Great News:
The wolf team captured a sub adult male wolf on North Gate Road near where
Webster Creek crosses the road. The satellite collar was placed on the wolf on
September 25, 1997 at approximately 09:30.
The collar was already turned on September 23 while checking traps. I forwarded
the data from ARGOS that arrived today. These locations prior to September 25
are of the pickup while checking. Look for data to arrive on Monday that should
contain for after 9/25/97 and be of the wolf making his first travels.
The VHF normal telemetry signal was working on the afternoon 9/25/97.
Gary Huschle
The satellite collar is working well. The location codes of 0 and 1 are as good
as can be expected. The volunteers picked "Stumpy" (the satellite
collared wolf has a short tail) up from the ground the other morning and
verified that he is alive and moving. Hopefully he will pack his bags soon and
set off to make a home for himself somewhere else. I'll try to have some
pictures/slides pulled together of Stumpy for you next week.
Gary Huschle
Hi Gary - we are having trouble figuring out some of the data.
First of all, is the Greenwich time of only -5 hours because of Daylight Savings
time? After daylight savings do we go to -6 hrs?
Why are there 2 lat/longs given? Do we have to triangulate those degrees for the
exact location of the wolf? What numbers should we be using to actually map the
wolf
What does pass duration mean? Is that the time from the first satellite pickup
of the collar to the end of the range pick up?
Thanks
Becky
Becky:
Yes your interpretation of the Greenwich Time is correct.
There are two locations given because the triangulation method the satellites
use yield two solutions of which only one is correct. They list the most
probable correct solution first based on past locations or starting point given
to them by us. Disregard the second set of locations. The first lat-long
location is the location. No triangulating necessary.
Pass duration is the time elapsed from the first signal heard by the satellite
to the last signal heard. Notice the Z location code data given for one of the
past records. It has a pass duration of 0 seconds. Only one signal was heard so
no location was able to be made and no pass duration.
Gary Huschle
It appears more and more that Stubby is the start of a new pack. He has not dispersed and is not mixing with the Golden Valley Pack. He was observed with two other wolves from the airplane a few weeks ago. Hopefully we'll be more successful in selecting a disperser next year. There were 7 pups that were caught this year that have been marked so any of these that are recaptured next year can be fitted with the satellite collar. If Stubby is recaptured we can make a switch to a normal collar and make use of the satellite on some one else. Have a great holiday season!!
Gary Huschle
Becky: The best guess on the wolf capture was that on last Wednesday the prediction was 8-10 days. With the rainy weather, I would be surprised. An approach you should take with the students, since they are part of the research project, is that we are observers recording \ data/information. The study is about how the wolves fit into this agricultural area. The mortality doesn't ruin the project, it is the project. This is part of the mortality that needs to be recorded and management can be based on later. GH
We have lost three wolves in the past week. I forwarded a news release to you.
Unfortunate, but this is what this project is all about--- how wolves use the
refuge and the surrounding area --- and this is part of what happens when the
wolf interfaces with civilization. Stubby does not appear to be among the dead,
but this could change how he functions in the pack.
Gary Huschle
February 9, 1998
AGASSIZ NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
MIDDLE RIVER, MINNESOTA 56737
------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESEARCH WOLVES KILLED
Three wolves were recently killed in two separate incidents near Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. One wolf was killed on approximately January 29 on the east side of Eckvoll Wildlife Management Area. This male was the Alpha or dominant male of the Golden Valley Pack that occupies the east side of the refuge. It appeared the wolf had been run over by a snowmobile near the edge of the state owned Eckvoll Wildlife Management Area that adjoins Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. Researchers had been following this wolf since July 18, 1997. Its mate was the female wolf that was reported to be shot last November south east of the refuge. The other two wolves were shot on private land south of Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. These wolves were killed on February 2. Both of these male wolves were radio-collared in August of 1997 as part [missing words] pups of the Elm Lake Pack. Both of these incidents are under investigation. People with information regarding these incidents are asked to call federal agent at 218-720-5357, state conservation officer at 218-523-5131 or the state turn in poacher shot line at 1-800-652-9093. Information will be kept confidential and callers can remain anonymous. The fine for taking (killing) a threatened species within the United States is $25,000 and/or six months in federal prison. The radio-collared wolves are part of a research project at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge investigating how wolves use the refuge and surrounding lands and their role in livestock depredation in the surrounding area.
Subject: Stubby lives
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 09:55:48 -0600
Hi Becky,
Hope you are enjoying the summer. Just incase the good news hasn't reached you, a little over a week ago, a state employee was working in Elm Lake WMA and he saw a wolf with a collar and very short tail. Gary and I spoke with him directly, and it can be no other than Stubby.
Other good news...Golden Valley Pack had 6 pups and Elm Lake 4.
Maggie
