An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber Wolf

by Thomas F. Weise; Richard A. Hook; L. David Mech; William Laughlin Robinson

Fort Snelling

Twin Cities, Minnesota 55111

AN EXPERIMENTAL TRANSLOCATION OF
THE EASTERN TIMBER WOLF

THOMAS F. WEISE Department of Biology Northern Michigan University[1]	WILLIAM L. ROBINSON Department of Biology Northern Michigan University
RICHARD A. HOOK Department of Biology Northern Michigan University	L. DAVID MECH Endangered Wildlife Research Program U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service[2]

[1] Marquette, Michigan 49855

[2] Division of Cooperative Research, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Md. 20810. Mailing address: North Central Forest Experiment Station, Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN. 55101.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[FOREWORD]			Inside front cover
[ABSTRACT]			Back side of title page
[INTRODUCTION]			[1]
[THE STUDY AREA]			[2]
[METHODS]			[4]
[RESULTS]			[8]
	Social Structure of the Translocated Wolves		[8]
	Aerial Tracking		[10]
	Movements of the Translocated Wolves		[11]
		Post-Release Phase	[11]
		Directional Movement Phase	[11]
		Exploratory Phase	[11]
		Settled Phase	[11]
		Movements of the Remaining Pack Member	[11]
		Movements of Wolf No. 10	[12]
	Feeding Habits		[16]
	Citizen Sightings		[17]
	Habitat Use		[19]
	Failure of Female No. 11 to Whelp		[19]
	Demise of the Translocated Wolves		[19]
[DISCUSSION]			[21]
	Effect of Captivity and Human Contact		[21]
	Movements		[22]
		Environmental Influences	[22]
		Possible Homing Tendencies	[22]
		Distances Traveled	[23]
		Home Range Size	[25]
		Selection of a Territory	[25]
	Vulnerability and Mortality		[25]
	Food Habits and Predation		[26]
	An Alternate Approach		[26]
[CONCLUSIONS]			[26]
[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS]			[27]
[LITERATURE CITED]			[27]

ABSTRACT

Two male and two female eastern timber wolves (Canis lupus lycaon), live-trapped in Minnesota were released in March 1974 near Huron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their movements were monitored by aerial radio-telemetry.