The wolves seem to be working their way back after the hunting was curtailed. The mouth of Eightmile Creek seems to be the boundary between 4 different packs. There is a pack east of Eightmile probably reaching up towards Casner Creek and Warm Springs. There is a pack primarily operating in Ten Mile drainage. Another one down off Jackson Peak from the Crooked River drainage and the fourth one behind me primarily up at the head of Kettle Creek. I can tell from the tracks and howling that they are separate packs.

The ones that have been brave enough to come within my range of influence have decided to move on. Elk are hanging out around here which is an indication that they are comfortable with the lack of wolf smells.

Game department people were here a few weeks ago and bailed out of a helicopter to tag an elk calf. Looked to me like one cow was injured when she spooked down the hill from fright of the chopper so close. The dudes headed out across private property clearly marked "no trespassing". We now have a calf with a huge collar that is trying to scratch it off and bleeding on the neck. It is hard for me to acknowlege any scientific benefit from this program other than keeping fish and game people employed.

Stay tuned for updates. April 7, 2011