Ecological Studies of the Timber Wolf in Northeastern MinnesotaMech, L. David
Science
Ecological Studies of the Timber Wolf in Northeastern Minnesota
Mech, L. David
Deer -- Minnesota; Gray wolf -- Behavior -- Minnesota; Gray wolf -- Ecology -- Minnesota
+-------+-------------------------+-------------------------+
| | Mean net | Greatest net |
| Wolf | daily distance | daily distance |
|number +------------+------------+------------+------------+
| | Feb. 1-23 | Feb. 23-28 | Feb. 1-23 | Feb. 23-28 |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
| 1051 1.1 3.5 2.3 4.8 |
| 1053 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.0 |
| 1055 2.7 6.2 8.0 12.8 |
| 1057 1.0 1.5 4.0 4.5 |
| 1059 2.2 3.1 4.0 5.6 |
+-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
There is little published information on the movements and ranges of
lone wolves with which to compare our data. Mech (1970) summarized
information regarding ranges of packs. Reported ranges varied from 36
square miles for a pack of two wolves in Minnesota (Stenlund 1955) to
5,000 square miles for a pack of 10 in Alaska (Burkholder 1959).
Considering only data based on intensive study in the same general
region (Minnesota, Isle Royale, and Ontario) as our study area, the
largest range reported was 210 square miles for a pack of 15 to 21
wolves on Isle Royale (Mech 1966, Jordan _et al._ 1967). On a per-wolf
basis, the ranges in this region varied from 6 to 28 square miles per
wolf. Our pack of five with its range of 43 square miles would have
about 9 square miles per wolf.
A more accurate assessment of the ranges of the radiotagged wolves
requires an individual discussion for each.
_No. 1051._--The range of 1051 was composed basically of three distinct
areas (fig. 19). Within 10 days after being released, the wolf left the
general area of his capture (Area A near Isabella Lake) and traveled to
Area B along Highway 1, some 17 miles to the southwest. From December 9
to January 4 wolf 1051 remained in Area B, which covers about 45 square
miles. Between January 4 and 6 he returned to Area A and stayed in 13
square miles until February 3. Between February 3 and 5 he shifted to
Area C east of Snowbank Lake, 11 miles northwest of Area A. He remained
in that 16-square-mile area until February 25, then suddenly left and
headed 8 miles to the northeast.
_Table 5.--Extent of ranges used by radiotagged wolves_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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