The Chamberlain Basin Pack, deep in the Frank Church Wilderness, was relocated and a radio collar put on a pup last week.
In 1996, the first three Idaho wolf packs formed — Chamberlain Basin, Selway, and Landmark. All contact with the Chamberlain Basin pack was lost in 2001, but this year there they were at their traditional rendezvous site. I should add that last fall, there might have been a sighting of the original alpha male, still alive.
How long the collar will last I don’t know. It could be chewed off quickly or broadcast for years. Hopefully it was not fitted so tight that the pup will choke when it reaches full size this winter.
As the Idaho Fish and Game Commission gets closer and and closer to full management authority of Idaho wolves, I expect they will order a big wolf reduction, and radio collars on wolves will lead Wildlife Services, (a federal agency) that is in bed with all the local anti-predatory elements, will shoot them from their helicopter gunships.In my view, a wolf hunt is much better than a Wildlife Services wolf reduction.
Idaho’s gubernatorial election is critical this year. One candidate is in bed with all the reactionary forces in Idaho. The other is a moderate, and a man with a long historical view of Idaho outdoor issues. He remembers the days of Cecil Andrus, and Frank Church, men with a broad understanding of Idaho’s lands and waters.
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is President of the Western Watersheds Project.
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Whoa – I thought from first reading the headline that the Chamberlain pack had been captured and moved – so it is good to read they’ve just been “found”.
Great choice moving to the blog, Ralph. I like better already!
matt
There is little danger that this wolf will suffer any ill effects from the collar; it was processed by competent biologists from the Nez Perce Tribe’s wolf program who have been capturing/handling wolves since 1997.