basically remotely chasing any wolf that leaves the pack. The other challenge is the lone wolf that strikes out and moves hundreds of miles away.

Just found a new one that has just over a mile range so babysitters are needed. Seems like collars are the way to go :-(

RFID is certainly capable. We can track Airplane parts that are on the ground or in the air via RFID. We can even find them by serial number while in flight... aahhh but they aren't wolves.   

[KillBilly]

Look for the rules of pack distribution and territories to change dramatically as they eat their way through  north east wa.   THe afore mentioned rules and territory size is based on food source availability.....I do believe packs will have to move more frequently in this state than they do in the larger less populas areas of the other states.   

good point

[wraithen]

Ok, I would also use all that fed money for this crap to track the wolves instead of pour it into the general fund. There's a chunk of money to start with.