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
When a signal was received, the aircraft was headed in the approximate
direction of the source until the signal strength reached a peak; a 90 deg.
turn was then made in the direction the signal seemed the strongest. A
series of these maneuvers soon narrowed the area to the point where
visual search was possible. After practice and experience with this
technique, we could locate the approximate source of the signal within
10 to 30 minutes after first receiving it.
Even though the radiotagged wolves spent most of their time inland,
often in stands of conifers, they were frequently observed from the
aircraft. The technique was to circle at 300 to 800 feet altitude
around a radius of a quarter mile from the point where the strongest
signal emanated. From December through April, 65 percent of the wolves
located by radio were sighted; the rate was much higher for more
experienced personnel. A pack of five wolves that was tracked was seen
31 times out of 33 attempts during February and March.
Whenever wolves were located, radiotagged or not, observations were
made from an altitude that did not disturb them. Packs varied in the
concern shown the aircraft, but only one or two ran from it. The
radiotagged wolves, and a pack of 10 to 13 animals, were habituated to
the aircraft and usually could be observed from altitudes of 500 feet
and less without disturbance (fig. 15).
Almost all the radiotracking was done from aircraft, but when inclement
weather prevented flying, some attempts from the ground succeeded when
wolves were close enough to roads. The usual range on the ground was
0.75 to 1.50 miles. One wolf was approached to within 35 feet through
radiotracking.
[Illustration: _Figure 15.--The wolves studied soon became accustomed
to the aircraft and could then be observed during their natural
activity. (Photo courtesy of L. D. Mech.)_]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Mention of trade names does not constitute endorsement by the USDA
Forest Service._
[2] _The acrylic collar was fashioned by the Davidson Co., Minneapolis,
Minnesota, which also produced some of the transmitters. Other
transmitters and two radio receivers were manufactured by the AVM
Instrument Co., Champaign, Illinois._
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
Aerial observations made during this study involved 490 hours
distributed as follows: January, February, March 1967--124 hours;
February 1968--10 hours; December 1968 through August 1969--356 hours.
Seventy-seven observations involving a total of 323 wolves were made
(table 1), excluding animals located through radiotracking.
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