Published November 20, 2009 03:20PM
Go ahead and add Oregon to the list of states with established wolves: Wildlife biologists have captured video footage of the largest confirmed wolf pack in the state—10 in all, with as many as six puppies. Roaming wolves have been returning to the state since the late 90s, but this den established by a 4-year-old, Idaho-born alpha female B-300 seems to indicate that they’ve chosen this section of Forest Service land in the Wallowa Mountains as their home range.
The video taken by the Imnaha Wildlife Management Unit near Joseph, Ore., clearly shows gray and black wolves moving upslope in a canyon against thick, fresh snow:
Researchers have monitored this group since last year, will consider the alpha male and female a breeding pair if at least two cubs survive until next December. This is only the second potential breeding pair in Oregon; the state needs at least four to exist for three consecutive years to consider delisting them at the state level.
—Ted Alvarez