In Idaho, we're well underway into the wolf season. I thought it time to post a few wolf pictures again. A few of the trappers are getting some gear out. For several years I trapped wolves for IDFG for radiocollaring to monitor reproduction and other things. A few wolves were caught in footholds and released with transmitters. Here's a few portraits of collared wolves, all from northern Idaho (St. Joe and NF Clearwater Rivers).


This wolf didn't get overly excited about anything. She was given the name "Mellow".



This a a pretty big boy, 11 years and 108 pounds. I like that "blue" color phase.



Another big blue male. His packmate had just pulled out as I watched. He was named "Chiono", which was a cross between "chiorny" (black) in Russian, and "chono", Mongolian for wolf.



This was a 104-lb male, dubbed "Spicer" in honor of a recently deceased Conservation Officer and friend.



This wolf was caught in a June snowstorm. He was given the name "Koshmar", meaning "nightmare" in Russian. Collaring him was quite a story.


Hope you enjoy the photos. Let's see some more...

I’m trying to get some photos! Magnificent animals!

Great pictures and your Idaho wolves sure look different than out MN ones. That blue male sure has a big old melon on him.

This one was the toughest I had to release. I think he had seen a catch pole before.

I liked the colors on this one.

When I realized a Nohwoods 1 3/4 were a well built trap.

Another pretty one.

I couldn't resist sharing a few from over my past years on the line.. Grateful for Dean Wilson taking time to teach me snaring!

Great pics, thanks everyone for sharing!

You know I always love the wuffs, Jack.

Sure like seeing Garth. He is huge. His head and feet. I think I recall, he was under sedation in that pic, it would be fun to see pics of him staggering off after you let him go.

I did a portrait of Blue, for Jumperzee, a trapper in Idaho , who is a member here too. Those blues, like Garth, are really special.

And the pencil of JR's wuff. He said that one was among the prettiest he has caught.

Those Russian names are perfect for your wuffs.

Love this post! Great pics from all!

Gulo, are you removing a tooth for aging?

JP -

No. I no longer remove a tooth for cementum aging. For our purposes, we don't need exact age. I found that taking a frontal close-up of the upper central incisors, I can get within +/- 1 year (compared with cementum ages in the past), usually exactly right on. The wear patterns are predictable on the upper incisors. Not so with the canines or premolars/molars.

Typical yearling incisor wear.


Jack

That blue male sure has a big old melon on him.

I was going to say the same thing!

Blends in pretty good with the bush.

This was an old dog, had the Park service biologist give me an estimate on age and if I remember correctly he said 12 to 14 years old.

That nice wuff is at the wrong end of the sled, Sir Ken...she needs a harness and up front to lead and pull . Nice smiles from you both in that one

Sharon, your artwork is truly amazing!

Keith

I think that's a grimace on the wolf.

That is because she isn't leading the show up front .

Thank you, Keith. If it wasn't for such wonderful photography, I'd be dead in the watah....

Outstanding Photos

Dean was a great guy!

I just showed Diane your artwork on your website, which I just looked at for the first time too and she made an uncontrollable noise of awe because it is so good. We will be buying some of your work in the future.

Keith

Many thanks, Keith. I also have things on computer folders that aren't on the site, so if you ever have a particular interest, I can find some updated images and show you those in PM. Lots of times, folks see something in the magazines and ask for a print. That isn't on the site.

In the subject of wuffs, don't forget Jack's fantastic skull prints he drew. He is a remarkable ahhtist, so many talents he has.

Nice pics but I hate it when people personify wild animals with names.

We give our horses names. We give our dogs names. I even name my trucks and my fishing poles. It's easier to talk about a wolf using a name rather than a string of numbers that I can't remember. "Officially", they have those numbers, but in real life, it's easier to say "Joe" than "202345981-M". Tell me what's wrong with a name. Does it make you all warm and fuzzy and anthropomorphic?

Gulo Your work involving the alpha dog predator has removed much of the misunderstanding among the people of the imagine of what it has become portrayed as It is a crime against the animal . Your science based facts are the ground work of how and why it needs to be managed I have no experience with wolves But I consider it to be a trophy anima; Something that should beheld in respect At the same time it is not be held above all others to the harm that it causes other wildlife . Sharon your artist eye to be able to see a wolf and transfer that imagine to paper and canvas is a marvelous ability. That skill and dedication to getting it right also allows us to understand that a wolf is indeed a predator. Thanks to both of you for keeping all of us grounded to what the facts are and not allowing those self serving fools to use a great species of animal to promote the false info they than use to steal money from the public. .

My thoughts exactly, Jack.

What is a plane, chopper or ship, with no name ?

I name my rifles too.

Not one thing wrong with a name. I love the Russian names you have given your wuffs. Russian names have such meaning, and roll off the tongue in such a lovely language.

What a downer it would be for a child to never be able to get excited at naming animals , wild or domestic.

Garth is the ONLY name for that tremendous blue wuff you caught.

This is a fun, positive Friday thread , that I look forward to seeing what theme you find for everyone next. Keep it up, please.

This one was shot up the haul road. It was a well furred wolf.

Thank you, W Side. Again, everything depends on the photographers , like Jack, and all his decades of biological research, that allows me to get them as right as possible.

And what a fun life, and time this life really is, with these amazing people to know and appreciate .

Now that is a beautiful picture!

MJM -

Not all of my experience with large predators is touchy-feely radiocollaring and release. But recently, that's what I've been paid to do. To release them is as good of shape as when I caught them. I've worked many thousands of hours to develop methods and make that happen. In my sordid past, I've spent plenty of time putting wolves on the stretchers, both fur-trapping and control work. That photo looks like a fine wolf, Mark.

west side -

Thank you for your post, sir. Among many more articles, both scientific and popular, see Fur-Fish-Game Volume 116(1), January 2019.

LR5Ranger we are waiting to see your wolf. No rush just get it done and some photos for us in the east. Sharon, Gulo, old snap MJM and Mad mike we are all jealous of your catches and photos and drawings/ paintings. Great post. Looking forward for more.....jk

Rick Olsen asked me to post these pictures up for him.

Thank's my phone won't like me get on TM, to post,a real pretty colored wolf from many years back,18 to 20 years ago.

Great thread Jack.

And very nice drawings Sharon

This one was just falling asleep when I showed up.


How old do you think?

This one was the closest I have come to a blue colored wolf. Most of the ones I get are kind of tawny in coloration.

Lookslike a young adult-2-3 years old my guess.

That’s cool! I think it would be very neat and informative if you could show us a pic of the upper incisors on each age class from say 6 months - 10 years old.
It would be very interesting and useful, to me anyways.

But only if it didn’t take up too much of your time. Maybe a future Photo Phriday topic!

Jack, you gave this one the bling. Wonder if it's the same one in the third pic posted?

For what it’s worth, I found this for aging by teeth…
https://wolfsongalaska.org/chorus/Accuracy-and-Precision-Estimating-Age-of-Gray-Wolves-Tooth-Wear

jake -

That drawing is really pretty good for Intermountain West wolves. It works better on Alaska wolves. I've modified it a bit for tooth wear on Idaho wolves, as it seems they wear down their incisors at a slightly faster rate. I know Jurassic Park was interested; that drawing works well for most sections of Canadian wolves. I don't put much stock in the wear rates on the premolars and the molars; Seems they are highly variable compared with the upper incisors. Thanks for posting that.

Jack

Jack, would those different wear rates be due to different soils and/or diet ? Or frozen meat ?

Yea, it’s tough to tell. I figured mine was 4-6 years, but the incisor length look younger.

Same wolf but better pic

I'm guessing it has to do with size of prey. To me, the bigger the prey animal (moose in Alaska), the greater the chances of biting into clean meat. With smaller prey (deer), chances are the smaller muscles have been rolled in the dirt, and the greater the chances that the predator gets dirt or sand in most bites, leading to slightly more wear. This, of course, is just a guess. Could have something to do with length of time of snow on the ground. All winter (long winters), those Alaska wolves are eating on top of snow or ice, and there's very little chance of sand or dirt. Down here, most places, snow and ice are intermittent through the winter, and much longer periods where the prey may get dirt/sand, leading to increased chance of tooth abrasion. Just speculation. Make sense?

Jack

Sure does !! Sort of like marten that are eating dead salmon in sandy environments.

Thanks !!

I don't like sand on my steak...

You must have good teeth Sharon.
Mine got wore down a bit biting off beer caps before they made the twist offs.

As a matter of fact, I DO have good teeth, Boco

Wuffs could too if they washed their meat in the rivah, like a raccoon does

Ok, so based from this picture the lines represent where the tooth would be worn down to at that age, correct?

JP -

YES!

Jack

They don't have a thumb like a coon does.

Makes sense! Thanks!

Yes, Jumper. I only collared one black (somewhat blue) wolf in that area. I caught him in Bimerick Creek. That's the same wolf, I'm sure.