Mid Winter

There are a few signs of spring but winter lingers on in the Northern Rocky Mountains. A few Red Winged Blackbirds have occupied the cat tail marsh below my house, all winter, and about the first week of February a couple of dozen more birds arrived. The marsh is still frozen as of Feb. 13th, 2009. Females are a striped rufous color and the males are black with red coverts (upper wing area). The males will gather up to 15 different female birds, which will nest in his territory, and will spend a quarter of his time, during daylight hours, keeping other Red Wing males away from his kingdom, and will even attack larger mammals such as dogs and people (not to worry they won't hurt you). The trouble with this ambitious bird is, that his efforts at defending his harem, are mostly ineffective, as up to half the baby birds are sired by other Red Winged males. It must be exhaustive work defending all that territory, so its no wonder other males are able to “sneak in”.

The Gary Wolves are in mating season now, going through their intricate rituals, of searching for new mates or protecting existing alliances. The pups will be born in early spring. A wolf pack averages 4 to 7 individuals. The range of a wolf pack range varies, depending upon many factors, but a large pack needs over 100 square miles. Wolves are very territorial, with some overlap of their ranges, but generally they seek to avoid each other, but at times there is strife between packs. A pack may use the same territory for generations, if food sources are adequate.

The wolf population of Yellowstone National Park, declined in 2008, to an estimated 124 wolves, down 27 percent from the previous year, this mainly due to impacts of disease in wolf pups. The population of Idaho wolves was estimated at a minimum of 732 wolves in about 83 packs (2007 figures). In Montana the estimated minimum number of wolves (Dec. 31st, 2007 figures) is 422, in 73 packs.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department, listed 94 wolves were killed (by Wildlife Services) for livestock depredations in 2008, which is more than double the number controlled in 2007, which was 43. The number of livestock killed by wolves in 2008, increased by about 20%. The number of wolves killed for depredations on cattle and sheep, has seen dramatic increases from previous years. I haven't seen any explanation of why so many wolves were killed in 2008, compared to previous years, but apparently there has been a huge change in policy on “rules of engagement”. The above figures are not final as of this date, and may change. I sent an email, to the Director of the Idaho Fish and Game Department on Jan. 31st, 2009, concerning this matter.