Fall 2016 Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly

FALL 2016 Featuring: • The Owyhee Pack History - part 3 • Ask The Biologist • Mobilizing for Change • A Fascinating Threat • And so much more...

FALL 2016 Table of Contents

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President’s Letter Overnight Visit to Wolf Camp Ask the Biologist Gray Area: Almost Complete Hibernation to Huckleberries From Pups to Packs GoodWorld #Donate The History of the Owyhee Pack - Part 3 KidWings Explores - What is a Wolf?

Savings Wolves Raffle A Fascinating Threat Wolf Behavior 101 Adopt the Future Mobilizing for Change Meet our 2016 Winter Staff Up in the Air with Raptors

44 32 The Sawtooth Legacy is a publication of the Wolf Education & Research Center (WERC). The purpose of the magazine is to provide interesting and engaging information to children and adults about the gray wolf species that promotes a broader understanding of wolves, wolf recovery, their place in healthy ecosystems, and the state and federal policies that impact their survival. Â

Board of Directors

Chris Anderson, Board President Sharon Lander, Treasurer Danielle Hawthorne, Secretary Dennis Olson, Board Member Alan Lacy, Board Member

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WERC Staff

Chris Anderson, Staff & Board President Jeremy Heft, Sanctuary Manager/Biologist Steven Urke, Production Consultant Dave Winfield, Graphic Design

President’s Letter

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Dear Friends, I’m excited about this issue. I realize I write that every issue but it’s true. We only continue to work hard and find our place in creating inspiring material. How do I know this? In addition to dozens of thoughtful letters from readers, I’m also a reader and am motivated and inspired to give you the best quality possible.

This coming season presents many exciting opportunities. Winter is often a time of year when we focus our efforts on staying financially afloat. This winter will be no different as we act as shrewd stewards of your trust and finances.

As we approach Thanksgiving, each of our team is working to produce valuable films, written material, and give our printed and online educational material an overhaul.

I invite you to turn these pages with renewed and vigorous curiosity.

You play a significant role in the education about wolves and other iconic species who depend on each of us. We have a responsibility that you make possible, and for that, we’re not just grateful but determined to deliver valuable education and inspiring information.

And Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate with us. As this hilarious Dave Winfield original cartoon demonstrates, nature isn’t always pretty, but it almost always sustains itself when we let it do what it does.

And that can be downright fascinating. Thank you for your continued partnership.

Chris Anderson Connect

Facebook.com/WolfCenter Facebook.com/OwyheePack Facebook.com/SawtoothLegacy or personally at LinkedIn.com/in/ccanderson

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Overnight Visit to Wolf Camp

Overnight During a Visit to Wolf Camp Visiting Wolf Camp during the Fall and Winter can be precarious on the prairie.

One thing is certain, if you’re going to leave the lowlands, you probably want to get a place where you can relax with just a few amenities of home.

Many of our guests enjoy staying nearby at Winchester Lake State Park. It’s a popular destination and even our team stays here because of the proximity to both Winchester and the program.

Some of the amenities include popular yurts that provide barbecues, canoes and bicycles on the outside with inside comforts such as bunkbeds and a futon, electrical outlets to charge your essential electronics, indoor heaters, and even access to Wifi for a small fee. You can also check out a great selection of campsites.

Winchester Lake State Park is a long time upholder of the Wolf Education & Research Center and between Memorial Day and Labor Day annually, we’ll put on dozens of programs to their campers, many of whom will at some point during their visit, come up to Wolf Camp to learn more about wolves.

Search Google for Winchester Lake State Park for reserving a campsite or a yurt and make tracks to Winchester, Idaho and the Wolf Education & Research Center.

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Ask the Biologist

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Written by Jeremy Heft, WERC Biologist

1. When are dens used?

It is widely known that wolves dig dens, but the use of these underground structures are often misunderstood by many. Every spring, usually in early April after the snow has melted on the Southfacing slopes, a site is selected for the resident pack’s den. It is not fully understood who exactly chooses the site, but most likely the pregnant alpha-female has the duty. We do know most of the parameters for choosing a den site, however.

Research supported by WERC and performed by Jon Trapp (MS Thesis, Prescott College, 2004), showed that the density of vegetation and tree cover, proximity to water, and aspect of the slope were the major selection criteria for wolves in Western North America. This means that a site densely covered with vegetation and woody debris makes the den less visible and subsequently hidden from

other predators. The close location of water is probably to ensure an easy availability to both the mother and newborn pups. Finally, the Southfacing aspect of the slope allows the sun to warm the soil of the den and decrease the likelihood of deep snow near the entrance.

Through both wild and captive observations on wolves, we know that most members of the pack participate in digging the subterranean chambers. Wolves are great diggers, so when a team of paws works together, a large den can be excavated relatively quickly. This is just one of the ways the entire pack cooperates for the benefit of the pups. Dens are only used by pregnant wolves for shelter when birthing the annual puppy litter. Adult wolves never use dens for any other purpose throughout the year. Contrary to popular belief, they do not use them SL - FALL 2016

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to escape weather or to keep warm.

After the pups leave the den, the structure remains vacant until the next year, or possibly forever if the pack chooses a new site the following year.

The exact moment a pregnant mother enters the den to begin the birthing process is not fully understood. Through captive wolf observations, most facilities report that the mother enters the den within the same day of the birth, so probably once her labor begins. However, due to the difficulty in closely observing wild wolves, it is very challenging to know if this behavior is consistent in the wild. Such variables, such

as protection of the mother, are different in captivity than the wild, so variations on den use initiation could be true. Regardless of when the mother enters, she remains alone and no other wolf is permitted within the den, even the alpha-male father. Once the pups are born, she rarely leaves the den or nearby vicinity for several weeks after. After about 4 weeks, the puppies begin to venture out of the den, but may return to its safety for sleep or protection. After 6-8 weeks, the puppies no longer use the den, and the structure remains vacant. Only if one of the pups becomes a mother herself, will she ever use a den again in her life.

2. Do captive wolves prefer different food types according to the season?

What we feed our captive wolves is one of the most common questions we receive regarding the care of the Owyhee Pack. The diet and frequency of feedings have been discussed at length in previous Ask the Biologist and Wolf Behavior 101 articles. To review, the pack is fed a “feast and famine� diet, which means they receive food at random

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Ask the Biologist

intervals anywhere between 3 to 12 days, although about 5 days is the average. The weight and type of food is also randomized to mimic the diet of a wild wolf. Raw meat, mostly in the form of deer, elk, goat, and sheep carcasses, are fed whole to the wolves.

Occasionally pieces of larger livestock carcasses are provided, and scraps from a local butcher shop round out the usual menu.

Through year-round observations on both the Sawtooth and Owyhee Packs, the energy and determination of eating quickly has been tracked for every feed in our 20-year history.

Although to claim the wolves have a “preference” is skating the line of personification, elevated energy levels and increased determination to eat immediately can be objectively recorded. For the purpose of this brief discussion, I will use “preference” to describe a behavior that presents as a relative high energy and motivation to eat immediately. Trends for such preferences of food type have emerged from the large amount of data collected during our observations.

Certain favorite species of food have become apparent, as well as a seasonal variation for this preference.

During the warm summer months, the wolves tend to prefer lean red meat, such as deer and elk. Thankfully, this coincides with our roadkill season here, so plenty of wild game is often available for food. As the temperature cools in autumn, a shift to high fat

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content foods is evident. This is most likely caused by the necessity to gain the subcutaneous fat layer and their thick, winter pelage (fur) for insulation.

Beginning in October, we increase the frequency of fatty foods, such as the local butcher scraps. Both packs have exhibited a strong affinity for these scraps, which contain large amounts of fat from domestic and wild ungulate species. Hunger behaviors toward any food are also escalated as the days grow shorter. In winter, the wolves continue their preference for fatty food, but

also show some preference for large amounts of muscle meat. The hunger of the pack is at the highest, so large amounts of food are fed at once, therefore the frequency of feedings is slightly less often. We tend to concentrate feeding large domestic stock, such as horse and cattle through the winter to assist with this preference. Coincidentally, the long, cold winter season is when most compromised livestock perish, thus the disposal of these animals is

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Ask the Biologist

convenient for both the rancher and WERC. As the weather warms in spring, they revert back to a low-fat, highmuscle meat preference. In addition, for some reason, they also tend to prefer eating the organs of carcasses more in spring than other times of the year. Perhaps this has something to do with the recovery of resources depleted over winter, or a potential benefit to the care of the pending pups? After all, their diet selection is geared to benefit each individual, including the newborn pups.

Seasonal food preference is commonly observed among captive wolves, so we can assume there is a

good potential that it exists among wild wolves too. Further research in this area may become possible in the future with technological advances in field studies, but for now we can only surmise that seasonal alterations in diet selection is instinctual, and thus present in wild wolves. Even so, wild wolves have far less variety in their menu than captive wolves, so the effects of such a selection may be minimal or not evident. Regardless of being wild or captive, seasonal food selection is likely an evolved behavior that promotes the survival of the pack through the nutritional benefits created in each individual wolf.

If you have any questions pertaining to wolves, etc., please let me know so I can include them in future segments. Please email me with questions/topics at: jeremy.heft@wolfcenter.org ~Jeremy Heft Biologist/Sanctuary Manager 8

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Gray Area

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Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest te!

Written by Alan Lacy rly Comple

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This past August, I had the privilege of screening a preliminary version of my film “Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest” to members of the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) group in Yellowstone National Park. Every year they convene to discuss important research and breeding recommendations pertaining to the captive and wild population of Mexican wolves. This year, they invited me to preview my film in front of the entire SSP Group! I want to thank everyone who made a donation to help me get to Yellowstone to screen the film - we made it! It was an honor to show the film in front of the leading scientists, biologists, geneticists, and volunteers working on the front-lines to recover the Mexican wolf.

When the film ended, it was met with a warm round of applause and positive affirmation that it will be a useful tool to help the Mexican wolf recover!

Our next steps are to finalize the film after making a few small tweaks to the current version from the feedback I received. We will then need to hire a top-

notch graphics animator as well as a sound engineer to ensure the graphics and audio design are of the highest possible quality.

Then we’ll hand it off to be color-graded and then it will be finished! After nearly 5 years of working on this film, I can positively say it’s coming down to a mere few weeks before it’s officially completed!

The most challenging part of making this film has been raising funds. People say that film-making is 99 percent fund raising, 1 percent of actually making a film – I would certainly agree. It’s tough.

That being said, I’m determined more than ever now after the positive reviews from last week to raise the remaining amount of funds I need. This will ensure I can cover the cost of bringing on graphics and sound design etc, not to mention distribution once the film is completed!

Perhaps you are able to give once again to help us cover these expenses? We need roughly $18K to make this happen! Every little bit counts! Thank you so much for your support!

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HIBERNATION TO HUCKLEBERRIES

by Chris Anderson

Where are we in the life cycle of bears?

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f you’re a wildlife enthusiast, you probably pay attention to the different life cycles of animals. Because I’m an avid birder with a particular interest in owls, I’m always fascinated by the differences in when owls will breed as opposed to other species of birds. Sometimes barn owls, for example, will have as many as three clutches of eggs in a year if the weather and food sources participate!

Fall is an interesting time of year to observe animal behaviors. When we see this closeup in our backyard in Oregon, I wonder if squirrels aren’t the original ‘Preppers’ as they race around the yard collecting chestnuts, acorns, and other nutrition-rich items to get through the winter.

Bears are another story, and this time of year, we see intriguing behavior from them across North America. In a previous issue of Hibernation to Huckleberries, we discussed that the black bear typically mates in the months of June and July and commonly gives birth in January or February. That brings us to the period between November and January when her cubs arrive. This time of year, they too are grazing the landscape for as much food as they can to ensure that winter is a long and comfortable sleep.

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Hibernation to Huckleberries

Beechnuts Our friends at the North American Bear Center tell us that “Fall food for black bears is scarce, so they begin hibernation in September or October and remain in dens for 6 or 7 months until April.

If supplemental food is provided to these bears in fall, they abandon it to begin hibernating on time, as they are genetically programmed to do.” Also, “The activity schedule is very different in eastern North America where acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, and other foods become available in fall, and some foods remain available all winter.

Bears there are genetically programmed to delay hibernation until late November or December and hibernate less than five months.”

Fall is also a time of year when black bears enter what’s called hyperphagia whereas they have to eat vast amounts of food to achieve 5,000 to 8,000 calories per day! This excessive consumption requires lots of water too so that they can fatten up for

Hickory Nuts their dormant period.

Later in the Fall, the bear begins consuming less food so they can regulate their metabolic rate, meaning they slow their metabolism voluntarily. Their heart rate lowers from a normal 66-80 beats per minute to only 22. The black bear’s heartbeat slows to conserve its available energy but maintains a charge from the results of the previous months of foraging and consuming.

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Acorn By this time black bears have chosen a place to spend winters: In a cave, under the roots of a downed tree, perhaps in a crevice, a hollow tree or log, or in a den that they dig out. When the bear finds a place to dorm, it curls up as best as possible, puts its head between its front paws, and it’s off to dreamland!

FACT: Hibernation is continuous dormancy with

sharp decreases in heart rate and metabolic rate. Bears use up to 4,000 kcal per day, mainly body fat, but do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. They can reduce oxygen consumption and metabolic rate by half and breathe only once every 45 seconds. Heart rate can drop periodically to 8-21 beats per minute, and blood flow to skeletal muscle, particularly the legs, can be reduced by 45% or more, making some bears slow to arouse and run away in winter. Source: North American Bear Center

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FROM PUPS TO PACKS: Habitat, Management, and

by Alan Lacy

Conflict - Oh My!

There’s No Place Like Home

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olves live in many places throughout the world. They can be found from high mountainous regions all the way down to lower desert elevations. Anywhere there is an available food source for wolves, they have the ability to exist. However, in the United States this doesn’t always mean that where their prey live, wolves do also. Since they were exterminated from the wild during the last half of the 19th century and early 20th centuries, they have only just begun to repopulate the west.

Today, wolves can be found in many western states. This is because they were reintroduced to the wild in places like Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, in Idaho, and in Arizona and New Mexico.

In 1995, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, along with many other organizations, 12

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released wolves back into the wild in hopes they would return to their old habitat, and help manage populations of ungulates like elk and deer. Twentyone years later, they have expanded into Montana, Washington, Oregon, and California, with occasional sightings in Utah and Colorado.

Wolves can travel great distances when searching for a potential mate and territory. Some wolves have become famous for doing just that, such as OR-7, a wolf often referred to as Journey. This particular wolf traveled from the Imnaha Pack of Northeastern Oregon, near the Idaho border, all the way down and into Northern California before eventually settling in Southern Oregon and raising a family. Another wolf even traveled from Wyoming all the way south to the North

From Pups to Packs

Rim of the Grand Canyon before being shot and killed in Southern Utah. Wolves are back, and their population as a whole is increasing.

Wolf packs will settle in an area that has a sufficient prey base and that is defendable from other wolf packs. They patrol their territory constantly, always marking their territory with a special scent that spells out trouble for any possible intruders who may come their way. In most cases in the United States, wolves typically inhabit regions of forested, mountainous terrain. Depending on prey densities, their territory can range anywhere from 15 to 200 square miles.

When wolves are about to have a new litter of pups, typically around May/June of each year, the female wolf will choose a den site for her new family. She looks

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for an area with good sufficient cover and protection from possible danger with a good view of any approaching threat. These locations are often very near water, in rocky outcroppings, and along a slope of some kind. This den will be the pack’s home for a couple months as the pups grow in strength before they begin venturing away from the den site.

As the pups continue to grow, the pack will leave them in a special place known as a rendezvous site, an area with decent visibility near a water source, yet with protection enough for the growing pups.

A yearling wolf will often stay behind with the pups to keep a protective watch out for them as the pack hunts. When the pack returns, they rendezvous at the sight where lots of tail wagging, greetings, and playful attitudes can be observed if you are lucky enough to see it.

Wolves live mostly in areas where there is abundant wilderness, but oftentimes the locations where they live also are used by people - for recreation or even to raise cattle. These public lands offer great habitat and locations for wolves to roam, but they also pose many potential conflicts between man and wolf. This is an ongoing struggle that requires on-the-ground management to ensure both wolves and people remain safe..

The Return Home

In 1996, wolves returned to the landscape after a lengthy period of time.

Their return has been met with both much hostility and praise, but stuck in the middle of all of this are the biologists and wildlife managers who work day in and day out mitigating these conflicts and ensuring the future for both wolves and man. Biologists often say that managing wolves is easy, it’s SL - FALL 2016

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From Pups to Packs

the people that make it challenging.

If left unto themselves, wolves would easily repopulate the west and restore themselves to a healthy population. But with the added dynamic of people and livestock, it is much harder for wolves to gain a foothold on the landscape. Wildlife managers have to step in to monitor wolf populations and behaviors in order to ensure the overall health of the species. It’s a challenging position to be in.

To best monitor the population of wolves in each region where they are recovering, biologists use radio telemetry devices, or GPS collars to learn the locations of each wolf they have in their study. This provides them with valuable information as to where packs are frequenting, how often they are making kills to feed the pack, and if and when they are in the vicinity of any grazing livestock.

This is an important tool in understanding how wolves are using the landscape which provides biologists with a more in-depth look into the biology of wolves.

Biologists must also work closely with the livestock communities in order to help mitigate potential conflicts between wolves and livestock producers. Wolves do occasionally kill domestic livestock and this is a problem for ranchers who are trying to make a living by selling their cattle to market. Every time a wolf kills one of their cattle, a rancher can lose up to several thousand dollars per cow, obviously a painful loss to a small cattle operation. By utilizing the radio telemetry or GPS position from the collars of nearby wolves, biologists can implement tactics such as range riders, fladry (a ribbon fencing used to scare wolves), and other various techniques to haze wolves away from nearby cattle.

In Yellowstone National Park, biologists 14

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with the National Park Service constantly monitor the wolves as part of an ongoing study. Ever since their reintroduction in 1996, they have monitored the presence of wolves, and have noticed significant changes in the ecosystem. For instance, with the return of wolves, streams are healthier, elk populations are healthier, as are the bison herds. This is due to the top-down effect predators have on an ecosystem known as trophic-cascades. In a nutshell, wolves apply pressure to the plant-eaters (herbivores), which in turn spend less time in the open decimating riparian growth along streambeds, which in turn leads to a flush of growth that provides new habitat for nesting warblers, amphibians, and even fish. It also provides new additional food for beavers, who in turn build dams and raise water tables, resulting in a lush wetland for moose

From Pups to Packs

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Home On The Range

The Gibbon wolf pack pauses in the snowy landscape in Yellowstone.

Photo courtesy of NPS.

and other animals to utilize. It’s a natural phenomenon that occurs simply due to the presence of a top predator like the wolf.

Without the management of wolves by biologists, these events would never have occurred, nor would protection for livestock be possible as it is today.

Biologists are as essential to wolf recovery as the habitat that wolves occupy. With wolves returning home to their native habitat, biologists are working hard to make headway into new areas where wolves are returning, such as California, Oregon, Washington, and the Southwest.

Without biologists, wolves would not have recovered as they have.

Not everyone is happy to see the return of wolves. Ranchers and livestock producers have legitimate concerns about wolves frequenting their pastures where their livelihoods graze. Wolves do kill cattle and sheep occasionally, which puts each respective livestock producer in a tight spot. Wolves are a federally protected species, which makes dealing with this issue a complicated one for ranchers. Mix in the mythology of the wolf, and a century-long narrative of the ‘big bad wolf’, and it’s easy to see how wolves can stir such strong emotions from the ranching community.

Biologists estimate that each wolf can consume approximately the equivalent of 17 elk per year, based on amount of meat consumed per feeding, the number of kills documented and the frequency of kills. This means a single wolf is capable of eating a single elk over the span of three weeks. A pack of wolves would of course increase the number of elk consumed each year. Occasionally however, wolves turn to easier sources of food when times are tough, or when opportunity presents itself. This creates a hardship for the rancher. Wolves however don’t kill cows every day as some may want you to believe - they simply cannot eat that much.

In most areas where wolves have returned to the wild, they share public lands with communities and individuals who live and share the same land with this apex predator. Though it’s rare that wolves do kill cattle, it does happen. Ranchers and locals who live in wolf country are much more likely to see wolves as well, and coupled with their understanding of wolves, it can be a scary moment for them.

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are wild animals, and certainly are capable of being dangerous towards people, however there have been extremely few instances where wolves have actually attacked a person.

Most ranchers do not want to see wolves living in their backyard. This poses a constant threat to their way of living. If each cow a wolf kills is valued at several thousand dollars when it’s ready to go to market, the loss of one cow to a small cattle operation can be devastating.

Ranchers take into account losses due to weather, bears, coyotes, and cougars (more than half of all losses are due to weather and unforeseen circumstances like illness). Of all the losses in wolfoccupied territory, less than 1% are due to wolves. Ranchers view it as unfair that they

A rancher looks over a recently discovered predated animal.

now have to contend with yet another factor that causes a loss in potential profits. They also view wolves as a direct imposition by the federal government as a way to push them off the land they are used to utilizing for their cattle.

In the west, most ranching outfits have influence over several thousand acres of public land: whether it’s national forest, B.L.M., or other public lands. A rancher may own several acres of land, but their grazing allotments may span a region of several thousand acres as part of the deeds their land is attached to. They must maintain the land, improving its water usage to better increase the flow and health of the range. They often participate in a range restitution plan, which allows certain allotments time to recover from grazing while they occupy other areas.

This also comes in handy when biologists know the location of wolves, and can work with ranchers to keep their cattle out of areas where wolves are known to be residing, particularly during the denning season.

Ranching has been a part of the American culture since its birth as a country. Wolves have been a part of the American landscape for many thousands of years. To move forward, there must be new and improved ways of working towards a sustainable future for both man and wolf. It requires patience and education more than any other form of advocacy towards wolves. Stay tuned to the next installment to learn more about how to get involved with advocating for wolves and the future of the wolf in the United States!

Source: http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/ basic-wolf-info/wolf-faqs/#s

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17

The Unabridged History of the Owyhee Pack Part 3 A Four-Part SLQ Feature

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T

he five-hour journey from Southern Idaho to the Wolf Center facility near Winchester seemed like it lasted a lifetime. In a way, it was the end of the old lifestyle for the newly rescued wolves, and the beginning of a much more comfortable life with WERC. Both wolves and humans were exhausted after the day-long process of capturing, examining, crating, and transporting them. Even though we were all eager to end the day, the transport caravan (consisting of a large U-Haul truck carrying the crated wolves and WERC’s Blue Chevy pick-up carrying supplies) made many

by Jeremy Heft

History of the Owyhee Pack

stops along the drive to provide for the safety of the wolves and handlers. Not only could the drivers stretch their legs and wake up, but it also allowed Mike and I to perform visual examinations of the wolves to determine how stressed they became from the transport. Each wolf’s vital signs and mentation (brain activity) was observed during these exams to ensure they were physically stable. All of the wolves remained lying in the bed of straw within their crates throughout the whole journey, but their alertness steadily increased as the immobilization drugs metabolized from their bodies. The wolves never exhibited any unexpected stress behaviors, and never attempted any escapes from their crates. Most of them simply curled up in their comfy kennels and did not move much through the drive.

Thankfully, the pack all seemed to tolerate the anesthetics and intensive handling very well. By the middle of the trip all

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were fully alert, yet remained quiet and cooperative. However, this peace would not last for the remainder of the transport.

The arrival to Winchester was grueling on both wolves and humans as the release to their new enclosure loomed.

The long winter of 2008 was full of snow and cold. Although new snow was tapering off by April when the Owyhee Pack arrived, a snow depth of approximately four feet had built up around the 2-acre enclosure throughout the winter months. When preparing this enclosure for the incoming wolves, all gates needed to be cleared of this snow pack. However, the half-mile of primitive road that provides vehicle access to the enclosure also had several feet of snow upon it. A local contractor was hired to plow the road with a backhoe as the snow was too deep for any truck plow.

The large U-Haul truck transporting the wolves would have been a very tight fit

Conditions at the Owyhee Pack’s original home were beyond comprehension but our team acted swiftly to remove them.

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History of the Owyhee Pack

Hydration was critical to ensure the wolves survived the journey.

on this single-lane, tree-bordered road even without any snow banks. Now, rows of snow towering up to 6 feet tall lined the road very closely. The backhoe could punch a path through the deep snow wide enough for a pick-up truck, but the large U-Haul would never fit. So, instead, the crates were loaded in to the Wolf Camp pick-ups for the bumpy, snowy, cold drive to their new home. Of course, it was now almost 11 PM, so the darkness further complicated the effort. This final leg of the journey was probably the most difficult for both wolves and humans alike. Previously, by the time they were awake after being darted, they were warm and cozy in their individual crates. After a couple hours of acclimating to the safety and comfort of 20

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the ride, now they were suddenly moved out to the 30-degree night time air and jostled around the bed of a pick-up for a very bumpy half-mile. Every effort was made to ensure their comfort and security, but the reality is there was no easy way to access their remote enclosure after a long winter’s snowpack.

After the cold, bumpy ride on the Lower Access Road, each crate was carefully unloaded and moved to the lock-off (feeding area) of the 2-acre enclosure.

To ensure the safety of the handlers and wolves, a plan was devised to place the doors of the crates at the gate opening to the lock-off. Therefore, the recently freed wolves would run to the main area of the enclosure and could not circle back and approach handlers, who remained safely in the lock-off. The crates fit nicely in this gate opening, as if they had been designed together. The most dominant member of the pack, the alpha-male who was to become Wolf A, was the first to be released. It was decided that the most dominant members of the pack should be released first, just as the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce was released in to their 20-acre home back in 1996. This way, the dominant wolves could maintain a sense of territory as being the first to set paw in the new home. Plus, alphas typically are the most outward of the pack, being the most likely to investigate unknown land. Thus, it only made sense the dominant members were the first to be released. Wolf A, the suspected alphamale, received this honor as his crate was immediately positioned facing the lock-off gate.

Under a moonlit April night sky just before midnight, the Owyhee Pack took their first steps within their new Winchester home. The alpha-male did not

History of the Owyhee Pack

immediately exit his crate when his door was opened, then with a quick burst of speed, he ran from the transport carrier into the darkness of the night. Although we could not see him, the sounds of his running ceased about 20 feet from us, then he slowed to a walk as the investigation of his new territory began.

The submissive male, later known as Wolf E, was next to be released, however he was not quite as willing to leave his crate.

The wolves likely became content and had a sense of security and safety when within the transport crates. To leave this safe area and enter to an unknown land under the cover of night took some “encouragement�. After waiting nearly 30 minutes for the submissive male to emerge, some incentive was provided by tipping the kennel toward the door slightly. Once the wolf slid toward the door, he was forced to place his paws on the ground, and he then took off running into the enclosure. The three females were then released in a random order, as a female hierarchy had not been observed

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prior to their rescue. These females departed their kennels without incident, and after about an hour of releases, the pack was all together in their new home.

Once the transport crates were removed from the lock-off, the pack was observed for about an hour to ensure no escape attempts would immediately occur. All the wolves could be heard walking about in the crunchy snow and drinking from the snow melt ponds. Sadly, vomiting could be heard after each drinking event. The rejection of the consumed water was likely caused by moderate dehydration from their past living condition, in addition to the stress endured from the transport across the state. By the next day, all wolves had ceased the vomiting behavior and were drinking ample water. Their physical rehabilitation had begun.

There were two major components to the rehabilitation plan for the new

Crates were loaded in to the Wolf Camp pick-ups for the bumpy, snowy, cold drive to their new home.

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pack: physical and behavioral. First, their physical condition needed improvement. Although the wolves were not malnourished, they had been receiving inadequate nutrition at their previous home. Additionally, the pads of their paws were cut and raw from walking on sharp, jagged bones that accumulated within their former pen. Both of these unhealthy conditions were addressed in the management plan of accepting the new pack. Fortunately, both were relatively easy to correct. First, their diet was substantially upgraded to only raw meat, and did not contain rice or other fillers like before. Then, the amount of food provided was dramatically increased to both stabilize their metabolism as well as promote a sense of comfort within their new territory. Within the first week after relocation, the five-member pack received approximately 450 pounds of food, mostly comprised of butcher’s scrap. This free, local supply of scraps closely resembled the type of food they had been provided.

By the next morning after each feed, no food was observed within the enclosure, meaning either the wolves ate every single piece, or perhaps some of it may have been cached for later. In my experience, wolves are always hungry, however the amount of food the pack consumed within the first week astounded us all. They were obviously very hungry! Within a couple of weeks, a healthier physical frame was already evident on every wolf. Muscle was gained and the bloating caused by water retention subsided. After about two months, the diet returned to normal maintenance levels when the wolves rebounded to healthy weight. Similarly, their paws healed quickly. Since the ground was covered with either snow or mud during their arrival, the soft 22

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surface allowed the pads to heal quickly and without medical intervention. The improved diet also assisted in the healing process. Physically, wolves are very resilient animals and can recover quickly from stresses. This was evident by how fast the Owyhee Pack returned to good physical condition in a matter of months.

However, captive wolves are very fragile mentally, so the behavioral adjustment to the new territory, climate, and proximity of humans took much longer.

It is well known within captive wolf care that all wolves within enclosures are not completely psychologically healthy.

Many natural behaviors and events within a wolf pack are reliant on the stimuli of wilderness. Vast remote lands, whether they be a dense forest or the wideopen space of the arctic tundra, are the natural home to most gray wolves. The generally accepted rule is that minimum wolf territories average to be about 10 square miles per pack member. However, wolf territories within Idaho have been estimated as high as 360 square miles, for an average pack size of 6 wolves.

Therefore, the land needed to sustain a pack could be as high as 60 square miles per pack member! Although measuring exact pack territory sizes remains an educated guess, the moral here is that wild wolves roam over huge tracts of land.

Even the largest wolf enclosures in the world, such as WERC’s 20-acre habitat that housed the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce, are incredibly tiny compared to the space used by wild wolves. This confinement leads to abnormal behaviors, including an escalation of dominance within the hierarchy. For this reason, even captive wolves held in healthy, relatively large enclosures still tend to maintain neurotic behaviors compared to their wild

History of the Owyhee Pack

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Physically, wolves are very resilient animals and can recover quickly from stresses, evident by how fast the Owyhee Pack returned to good physical condition in a matter of months.

counterparts. When the captive care is not healthy, or wolves are kept in small pens, the neurosis worsens dramatically.

For the Owyhee Pack, their former tiny pens devoid of shelter, water, and stimuli were about as bad of conditions as wolves could endure. This semihostile environment where the wolves existed contributed to their psychological distress, making them very sensitive to their surroundings and handlers. The pack not only distrusted humans, they likely also held some level of contempt for those who forced them to live a difficult life. These circumstances created a huge challenge in bringing a non-social pack to an educational facility with thousands of visitors every year. In their former location, the wolves would probably see some human activity every day. However, due to the secluded private property where their pens were located, the daily number of people was limited to the same several individuals consistently throughout the year. At WERC, we routinely host over three thousand visitors every year, all of whom wish to observe wolves closely.

Even though the welfare of the captive wolves is always paramount in our mission,

the new Owyhee Pack would be subjected to an exponential increase in human proximity. Therefore, a careful plan was devised for gradually acclimating the new pack to these inquisitive visitors.

The plan to warm up the Owyhees to people had several steps of increasing both frequency and proximity of humans near their new home. Fortunately, the relocation occurred in April, when wolf hormones promote the acceptance of puppies to their family. Through experience, this is the best time of year to introduce new handlers or procedures to captive wolves. They tend to be more flexible and accepting, which certainly assisted them in the huge life change.

Plus, since the brutal cold of winter was past, the ambient temperature change would not be dramatic, either. The transition to more human contact began the morning after the relocation. To minimize a sudden impact, I went to see the new pack alone. While the other handlers eagerly awaited an update, we decided the fewer handlers the better for day one. The pack was sleeping upon arrival, but all quickly woke and moved as far away as possible as I entered SL - FALL 2016

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History of the Owyhee Pack

A relaxed Miyooxat, in the natural setting of

the enclosure. However, their energy remained low during the entire visit.

All wolves were mobile, but exhibited some stiffness in their hind legs from the transport. After departure, the pack moved back to their newly claimed daybeds (built by Matsi and Amani years ago) and likely slept for most of the day. Later in the day, the pack did not approach the lock-off during their first feed in Winchester. However, as noted earlier, the entire 175 pounds of butcher scrap was eaten or cached by the next morning. On the next day, all wolves not only had full bellies, but also had returned to full mobility and were very active throughout the entire enclosure.

No dominance among the wolves was observed, nor would be for months to come. Over the next week, other handlers would occasionally accompany me on morning enclosure walks with the new pack, but most often I was alone. After the first week, other handlers began visiting alone, but all remained outside the inner fence. The first social visit inside the enclosure for handlers would not occur until two months later. Until then, a bond was attempted to be slowly 24

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the wooded Winchester 2-acre enclosure.

initiated with the pack from outside their fenced territory. The initial reaction to handlers was avoidance from the wolves, moving quickly away from the location of any handler. Then, as weeks passed by, the pack slowly decreased the speed of moving away from handlers. In addition, careful attention to how the pack reacted when groups of handlers stood on the public observation deck was taken. The public was not permitted near the new pack until it was clear the wolves would not be stressed by the proximity of visitors.

By late May, the wolves exhibited curious behaviors toward handlers in the adjacent public viewing areas, so trials with guests began on the observation deck. This first step in the acclimation process entailed small groups of people visiting the deck for short periods of time.

The deck is situated about 35 feet from the enclosure, and is the furthest distance public viewing area. These trials were so successful that the deck was opened to general visitation only a couple weeks later. No stress behaviors among the wolves have ever been observed with the

History of the Owyhee Pack

public inhabiting this viewing platform.

The Owyhee Pack accepted visitors at this moderate distance surprisingly fast.

However, the classroom, which is part of the enclosure periphery, would take months longer for the wolves to adjust to public viewing.

In mid-June, it seemed the pack was ready for handlers to enter inside the enclosure for routine socialization. The pack was curious, but remained at a distance as I walked around the interior for the first time. Through careful observations and trials of various numbers of handlers, the pack slowly accepted handlers mingling inside the enclosure, never showing any territory defense or hierarchy dominance throughout the process. As time passed, the wolves became increasingly relaxed with handlers inside their enclosure. This was also surprising as these social visits were likely never completed at their former home.

Previously being so isolated, the Owyhee Pack accepted the new influx of humans much faster than expected. One again, this is a testament of the fortitude and adaptability of wolves. As visitors were permitted increasing access to view the new pack throughout the 2008 summer visitor season, the Owyhees slowly became showcased as the next generation of WERC’s ambassador wolves.

Toward the end of September, trials with guests in the classroom began.

Just as occurred with the deck trials, the pack seemed to quickly adjust to small groups of visitors within the classroom.

At first, the wolves would move away from the area when guests would enter during guided tours. However, time and consistent behavior among visitors would eventually promote the curiosity of the pack, so individuals began approaching

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closer and closer. Through persistent, yet slow, trials of various numbers of guests within the classroom, a maximum capacity of 15 people present at once was determined. Coincidentally, this is the same maximum number of people the Sawtooth pack would tolerate in their classroom at one time. After several months of observations and trials, the classroom of the Owyhees was fully functional by December, eight months after their arrival. Careful planning and patience throughout the acclimation process paid off because within eight months the neglected, anti-social pack was now healthy and accepting thousands of visitors observing them within proximity. This is truly an astounding accomplishment of WERC and the steadfast wolf handler team. Even though the new pack was now settled in to their new life and home, they still had not officially been named. This was the next challenge in passing the torch to the new ambassador pack.

To be continued‌ This is the third edition of a multiple-part series spread throughout the SLQ in 2016 and 2017. Be sure to read the Winter SLQ to learn how the members of the Owyhee Pack receive their names and then recover from a tragic injury that fragments the pack forever.

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KidWings Explores

What is a Wolf?

by Chris Anderson

E

arlier this summer, Alan Lacy and I began discussing what measures could be undertaken to get our resources in front of more schoolteachers.

It helps that we were about a year into a project through my company called Kidwings Explores Barn Owls, where we’re producing short films that I refer to as launchpads for teaching science. The concept is simple: Create a 5 to 8 minute film that is bursting with information that fits into a curriculum in middle and high schools. Give a teacher a launching pad to grab students’ attention, and away we go!

The response has been incredible, with 26

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our very first video experiencing over 130,000 views in the last year. What we did not expect is that our first Kidwings Explores Wolves would surpass that number in just a few months.

These types of numbers tell us many things. First, there’s a thirst for knowledge out there on this subject of wolves. In fact, in another endeavor through Kidwings Finding Funding Grant, teachers regularly state during their grant application that teaching about other carnivores such as bears and wolves are high on their list!

What it also tells our team is that we are on target with investing in these

KidWings Explores

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Top: Kidwings Explores Wolves is partnering with WERC in three upcoming short films that lead to greater understanding of the animal and it’s ecology and biology.

Left: These short and informative films feature beautiful on-site imagery such as the wolf pictured here.

Bottom: During Kidwings Explores Wolves, Chris and Alan interview Wolf Haven, International wolf expert Erik Wilber in the episode What is a Wolf?

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KidWings Explores

Because wolves are rarely seen in their natural environment, bringing them to film puts humans face to face with the remarkable creature. It’s a great opportunity to learn about them!

short films that bring attention not only to wolves but to organizations such as the Wolf Education & Research Center.

Kidwings Explores is a partnership with WERC and funded by the constituents of that project. WERC receives the benefit through creating awareness of both wolf biology and our project.

Over the next few months, we’ll be releasing three short films on wolf biology, masterfully produced by our board member Alan Lacy, who is also the filmmaker creating Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest.

We invite you to view them. They’re short and informative. And even humorous at times. View them online at www.kidwings.com and on WERC’s new website, to be released in mid-November, in time for the holidays.

If you’d like to sponsor one of these short films, it can be done for only $500 and you can do so through the Wolf 28

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Education & Research Center. 100% of the proceeds will go toward WERC’s Wolf Care Plan as a matching donation from Owl Brand Discovery Kits. That’s a howling deal. OBDK is matching your donation and you’ll be mentioned in the credits as making it possible.

Join us in this partnership that creates an inspiring environment for students to make wildlife their priority. Wolves are depending on us!

Donate now at www.wolfcenter. org/donate and mention Kidwings Explores Wolves or use the preaddressed envelope enclosed.

What do wolves have in common with diamond rings and Southwest vacations?

Are you committed to saving the wolf species and upholding essential education that preserves the future of all iconic species? WERC is raffling off four exciting prizes and everyone who participates wins!

The Wolf Education & Research Center received a valuable donation of a one carat diamond ring, a 1/3 carat diamond and sapphire ring, a Connecticut shoreline condominium vacation, and we’re adding a two night stay in wolf country at the Wolf Camp Yurt.

Turn the page to learn how you can participate and become a champion for wolves and help us help wolves. >>>

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Cibola Resort & Spa, Arizona

Three great prizes to help WERC help wolves: Valentine’s Dream American Southwest Vacation at Cibola Resort & Spa. $1800 Value!

Have fun and discover the legendary beauty of the American West.

Nestled between Lake Pleasant and Phoenix, the resort provides the perfect vacation experience for you and your family.

Named for the Seven Cities of Cibola, which were believed to contain untold riches, the resort features the finest amenities. Shape up in the fitness room then unwind at the poolside bar—or take the kids down a 3-story water slide that winds through the desert landscape.

Area attractions are plentiful—and they’re all within your reach. Have the concierge set up a tee time at one of the many local golf courses.

Enjoy a myriad of water sports on picturesque Lake Pleasant or travel to Sedona to view spectacular red-rock formations. For a change of pace, survey this fabled landscape from a hot-air balloon as you float over the West Valley.

Cibola Vista Resort & Spa and its surroundings offer you an abundance of great activities to make your vacation an unforgettable experience. *Presently scheduled for February 12-15, 2017 with an ability to reschedule.

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1 Carat Marquee Diamond Engagement Ring with 10 Princess Cut Baguettes $4800 Value...

Delivers in time for 2016 Holiday Season!

.34 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring with Blue Sapphire Bezels. $1900 Value!

Delivers in time for 2016 Holiday Season!

It’s easy to participate and when you do, there’s even more prizes to win.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Purchase 12 $5 raffle tickets and get the SLQ subscription & choose from WERC’s informative documentaries on DVD and digitally titled The Great Wolf Divide or The Great Predator Debate.

And if you didn’t win, we have some additional prizes!

Purchase 20 $5 raffle tickets or more and get the SLQ, both The Great Wolf Divide & The Great Predator Debate DVDs!

1. Visit www.raffleforwolves.com 2. Select from one or all of the prizes 3. Sit back and wait for the drawing on Sunday, December 11, 2016.

Purchase 6 $5 raffle tickets and get a 1-year subscription to the Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly for your or as a gift to someone else.

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A Fascinating Threat

by Kyle Owen

I

fell asleep in the bed of my truck two weeks ago. I was tucked snugly in my sleeping bag and silently gazed up at the millions of stars through an opening in an old Douglas Fir canopy. The conifer forest was dead-air quiet with the exception of a subtle hiss next to my left ear. My sleeping pad had a leak. There was absolutely no way I was unzipping my bag and jumping out into the cold crisp night air so I could wait for a dab of glue to dry. I remember laying there and thinking that I would be asleep 32

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and in another unconscious world by the time my pad was completely flat. I also remember reasoning that it is not physically possible to be more sore than I already felt, and that it was best not to think about the terrible morning I was about to have. It was best to think about something contemplative, like aliens, how fast satellites travel, Sasquatch, or how comparably small I was in an expanding universe. My mind drifted to just one particular thing before I fell asleep though: The poop I found earlier that day.

A Fascinating Threat

That day started an hour before sunrise outside Crater Lake National Park. I began the morning at a trailhead that is no longer visible on newer forestry maps. Other than viewing satellite imagery on my computer, this wilderness was unfamiliar to me. My plan was to hike an un-maintained trail four miles, then go off the beaten path and trek to the top of a boulder field before dropping into a plateau filled with old growth forests, alpine lakes, and alpine fields.

That morning I did not use a flashlight, just blue and silver moonlight illuminated the trail ahead of me. The forest was serene and it was quiet, but not really. My footsteps clunked and snapped small dry branches, receding water sloshed in my water bottle, huckleberry bushes slashed their branches against my pant legs, and I breathed rapidly. My alien presence was known to whatever was in earshot. A cool breeze blew against my back when I stopped for a moment to rest. I was certain that any large mammal in the area either heard or smelled me and therefore knew a perceived threat was coming up the trail.

It was an hour after sunrise when I reached the old growth forest that bordered the boulder field. The forest was littered with dead and scraggly old conifers that were ripped from the ground by previous mountain storms. The surviving old growth trees were giants, and towered over a forest floor dominated by huckleberry bushes, grass, and waist-high conifer saplings. I walked aimlessly through a maze of well-worn deer and elk trails without a destination in mind. Peppered throughout this forested landscape were springs that gave way to muddy meadows.

Muddy meadows provided ample water for a diverse array of wildflowers and edible plants. There was evidence of both elk and

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Sasquatch sign?

bear wallowing in pits of mud to cool off from the afternoon sun. Some would argue that a twisted branch I found was evidence of a Sasquatch, and others would come up with bizarre reasoning as to how and why such a large branch would be twisted.

It felt good to explore and ponder. This is where I was happy and alone, but not lonely. For hours, I identified animal sign, I skinny-dipped, I picked berries, I identified and ate edible plants (most of them tasted terrible), I read, I took a nap, but most of all I wandered, and by the time I felt it was time to leave I was exhausted.

I first saw the poop at 5:56 pm, a mile up-trail from my truck. The poop was perched on a rock directly in the center of the trail I started my morning on. If I was not hunched over and consciously telling myself to put one foot in front of the other, SL - FALL 2016

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The fresh cougar poop perched on a rock.

Sometimes cougar will eat grass to aid in their digestion process.

I might not have even seen the poop. But there it was, clear as day, fresh cougar poop. The blunt tip, the characteristic taper, the elk hair, it was all there. This one was unique in that it had grass, something that cougars will eat on occasion to aid in digestion. I poked the specimen with a stick and found that it was wet (implies freshness), but not too wet. I presumed it was hours old. Further down the trail there was a faint lion track on top of my boot print in some dusty dirt. This indicated the lion was traveling toward the direction I came from. I deduced that the poop was most likely excreted from the orifice of an adult mountain lion sometime that morning. Up until this moment I felt alone and free. All of the tracks, tree scrapes, animal beds, ‘Squatch sign, and scat found earlier that day told a story from a previous 34

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moment in time. I felt like a detective up on the plateau, but when I was looking at that poop I felt more like a victim.

It is common for cougars to follow people and observe them. This has been documented numerous times and it is typically explained by biologists with words like “instinctual” and “curiosity.” On average there is one death and four attacks by cougars in North America each year.

But cougars follow people all of the time without a perceived intent to kill. Does this behavior of following indicate a high level of animal intelligence through self-control and “curious” observation? Is this behavior a way that a cougar can develop or hone its stalking skills? I am not sure, and I assume that neither are the experts. But I do know that if this cougar was following me, it could have taken me that morning.

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Cougars are designed mentally and physically to be very efficient ambush hunters. A very large majority of their body-weight is muscle, and the rest of their weight is composed of organs and a lightweight but strong skeleton. To give some insight into strength, an adult cougar can jump vertically up to 15 feet into the air, jump horizontally up to 45 feet, and they can run in quick bursts of speed up to 50 miles per hour. They are more than capable of dragging prey up to seven times their own body weight. No matter the terrain, their padded feet make them absolutely silent when stalking large or small prey animals. When cougars feel like they are close enough for a successful Mount McCloughin is a very steep lava cone located in southern Oregon, just outside Crater Lake National Park.

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A Fascinating Threat

kill they will stun their prey with a quick burst of running speed before hitting their target with a debilitating amount of force. They have been known to knock 1,000 pound elk clean off of their feet.

With large animals especially, they will not hesitate to latch their powerful jaws behind the skull and jam their long canine teeth between vertebrae and into the spinal cord for a quick, but effective death.

If finding the neck is difficult, a cougar will compensate by pulling the head down and toward the body to snap the spine with its overpowering strength, or the animal will fall in this process and snap its own spine using its body weight. Some cougar will opt to crush the wind pipe and asphyxiate their prey. Quickly severing the spine is Bear and elk will roll around in mud bogs and coat their bodies with mud to cool off from the afternoon sun. This behavior is called “wallowing.�

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generally always the goal of a cougar though, asphyxiation is a dangerous method that can lead to injury from flailing hoofs. In a study performed by Maurice Hornocker, it was found that 37 out of 45 predation attempts (82%) by cougars who have successfully stalked deer and elk within suitable striking distance (~15 meters) are successful.

If this lion was following me that morning, how close did it get and how long did it follow me for? I remember standing over the poop, catching my breath, and thinking maybe a little bit too hard about the likelihood of a cougar stalking me the entire day I was on my walkabout. I stood in a more upright posture to deter any sense of weakness on

A Fascinating Threat

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my end. In hindsight this I go out into the forest in bright light situations was a ridiculous notion. and also see in a much to be alone and away Earlier that day I took larger spectrum of a nap under a tree in a color. As I continued from the real world. fetal position with my to walk back to my neck exposed, a lot of truck that evening I This is ironic because my time was spent bent kept my eye out for the forest over looking at plants that token cinnamon while being oblivious colored fur coat so that is the real world... to my surroundings, I could catch my stalker and immediately before in the act, but was discovering the poop I unsuccessful. was exhausted enough to be blown over I go out into the forest to be alone and by a gust of wind. But for some reason I away from the real world. This is ironic thought fixing my hunched posture was because the forest is the real world and relevant to the uncomfortable situation even if I feel alone, I realize that there is a I was presently in. Earlier that morning I chance I am not. It is spooky to be stalked navigated my way through those same by anything with fangs and teeth, but it woods in a blind state thinking I was too is important to note that 99.99% of the noisy and too smelly to be perceived as time a cougar will not expose itself with anything but a threat. But there I was, an intent to harm. In areas with decent looking at a poop, and thinking about how populations of large prey animals, a cougar non-threatening I actually was. will consume five to seven elk or fourteen The lion could have easily seen me in the to twenty deer (1,896 to 2,866 lbs) per dark that morning and would appear to year, and they do so effectively. They will me as just another shadow. Cats are able cache their food under pine needles, dirt, to open their pupils to a diameter that is leaves, and sticks and come back to feed three times larger than what humans are on their prey for days. So, maybe they do capable of. Larger pupils allow for more follow people because they do not have available light to enter the eye. Compared anything better to do with their time after to a human, a cougar has more rod cells they cache their food? Cats are notoriously located in the back of its eyes. Rod cells curious creatures and we really are from are cells in the retina that function in low two separate worlds. If cougars want to light situations and do not detect color. observe me jump naked into a lake, then Behind their retina is the tapetum lucidum, so be it. If cougars want to watch me groan reflective tissue that reflects light back and painstakingly roll myself out of the through the rod cells for a second time. bed of my truck, then so be it. I don’t have Humans do not have a tapetum lucidum, a choice but to accept their uncomfortable which is why our eyes do not reflect light conditions in their world, just like they and glow when light is shined on them in don’t have a choice but to accept our the dark. This is why a cat’s night vision uncomfortable conditions as our world is six times greater than ours. Humans do expands into theirs. We both perceive each have comparatively more cone cells in their other as a fascinating threat. retinas than cats, which helps us see better SL - FALL 2016

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Wolf Behavior 101

Lesson 23: Feeding Hierarchy

by Jeremy Heft

Biologist/ Sanctuary Manager

Lower Left: The Sawtooth Pack feeding upon a roadkill deer.

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here is no more important task in a wolf life than eating. Although the act of consuming large prey expends energy in itself, the acquisition of energy through digestion of the protein is essentially the life source for all wolves. Since this all-important task is often competitive among pack members, and all wolves are often excited to eat, an order must be established to prevent chaos over the food. Without such a hierarchy, fighting over the carcass would certainly ensue, inevitably causing meat to be wasted and potentially leading to injuries among the wolves. When wolves tear into a dead animal with high excitement and hunger, large teeth gnash about everywhere and intense jaw pressures are exerted upon the flesh. All of this commotion occurs literally inches away from other pack mates as each wolf vies for a location on the carcass. Accidental bites on

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Wolf Behavior 101

opposing wolves could easily happen, each of which would severely injure the leg, paw, or head of the receiving wolf. Given that wolves are able to exert 1,500 pounds per square inch of bite pressure, even a light bite can inflict debilitating injuries. In the wild, any injury could potentially be life-threatening to any wolf, which in turn would be a detriment to the pack, and ultimately the pack member who inflicted the accidental bite. Therefore, organization of the feeding process in order to avoid injuries is not only advantageous, but a necessity of pack survival.

Traditionally, it was believed that the established pack hierarchy, with the alpha-male and alpha-female presiding, maintained this necessary order throughout all pack activities, including feeding events. The dominant pair would then eat first and consume as much as possible before allowing the subordinates to feed. Once the alphas were satiated, then the beta-male and upper mid-rank wolves would eat next, and so on until the omega-male and omega-female would be left the scraps of the carcass.

The pecking order would strictly follow the lines of who was most dominant within the pack. This assumption was likely created due to the difficulty in observing these intricate behaviors among wild wolves. Before the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park a mere 22 years ago, wild wolves were very challenging to observe closely. Although remaining not the easiest species to study, the wide open areas of Yellowstone where wolves will occasionally exist are finally affording researchers an opportunity to decipher the often subtle posturing that is performed within the pack during high energy events such

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Above: Leqeyleqey eating.

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Wolf Behavior 101

Above: XayXayx

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as feeding. However, captive facilities such as WERC have been observing wolves very closely for a longer amount of time and have noticed some behaviors that contradict the traditional thinking on pack feeding dynamics.

One of the most obvious differences observed at WERC and other facilities is the alpha pair does not always eat first and to fulfillment. Although it is true the alphas commonly do begin immediate consumption of the food, other pack members from various ranks typically begin eating at the same time. Usual dominant behaviors among wolves of different ranks are persistent throughout the initial feeding period, when competition is peaked. Growling, snarling, and muzzle bites are common among the dominant members, while the submissive ranks whine, yelp, and possibly even defensive bite in return. As expected, the most dominant wolf, usually the alpha-male, monitors the interactions and interjects in the rank reinforcement if a behavior is deemed inappropriate or excessive. It is common for an alpha to display dominance over another relatively high rank wolf if that individual performs elevated levels of agnostic dominance toward an omega or lower rank. Again, all social dominance behaviors have evolved to maintain some order over the excited feeding event.

Occasionally, the order of feeding was not the same order of the hierarchy rank. On many occasions throughout Sawtooth Pack history, the alpha-male would select the

Wolf Behavior 101

members who were permitted to feed initially, regardless of their rank. At times, the mid-rank wolves would be allowed to feast, while the upper rank members stood nearby and waited. Even the omegas of the pack were permitted access to the food before any other member on rare occasions.

During all atypical feeding orders, the most dominant wolf present (typically the alpha but not always‌more on that in future SLQs) would enforce the permission to access the food. In other words, they would discipline any member who attempted to eat, but was not chosen to have access for that particular feeding. Within the first few minutes of the feeding event, it was evident who was granted access.

Most of the time, the alpha-pair would eat together with the chosen individuals, but sometimes they too would forgo consumption and allow the lower ranks to feast.

Fascinatingly, this behavior of feeding selection occurred under the leadership of all three prominent alpha-males of the Sawtooth Pack. Kamots was the most likely to adjust the feeding order, Amani was less likely, and Motomo, who was a very food-driven wolf, performed the feeding alteration the least. This progression of declining frequency also correlates to the decrease in density among the pack, which may be a major factor in the decline as well.

Since this behavior contradicts traditional thinking on pack dynamics, there must be a reason why we have observed it among several hierarchies of the Sawtooth Pack. Additionally, other facilities have witnessed such events with their captive wolves. Why would the feeding order vary on occasion?

One benefit of allowing different wolves to feed first is that the best nutrients of the carcass are spread around to all levels of the hierarchy.

Most predators target the protein rich areas of a carcass first, for wolves this usually is the hind leg and rump areas, where very large muscle groups are located. If only one wolf consistently ate the best portion of the prey, then eventually the other pack members would be at a nutritional disadvantage. It is important to remember that the survival of each individual within a pack is dependent on the survival of the pack as a whole. So if some members become

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Above: Kamots

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Wolf Behavior 101

Wolves in Idaho primarily prey upon elk.

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malnourished, then the entire society suffers. The alpha pair, who are charged with keeping the pack alive, would support the long-range benefit to all wolves by alternating who eats first. This behavior most likely evolved early in the gray wolf species, and may be now deeply ingrained within their social behaviors.

Another benefit for spreading around the optimum acquisition of food is to prevent nutritional fitness from being the deciding factor in hierarchy rank establishment.

By ensuring every rank has adequate health, the levels of the hierarchy can then be determined according to other factors, such as leadership potential. It may be evolutionarily advantageous to select positions of the hierarchy without having acute physical fitness as a determining factor. This way, each individual can be accurately judged on their abilities to hold a rank, instead of their abilities changing as food availabilities increase or decrease according to the new rank level. This is all speculation, of course, as such motivations for behavior are very difficult, if not impossible, to scientifically prove.

Regardless of the reason, we now know that the feeding order within wolf packs does not necessarily always follow the lineage of the hierarchy. The traditional belief of alphas consistently eating first is not true according to extensive observations from both the Sawtooth and Owyhee Packs, as well as other observations on captive wolves elsewhere.

However, we believe the alpha pair does in fact choose who among the pack eats first when food is introduced.

There could be both physical and behavioral advantages to aid survival with this behavior. The act of spreading the most valuable nutrients relatively equally across the entire hierarchy likely contributes to the survival of individuals, which in turn promotes the survival of the pack, and eventually allows the survival of the species.

Adopt the Future Written by Chris Anderson

The future of wolves is uncertain.

Recent news in Oregon brought the tragic outcome of a poaching incident which killed OR-28, a first-time mother to a den full of pups, leaving her mate to care for her offspring.

While OR-28 was protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, poaching continues to be an often-unreported activity, especially when living near wolves. There were six known wolf deaths in 2015, of which Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife reported only one conviction.

Most people polled in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho - both rural and urban areas -oppose hunting as a means of managing wolf populations. In an age where technology and human ingenuity abound, WERC is committed to creating tools and leading dialogues that take us to better outcomes.

One of the means of accomplishing this is through reaching more schools with quality and fact-based information about wolves.

Presently, WERC offers a wealth of information on our website and in our social media, all committed to a vigilant presentation of quality educational material. Our goal,

Junior, Middle or High School

Yes! - $50 n

however, is to open doors of comprehension in schools across the regions. By reaching teachers, adding them to our Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly, getting our Great Predator Debate series into civics and biology classes — all of these efforts serve to ensure that the next generation of citizens does better with this issue.

We cannot accomplish this without you.

Here’s how you can help by adopting the future.

Sponsor the junior, middle, or high school that you attended for $50. We’ll send a copy of The Great Wolf Divide and The Great Predator Debate Classroom Edition along with the History & Benefits of Wolves Posters.

Become a Mobile Species Lab Sponsor for $50. We’ll recognize you in our upcoming Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly, and on the Mobile Species Lab. Become a Sawtooth Legacy Society Member for $500.

WERC will add your name or company to the Mobile Species Lab, list you in our Society page on our website, and include you with other distinguished members in our Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly.

The choice is yours. The future is our children’s. Please adopt the future today.

Mobile Species Lab

Yes! - $50

Sawtooth Legacy Society

Yes! - $500

Please mail the Sponsorship Packet to the following person, business, or school:

Member Number_______________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________________________ School/Business_________________________________________________________ City_________________________________ State__ Zip________________________ Email________________________________ Phone (____)_______________________ Please mail completed form with check or money order in enclosed envelope or visit: www.wolfcenter.org/donate.

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by Chris Anderson

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Mobilizing for Change

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WERC has enjoyed an excellent relationship

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ERC has enjoyed two decades of generous hospitality from our landlords, the Nez Perce Tribe.

This excellent relationship has included a broad variety of friendships and the notable distinction that they applaud our work on their 300 acres of wilderness outside of Winchester, Idaho.

The Tribe has participated at many levels during our twenty years and perhaps none more important than their quiet, steady, and reliable support. WERC enjoys a unique relationship that few do in our ability to operate as a secular organization on reservation land to the benefit of a more informed public. As we look to our future, we do so with the utmost respect and hope of a long-standing shared commitment to the survival of wolves and other iconic species.

WERC faces some tremendous challenges and opportunities. We know that the Owyhee Pack’s remaining members probably have two to three years or life remaining. Their advanced age causes our team to watch them carefully, and by all accounts, they remain healthy and active.

How we navigate the next two to three

with the Nez Perce Tribe.

years and how the public gets behind us will unveil some or all of the following possibilities, but we know one thing for sure.

It’s time to mobilize for change.

Our existing operating plan includes caring for the Owyhee Pack for the duration of their life. Continuing outreach includes the Summer Intern Experience, operating our Visitor’s Center near Winchester, Idaho, growing our Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly, completing the third Great Predator Debate documentary, and building out our online presence to offer substantive and engaging material for middle to high school biology teachers and our students.

Within this plan, we’ll have many challenges. Managing deteriorating buildings that were built to last 15 years is a concern. Replacing equipment like our work trucks that haul water and clear debris from the property is a challenge. Even ongoing veterinary care for the two remaining wolves requires an emergency fund that has been a coveted accomplishment.

Recent news in Northern Idaho brought a reminder to our doorstep that many SL - FALL 2016

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programs are struggling for different reasons — some financial, some because of poor business models, passionate people with little business acumen — and these programs have need of finding homes for their wolves. Just last week, we discussed the possibility of taking in some or all of twenty wolves from a neighboring program that has run up on rocky shores.

It’s a good exercise for us to consider these possibilities. It reminds leadership to think about what our central goal is. Briefly, we’re working to create more tolerance of wolves in the region and ultimately across the continent. Indirectly, that helps all carnivores, including humans!

We learned a critical lesson in 2008, following the re-homing of the Owyhee Pack. While literally thousands of people expressed their excitement of that rescue, just over a thousand have stayed with us past the death of the last remaining Sawtooth Pack member, Piyip. If we decide to add wolves to our program, there are many delicate considerations.

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WERC is considering three phases of growth and development over the next ten years. Each of these three stages builds on the other and our current mission.

Accomplishment relies on our ability to articulate our plan and inspire a greater community commitment to secure our outcomes.

PHASE ONE: How Will WERC Expand In The Coming Year?

The need for quality education in the region exists, and our team is confident that the Mobile Species Lab accomplishes some profound outcomes.

Sending knowledgeable and engaging representatives into places of learning is not only needed to add value to classrooms but to inspire the next generation of young people pursuing the sciences. Piquing the curiosity while challenging the young to be the problem solvers of the future is a unique opportunity that we take very seriously at

Mobilizing for Change

The lab’s construction includes each of the following functions: • Mobile Classroom and Theater where WERC can roll into parks, schools, and events and present programs to hundreds of people at a time.

• Production Studio where our team can work remotely to create short films that quench a public’s thirst for information.

• Response Unit that mobilizes to places of human and carnivore conflict to offer critically important science-based answers to media and public inquiry.

• Industry Resources for ranching in potential conflict areas, including volunteer outreach to assist in managing conflicts before they happen. the Wolf Education & Research Center. My current plan is to introduce the first Mobile Species Lab in June 2017.

What’s truly exciting about that opportunity is that we will be reaching thousands of people annually who we are not presently teaching. While many organizations have strong education programs, few make it central to their outreach to raise funds to be aggressively taking their show to the public. It’s our belief that this activity will build a good foundation for additional corporate choices.

PHASE TWO: What Do The next 5 Years Look Like?

The introduction of a mobile outreach program, carefully built above the foundation of our existing program serves to create an outstanding second story to the Wolf Education & Research Center. Our team imagines the ability to expand our mobile influence.

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Doing so would require that we ask staff to include an education specialist and an office support person. Leveraging our intern experience, we could grow that program to year-round and reaching regional science teachers by engaging in the classroom and outdoor education place and level. There is no limit to the opportunity.

However, the challenges would include identifying funding that would keep fuel in the tank and the wheels turning.

Also, we will be increasing our intern experience budget by the need to manage and oversee that outreach. It’s a unique outreach because it’s one part public relations and it’s another part science and interpretative-based teaching. We know that these two worlds are not always symbiotic.

Our team is confident that we can find the balance.

As a reminder, these outreaches would be in addition to the consideration of bringing in more animals to our program. Additionally, this phase will involve consideration of a more accessible Visitors Center and Camp that could replace or add to our existing outreach.

Within Phase 2, our team will also work to expand our film and publication outreach. In this present day, it seems that the average online attention span is under five minutes. I would point out that in less than four months, just one of our videos titled Kidwings Explores: What is a Wolf has received over 125,000 views. Imagine if we can sustain producing just one of these videos per month. We know by our metrics that these views are coming from IP addresses located at teaching institutions.

Our mobile base program would build on these experiences, and no doubt make a considerable difference.

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The need for quality education in the region exists, and our team is confident that the Mobile Species Lab accomplishes some profound outcomes.

even expanding, but our goal in the region is much larger. It’s exciting to imagine reporting back to our Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly readers about the progress and opportunities of this outreach. We have a real chance to be a profound difference in the region on behalf of a large community of wilderness-minded people.

Phase 3: What’s The Next Ten Years Look Like?

A good foundation rooted in caring for animals, teaching the public about iconic and threatened species, and reaching a large community of indifferent-minded individuals is something WERC has enjoyed for two decades. We think that we can build on this history to make an even more significant impact in the next ten years.

To do that, it will demand vision, it will require creative and imaginative efforts, and it will require the partnership with like-minded supporters. It no doubt will require that we expand our corporate and 48

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grant opportunities and learn from what other organizations have done to build meaningful, lasting programs.

Our long-term plan is to identify and purchase around 20 acres for the purpose of what we are referring to, for lack of better words, as an apex predator eco-park.

If we are successful in procuring property to pursue this goal, we not only solidify our financial standing by owning property and the equity that comes with that, but we have a real opportunity to engage a broader public in a better travel area.

Areas for consideration include Washington and Oregon Columbia Gorge Scenic Area where traffic to local destinations is in the millions, is a literal mecca of recreation and culture, and all within 100 miles are more than 150 wineries — all in addition to being inside of an hour from a major metropolitan education system.

A successful program would include a focus on birds of prey, mountain lions, bears, and of course wolves. We are in discussions with the major contributors and supporters of this plan to determine whether we would be a rehabilitation and recovery center for local animal rescue and whether we would have permanent residents.

We imagine this eco-park to not only be a center of activity for the region but a safe refuge for animals needing care, recovery, and release into the wild. For that reason, the center would not be one where people can interact with the animals. We are discussing one-way glass so that the animals have little knowledge that the public is viewing them. Also, the implementation of strategic cameras would allow public viewing to see den activity, eating activity, and other fascinating but rarely observed wildlife behavior.

Additionally, our staff has expressed interest in teaching about actually ecofriendly forms of energy and creating a

Mobilizing for Change

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We imagine this eco-park to not only be a center of activity for the region but a safe refuge for animals needing care, recovery, and release into the wild.

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park that demonstrates not only the pros and cons of our energy choices but also the value and implementation of those realities.

Water, solar, wind energy—they all fit into a demonstration of what the possibilities are in an educational setting.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Without any increased funding and partnership, WERC could probably proudly operate without growth for about two years with our existing financial investment. We know that we have close to one million dollars in the Wills & Bequests pipeline that gives us some financial hope for the future.

An organization has to survive to be eligible to receive those gifts over the potentially long period of time when those gifts arrive.

This past week included a conversation with one long-standing contributor who informed us her family was considering putting us in their trust. If we can continue doing what we are doing, I have no doubt that others will materialize and prioritize our

good example and hard work. Our mission and vision deserve it.

Growing an organization is another equation altogether. Over the last three years, we have tested out many ideas and are making some significant adjustments to our approach and will be prioritizing the programs that are clearly important to our supporters. Outreach such as our magazine, our public visitation to see wolves and our expedition into science classes across the region have resounded with our supporters.

It is profoundly important to our leadership to grow in the direction that is sustainable. My goal this winter is to leverage our education partnerships such as with Owl Brand Discovery Kits and Kidwings. com, companies committed to this critical formative period in a child’s life between middle school and pre-college. If I can find more businesses who can be involved with us on a monthly basis as my two companies are, I think we can revolutionize this dialogue with the public.

My goal this winter is to leverage our education partnerships such as with Owl Brand Discovery Kits and Kidwings.

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Mobilizing for Change

We can overcome the indifference that exists toward this and many other issues. But stalwart education is the key.

I spent the past six months organizing our accounting in a manner that makes it completely simple for any granting company or sponsor to see what shrewd stewards we are of the public’s trust and finances. I’m confident in the promise that WERC delivers a million dollars worth of resources for $175,000 per year.

Our reach is vast.

Our educational and informational material are inspiring.

Our vision includes better under-standing and dedication to conserving wolves and other iconic species.

Will you mobilize with us today for change?

I would like to invite you into what I am referring to as the Sawtooth Legacy Society.

This community of committed supporters to these efforts are making a statement that you will give regularly, think critically about our work and future, and labor alongside me in ensuring that our children and their children enjoy wildlife with the most hopeful possibility.

What makes humans different than all other species is our ability to reason, and problem solve to the benefit of all life forms.

When we band together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish to preserve a vibrant future. Our Sawtooth Legacy Society will recognize partners as secondary members of an Honorary Board of Directors.

While the critical function of the day-today operations will fall upon our staff and board of directors, the Sawtooth Legacy Society members will be able to weigh in on and participate in critical conversations with leadership about our future.

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Members will receive special recognition on our website and in our publications and will receive an exclusive limited edition artwork contributed by its first Honorary Member, Scott Doying, depicting our prominent place among iconic species.

This totem pole represents our central role in the protection of wildlife. Perhaps you would like to sponsor a teacher or a school, and they can take on the important mantle of teaching their students about wildlife conservation and the role that wolves play in that.

It is our gift to members for your commitment to the Wolf Education & Research Center and wolves.

Consider Giving Today!

A $500 donation today from you will profoundly direct our future. Join us as we mobilize for change.

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Every organization has a special remnant of contributors who demonstrate a depth of conviction and commitment that surpasses all expectation. Over two decades of teaching about wolves and their essential role in the wild, we’ve been able to get to know many of you by your considerable sacrifice and continual response to need. While many Legacy programs recognize individuals, companies, and foundations for their financial contributions, our leadership aims to honor those who give profoundly from their heart in ways that transcend a monetary investment.

The Board of Directors of the Wolf Education & Research Center recognize the following Honorary Sawtooth Legacy Society Members who we will recognize for their sustaining relationship to our work.

Each quarter, in addition to individuals who fulfill financial qualifications listed below, we will honor ten individuals who’s commitment far surpasses their financial investment in our work. Each Sawtooth Legacy Society Member will receive a limited edition 11x17 print by Scott Doying, featuring the Totem Pole he designed for WERC in 2015. We’ll also mail you a special certificate recognizing this achievement of your heart.

Scott Doying, Idaho Terry Lee Sheridan, Maryland Addie Krom, Washington Shirley Sonnichsen, Washington Beulah Drees, Illinois Linda & Walter Sorenson-Kapica,Arizona Grace Calderwood, California Jay Turner, Florida Beverly Keys, Illinois Wesley Rupe, Missouri We trust you will find a place in your home for both to remind you of our mutual effort to lead by example in our efforts to uphold important protections for wolves and activities that help the public understand their vital place in the wilderness.

Support this initiative by becoming a Sawtooth Legacy Society Member with a minimal or accumulative annual donation of $500 or more beginning on December 1, 2016. Provide us with your information or simply notate your check with SLS.

Name_____________________________________________________________________ Email_____________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________ City_____________________________________State____________Zip_______________ __ I would like to honor someone with my donation __ I would like to nominate someone with my donation 52

Please mail completed form with check or money order to: WERC, P.O. Box 12604, Portland, OR 97212 or visit: www.wolfcenter.org, click on the “Adopt a Wolf” menu.

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Photo Courtesy of John Martinotti Photography

Meet Our Winter Staff

Meet our 2016 FALL STAFF Each year, Wolf Education & Research Center hosts at least three to five guests who participate in what we call the Intern Experience. It’s an exciting time for these future stewards and while a memory of a lifetime, it requires a lot from each of them. This year, we had an opportunity for a Fall Intern who will be with us until Thanksgiving.

Jennifer Wissmann was born and raised in Union, Missouri.

She recently graduated with her Bachelor’s in Biology at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Jennifer spent the majority of her childhood playing outdoors and learning about the importance of conservation from her father and grandfather. She quickly became fascinated with wildlife and gained a great admiration for gray wolves. Going into college, Jennifer knew she wanted to follow a career path studying and protecting wildlife around the world. She quickly joined the Wildlife Society club at her school and also became a summer volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center in St. Louis. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys listening to Classic Rock, hiking, playing with her dogs and spending quality time with friends and family. After her stay at WERC, Jennifer plans to apply for graduate school in the hopes of obtaining her Master’s in Biology and eventually studying wild gray wolves and other carnivores. The possibility of working closely with gray wolves brought Jennifer to this internship and she is excited for the experiences and knowledge she will obtain from her stay here at WERC.

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Why Do We Study Owls?

by Chris Anderson

A

t night we sometimes hear owls without catching a glimpse of them.

Owls are mysterious to us day-walkers and, let’s face it; this piques our curiosity. There are reasons for our cryptic curiosity, and these ideas play into owls’ mythological presence in art, literature, and folklore. There are also scientific reasons behind their strange behavior — behavior that helps ensure their survival in a world of predators and prey.

Throughout time, individual animals have captivated the human imagination. Tales of these iconic animals are told around campfires and in places of learning — even showing up in pop culture via movies, cartoons, advertising and gift shop merchandise. Predators in 54

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particular – be they lions, bears, wolves or owls — hold a distinct fascination for people of all ages.

We are drawn to these mysterious animals.

We have much to learn about these wonderful creatures. Understanding owls’ ecological role in our present world and understanding the value they bring to both urban and rural environments is of vital importance.

Kidwings hopes to broaden current understanding of predators by taking

a scientific approach to looking at owls.

The study of owls can lead to a raised awareness of critical environmental issues, such as how we approach nature and how we live within a balanced ecosystem in a way that ensures future generations will enjoy the same flora and fauna that we presently enjoy.

The study of owls can also yield practical applications. For example, one study (1), reported in the Journal of Vision (July

The large eyes of an owl do not move within the socket. Instead, the owl rotates its head to the world around it, as if it were looking through a pair of binoculars.

Up in the Air

2011), demonstrated the use of owls as a model to explore the advantages and mechanisms of stereo-vision (stereopsis), a capability they share with humans.

Other more typical owl studies relate to owl pellets.

Owl pellets are critical to science because, when we examine the components of an owl pellet, we find bones of the animals that the owl has eaten. If a scientist finds small rodents and bats, it is possible to learn what species of prey live in a particular area.

If a scientist picks up pellets regularly, then he or she can observe owl prey selection over time. The bones can indicate the growth or decrease of the owl prey populations in the owls’ pellets.

Studying the abundance of these prey animals reveals critical information about potential pests (mice, voles, bats, birds, etc.) for farming communities and also provides information about diseases and their vectors that are present in an ecosystem. The main subject of this article is Barn Owl ecology concerning the bird’s habits, habitat, and prey selection. Information gathered relates to food

webs while considering regional differences in Barn Owl subspecies. We firmly believe and teach that dissecting owl pellets can help students develop better investigative skills, as these explorations encourage students to develop cognitive thinking skills in a fun and engaging manner.

Over the next three issues of Up In the Air With Raptors, I’ll be providing

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information about Barn Owls and their Habits, Habitat and Prey.

“Habits” will focus on some unique qualities and characteristics of the barn owl, including their particular digestive system which makes them ideal for studying.

“Habitat” will reveal facts about where and how barn owls choose to raise their young and also includes information on how owls adapt to various niches.

“Prey”, the final reading section, will focus on the relationship barn owls have with their food sources.

Our goal is that readers will enjoy a wealth of science-based knowledge that will deepen interest in this exciting and fascinating

Hands on science labs are proven to improve the investigative skills of young learners. Dissecting pellets is a perfect way to engage students.

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Up in the Air

subject. As we begin our exploration together, it’s important to identify which owls are most prolific and what conclusions can be drawn.

Which Owls Do We Explore?

The most common owl we study for educational purposes is the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). There are two good reasons for this exclusivity.

One is the availability of the subject, as the barn owl lives on every continent except Antarctica, and has a comparable diet across the globe. Second, unlike some of their cousins, Barn Owls have a unique method of ingesting their prey whole and regurgitating a pellet that is conveniently packaged as a tightly compacted ball 56

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of fur, bones, and other material not needed for nutrition.

Their voracious appetite is matched only by eager students wanting to learn about their diet!

Another important owl we study, mainly because of the bird’s proximity to the Barn Owl in North and South America, is the Great Horned Owl. Great Horned Owls do

not lend themselves as well to our investigations due to differences in how they ingest and digest their food. That noted, as we work with students across the world, we find a growing interest in a more challenging study of the Great Horned Owl. Owl Basics If you asked someone what sound an owl makes, most people would say, “Hoo!” That’s not necessarily incorrect.

Vocalizations various owls may distinguish them as uniquely as their appearances do.

For example, a Barn Owl does not produce a “hoo,” but rather the “screech” that has been the source of many mythical stories told on dark, spooky nights.

Screech Owls, on the other hand, rarely screech but rather have a staccato-

The Barn Owl is found nearly world-wide in countries with moderate climates.

Up in the Air

A stock of hay bales make for a great cavity for Barn Owls.

like succession of hoots.

The Great Horned Owl is known distinctly for its “hoo!” and is one of the most commonly heard owls in the wild.

While the Barn Owl is present on nearly all continents, the Great Horned Owl is the most common owl of the Americas. It has feather tufts that can make it somewhat cat-like in appearance. These horns, referred to as tufts easily distinguish it.

Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable birds.

Their habitats range from suburban areas to forests, farmlands, and to places where there is an abundance of prey.

Northern subspecies can migrate in winter months but prefer moderate climates where they can live for as many as 5 to 15 years.

Barn Owls are cavity dwellers by choice, selecting tree holes, stumps, caves and abandoned structures.

Sometimes Great Horned Owls will take the empty nest of a Barn Owl or other large bird. There have been instances where our team has seen a Barn Owl living in one end of a large structure and a horned owl at the other end. However, this is a rare occurrence because Barn Owls are frequently killed and preyed upon by Great Horned Owls.

For the most part, Great Horned Owls are monogamous, meaning they choose one mate for life. Both parents will incubate their eggs, which can range from one to five eggs (2-3 eggs on average).

A group of eggs laid during the

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same period is known as a “clutch.” Great Horned Owls are fiercely protective parents and known to attack humans who they perceive to be a threat.

Great Horned Owls share the digestive system common to all owls.

Similarly, horned owls will consume their prey whole when it is a smaller animal.

They then regurgitate, or gag, a pellet that includes the fur, bones, and other parts of their prey not required as nutrition. They are known to prey on a huge variety of creatures, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, domestic birds, falcons, and other owls. Great Horned Owls regularly eat skunks and are one of the few animals with such an appetite. They

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sometimes hunt for smaller game by standing or walking along the ground.

These owls have even been known to prey upon wandering cats and dogs.

Because Great Horned Owls have a more diverse diet that includes small mammals and larger rodents, they often need to break up the bones of an animal to digest it. For this reason, it can be more difficult for the inexperienced eye to identify prey in a Great Horned Owl pellet. Like other birds of prey, Great Horned Owls are skilled nighttime hunters that strike from above and use their powerful talons to kill and carry animals several times heavier than themselves.

Great Horned Owls are primarily nocturnal, so they

Great Horned Owls have voracious diet and breed as abundantly as there is available prey and absence of competition for food and habitat.

can be difficult to spot. But in the dark after sunset, or just before dawn, they can often be heard vocalizing with their recognizable series of “Hoo hoos,� and can even be seen plucking at roadkill on country roads. Unlike Barn Owls which typically weigh under a pound, Great Horned Owls can weigh up to five pounds and are considered one of the heaviest and largest of the owls in the Americas.

Because Great Horned Owls ingest prey by typically breaking its bones, their pellets, or undigested remains, are often chalky and porous due to the the powdered bones.

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What Do We Learn From Great Horned Owls?

As an apex predator, Great Horned Owls have few natural enemies, but observing their habitat and hunting behavior reveals other reasons why they have such high survival rates. What natural enemies they do have are most threatening during the period when the female has eggs. Owl eggs make delicious meals for raccoons and even buzzards.

Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable birds in that they will relocate or migrate to ensure their survival, as do most owls.

If a forested area presents a threat by a predator or lack of available food, they will move and reside in a human-made structure. We learn a lot of lessons from horned owls by studying their prey, and there is no better way to identify prey than by dissecting owl

Up in the Air

pellets, the regurgitated remains of their diet.

Because Great Horned Owls break the bones of their prey to digest it, they will occasionally produce a chalky and porous pellet that resembles a gray ice cream cone. When picked up, it can quickly fall apart because the chalky bones have been crunched up during the digestion process. Identifying the prey of the great horned owl is an investigative puzzle, but a fascinating lesson nonetheless.

Why Study the Barn Owl? Barn Owls have

fascinated humans for many generations and many reasons. From American Indian stories to Celtic myths to ancient hieroglyphics, the strange habits of the Barn Owl have inspired storytellers worldwide for centuries.

Perhaps you have ventured out into the night and heard the banshee-like cry of a Barn Owl; or maybe you’ve been frightened by an overhead shadow falling across your path, disappearing just as quickly as it appeared.

Don’t be alarmed if you encounter these mysterious creatures. You have

One of the most common scientific methods used to study and compare the diets of Barn Owls is owl pellet dissection. Because of the abundance of Barn Owl pellets throughout the world, these are inexpensive educational tools that also contain rich learning opportunities. The Barn Owl’s unique digestive system creates a pellet using undigested portions of its prey. The pellet is then orally expelled. If you find pellets scattered below a tree, look up carefully, you may see an owl roosting (resting on a fixed

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probably been a witness to one of creation’s most exciting nocturnal (night) hunters. You now have your own dark and scary tale!

Join Up in the Air With Raptors next issue as we explore some fascinating Habits of Barn Owls!

(1) Source: Owls see in stereo much like humans do, Robert F. Van der Willigen, Journal of Vision, June 2011, Disparity sensitivity in man and owl: Psychophysical evidence for equivalent perception of shape-from-stereo, Robert F. van der Willigen, Wolf M. Harmening, Journal of Vision, January 2010]

horizontal object) or nesting! In the “Prey” section of this booklet, we will go into more detail about the uniqueness of the Barn Owl diet and what makes it a valuable resource in science classrooms.

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Our mission is to provide the highest quality captive animal care and education possible and inspire greater public tolerance toward apex predators.

We engage the public to support sustainable relationships with nature to become a social norm.

Our vision is a growing community of individuals who work toward a more sustainable relationship with nature. This is achieved through captive animal care, regional interpretive programs, and ongoing development of contemporary media.

We partner with diverse cultures and traditions to build a united and stronger future for all species.

Get involved today!