January 2025 - 28

with a census, not an estimate of how many
wolves are in the state.
" Wildlife managers want to be able to
determine the impacts of management
actions, and precise monitoring allows us to
evaluate our management with a high level
of assurance, " Mills said.
Based on wolf population, mortality and
disease data collected throughout the past 28
years, the total number of wolves that can
be held within the WTGMA, or carrying
capacity, is approximately 200. When the
wolf population reaches this number, the
less population growth biologists witness as
a result of increasing mortality and declining
pup births and survival. Additionally, the
rate of canine distemper, a fatal disease for
wolf pups and some adults, increases if the
population is at high density above carrying
capacity. From 2014-17 when wolves
were relisted and the population increased
above the carrying capacity,the rate of canine
distemper increased from 5 to 70 percent.
Management by the department has since
reduced wolf population density toward the
population objective, which resulted in canine
distemper infection returning to the lower
levels measured prior to 2017.
Ken Mills receives an immobilized wolf, 1355M of the Wildcat Ridge pack, from Kevin Coates of Native Range Capture
Services in February 2022 near Moran. (Photo by Mark Gocke, WGFD)
a disease outbreak causing a wolf population
crash, among other benefits. "
Currently, the department has tracking
collars in all 31 wolf packs that roam in and
around the Wolf Trophy Game Management
Area in northwest Wyoming. The collars
serve as the foundation of the department's
$350,000 annual wolf monitoring and management
program. According to Mills, the
monitoring efforts ensure wildlife managers
have an exact pulse on wolves' geographical
range, population status and survival rates.
The intensive monitoring program requires
more than 1,000 man-hours and allows the
department to manage wolves with precision.
Typically, wildlife population numbers are
estimates. However, due to the social structure
of wolf packs, wildlife managers can census
the population and determine, at a minimum,
how many wolves are on the landscape. This
allows the department to present the public
28 | January 2025
CONFLICT
Mills said when Game and Fish evaluates
situations in which wolves pose a threat to
the well-being of humans or their property
- called conflict - it is clear there is
a trend. Most wolf conflicts involve preying
on livestock.
" The department manages conflict by ensuring
wolves are below their biological carrying
capacity, " Mills said. " When they get near or
above this number, history shows they will
likely turn to cattle or sheep. When wolves
were relisted from 2014-16, conflict rose exponentially.
It was not good for people, wolves
or livestock and created tension. "
When wolves get into trouble, the department
uses a measured approach to lethal
removal.
" Because of our monitoring efforts we
know the composition of our packs. When
they do begin to prey on livestock, we can
determine which individuals are participating
and remove them, " Mills said. " However,
by moderating population density, we have
reduced conflict and lethal control required
to resolve that conflict and have transferred
mortality of wolves from the department to
the public through effective hunting seasons. "
Game and Fish is actively researching

January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025