For the first time in almost 80 years, there's a confirmed sighting of a wolf pack in Utah. Five wolves were spotted running in a remote corner of the state.
In recent years, lone wolves have been trapped in Utah twice, but this is the first confirmed pack to enter the state since the last Utah wolves were exterminated in 1930.
There's no concrete proof the wolf pack was here--no photos or video, unfortunately. But the experts saw and heard just enough to convince them the wolf pack really did make a historic crossing into Utah.
Wolves were wiped out in the lower 48 states early in the last century, exterminated to protect cows and sheep. But they're making a big comeback since their reintroduction in Yellowstone.
Since the mid-'90s, wolf packs have been spreading their range in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Utah experts have long expected their return, and now it's apparently happened.
Three weeks ago, a pilot landing at Dutch John Airport spotted five big dogs. The pilot is a veteran hunter with experience spotting wolves from the air in Alaska.
"He said wolves," explained Kevin Bundle, with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). "He was positive, 100 percent."
The pilot, Dave McDonnell, reported two blacks and three grays, which is an important clue. "Because coyotes don't have color phases like wolves do," Bundle said.
With such a credible sighting, experts flooded into northeastern Utah to confirm it. A few nights later, they found tracks in the snow from one or two wolves but couldn't get photos of the paw prints.
"We didn't find them until after dark, so we couldn't get photos because the flash just blinds you back; and it snowed overnight so we couldn't go back up the next day," Bundle explained.
But the clincher is what the searchers heard. They played a digital recording of a wolf and heard answering howls in the distance.
They're now officially listing it as a confirmed sighting, Utah's first pack since 1930. "Whether they're still there, we don't think so, or we think we would have picked them up by now," Bundle said.
They're still trying. For the last three weeks, they've been putting out roadkill carcasses of deer and elk, hoping the wolves will feed on them, so far, to no avail. The best guess is the pack went back to Wyoming, at least for now.
Wolves spotted in Utah!
- shadowolf
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Wolves spotted in Utah!
YAY!
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
that's good news. Yes wolves all over North America are regaining their numbers. ^^
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
Darn, still wish they'd come to Pennslyvania *sighs*
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- timberwolf12162
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
yeah they r now everywere in the united states even here in georgia i have some behind both my houses. my part wolf huskys wood howl to them at night and at my other house we have a wolf den about four meters behind the pond of r house.
And i even saw one of the wolfs ctaches one of the beavers around r house how do u get ride of bearvers too now that the wolfs r gone!?
And i even saw one of the wolfs ctaches one of the beavers around r house how do u get ride of bearvers too now that the wolfs r gone!?
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
It is so great to have wolves doing well!
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
It's funny how the wolves are so blissfully ignorant of the achievement they've just made. They take a few steps into another state, and humans go crazy about it. But for them, they don't even know states exist. XD
Does the wolf pack have a name?
Does the wolf pack have a name?
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- shadowolf
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
LOL yeah, they were just minding there own busness and all of a sudden we go crazy about it.
no, not yet, if they spot them again, and they stay there, they will most likely give them a name
no, not yet, if they spot them again, and they stay there, they will most likely give them a name
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
Its great to know that wolves are comming back in other states .
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
*throws a tantrum about living in Cali. Socal at that... >.<*
Still, it's nice to know they are slowly moving back!
Still, it's nice to know they are slowly moving back!
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Wolves! :3
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
Wow, that's great news for the people in Utah! Hopefully more and more will return there ^^. I don't know about Colorado or New Mexico, but in Arizona we have some wolves. With them arriving in Utah, that might mean wolves for California and the other 3 of the four corners as well! It's great to know that conservation efforts are finally paying off big-time ^^.
Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
Utah is a great state, I have been there, and the northern mountain ranges are great wolf habitat (obviously since the used to live there). I just wish red wolves could be reintroduced here in SE Missouri
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
Thats realy good news! I've been to utah before as well, and i really enjoyed it, im so glad wolves are gaining in numbers!
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- timber wolf4321
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Re: Wolves spotted in Utah!
Great news!I'm so glad wolves were spotted in Utah!
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