An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber Wolf — John Shaqi
An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber WolfWeise, Thomas F.
Science
An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber Wolf
Weise, Thomas F.
Gray wolf -- Reintroduction -- Michigan
Wolf No. 10 was shot by a deer hunter, probably on the morning of
November 16, the second day of firearms deer season. On November 17 her
signal was heard from near a cabin on the south shore of Van Riper Lake.
The hunters occupying the cabin later said they had removed the collar
from the wolf, which they had found dead on the afternoon of November
16. Before we had learned this, the carcass of Wolf No. 10 was
discovered without the collar by another hunter, about a half mile (0.8
km) south of Van Riper Lake. It had been shot through the right leg,
shattering the radius and ulna, and through the head, the bullet
entering the left frontal bone and exiting below the right eye. In
addition the radio collar had been shattered by a bullet and was
missing, and one ear had been cut off. We identified the wolf from the
tag in the other ear.
The wolf had gained 6 lb. (2.7 kg) since she had been brought to
Michigan, and had heavy internal and subcutaneous fat. She had light
infections of two species of tapeworms (_Echinococcus granulosus_ and
_Taenia pisiformis_), and of one species of hookworm (Uncinaria
stenocephala), as determined by John Wenstrom. _Echinococcus granulosus_
is not uncommon in wolves (Mech 1970). The other two species were
discussed above.
DISCUSSION
Wolves No. 11, 12, and 13 undoubtedly were members of the same pack.
This conclusion is based on the fact that they did not fight when placed
together in captivity, that they freely intermixed while penned, that
No. 11 and No. 12 copulated, and that all three wolves generally
traveled as a unit after their release. No. 11 and No. 12 were always
located together from a few days after their release until the death of
No. 12. Temporary splitting, as with No. 13 is a normal occurrence in
wild wolf packs (Mech 1966).
The identity of Wolf No. 10 remains unknown. She was captured 7.5 miles
(12.1 km) away from the other three, and in captivity she behaved
differently from them, remaining more to herself but intermingling with
the others occasionally, with no signs of aggression. The face licking
of No. 10 by No. 11 could be interpreted as a sign of patronizing
intimacy as an adult might treat a subordinate offspring. The teeth of
Wolf No. 10 had very little wear, indicating that she probably was less
than 3-years old, whereas the teeth of No. 11 were blunt from wear. The
tendency for No. 10 to withdraw from the others and from human beings
indicated that she probably was a low-ranking or subordinate animal, a
peripheral member of the pack (Woolpy 1968), or even a lone wolf
currently dispersing from the pack (Mech 1973).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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