Capture-related Two nails Three nails None None
damage lost lost
Weight at 55 lb. 65 lb. 74 lb. 75 lb.
capture (24.9 kg) (29.4 kg) (33.5 kg) (33.9 kg)
Weight, March 5 46 lb. 58 lb. 66 lb. 60 lb.
(20.8 kg.) (26.3 kg) (29.9 kg) (27.2 kg)
% weight loss 16% 11% 11% 20%
Canine length, 0.83" 0.25-0.50" 0.93" 0.87"
upper (21 mm) (6-13 mm) (24 mm) (22 mm)
Canine length, 0.75" very worn 0.82" 0.85"
lower (19 mm) (21 mm) (21 mm)
Testes[10] ---- ---- 0.5 x 1.0" 0.5 x 0.75"
(13x25 mm) (13x19 mm)
Teats Tiny, not Dark, ---- ----
apparent evident
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[9] Gross subjective estimates based on tooth wear
[10] Estimated
On March 5, 1974, the wolves were again immobilized for pre-release
processing in Minnesota. An initial dose, and several supplemental doses
of phencyclidine and promazine were administered intramuscularly and
intraperitoneally between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CDT. The wolves were
restrained with muzzles and their legs were bound together during
processing and transport. Two of the wolves were blindfolded because
they were too active otherwise.
The wolves were ear-tagged with both Minnesota and Michigan Department
of Natural Resources tags, and weights and body measurements were taken
(Fig. 6, 7). Their teeth were inspected and canines were measured to try
to obtain an indication of age. Each animal was fitted with a radio
transmitter (AVM Instrument Co., Champaign, Illinois[11]) molded into an
acrylic collar (Mech, 1974).
[Illustration: _Fig. 7.--Standard body measurements were also taken
(USFWS Photo by Don Reilly)_]
Each wolf was injected with 1,200,000 units of Bicillin (Wyeth), 2 cc of
distemper-hepatitus-leptospirosis vaccine (BioCeutic Laboratories D-Vac
HL), 0.5 cc of vitamins A, D, E, (Hoffman-LaRoche[11] Injacom 100), 1 cc
of vitamin C-fortified vitamin B complex (Eli-Lilly, Betalin Complex
FC), and 2 cc anti rabies vaccine (Fromms Raboid). These injections
(Fig. 8) were given to insure that the wolves would be as healthy as
possible upon release, and would not contract or introduce diseases in
the release area.
[11] _Mention of trade names does not constitute endorsement by the U.
S. Government._
Some 30 to 60 cc of blood were drawn from each wolf for analysis of its
physical condition (Seal et al. 1975).
The processing of the wolves took from 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CDT on
March 5, 1974. The animals were then transported by truck to
International Falls, loaded on an airplane (Fig. 9), and flown for 2
hours (Fig. 10) to the Marquette County Airport, Michigan. They were
turned on different sides each half hour while drugged during their
processing and transport to prevent lung congestion. At the Marquette
Airport they were transferred by van to a 25 foot by 25 foot by 12 foot
(7.6 m x 7.6 m x 3.7 m) holding pen on the Huron Mountain Club property
35 miles (56.3 km) northwest of Marquette.
[Illustration: _Fig. 8.--Various vitamins and vaccines were administered
to each wolf to insure their health and freedom from common canine
diseases (USFWS Photo by Don Reilly)_]
The wolves were released individually into the holding pen while each
was still partly under sedation (Fig. 11). The transmitting frequency of
each wolf's collar was rechecked on the receiver as each wolf was
released into the pen (Fig. 12). All wolves were in the pen by 10:00
p.m. EDT, and were held there until March 12.
Four road-killed deer carcasses, provided by the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, had been placed inside the pen for food (Fig. 13),
and a tub of drinking water was provided. Carcasses of five road-killed
deer and a black bear (_Ursus americanus_) were placed within a
half-mile (0.8 km) of the release pen as food for the wolves after their
release.
We had scheduled the release for mid-March for several reasons which we
felt would maximize chances for success. Deer are concentrated then in
the Huron Mountain area and vulnerable to predation. Pregnancy and
subsequent whelping of the alpha female might increase her attachment to
the new area. Furthermore, the snow is usually deepest then and hinders
travel. However, a few days before the release, a freak rainstorm had
settled the snow, and cold temperatures had frozen it so hard that
animals could walk readily on top, making travel conditions excellent.
[Illustration: _Fig. 9.--The anesthetized wolves were placed aboard an
aircraft in International Falls, Minnesota (USFWS Photo by Don Reilly)_]
[Illustration: _Fig. 10.--The wolves were kept lightly drugged during
the flight to Michigan (USFWS Photo by L. David Mech)_]
[Illustration: _Fig. 11.--In the Huron Mountain area of Upper Michigan
the wolves were taken to another holding pen (Photo by Don Pavloski)_]
[Illustration: _Fig. 12.--Biologists checked the signal from each
radio-collar before the wolves were released into the holding pen (Photo
by Don Pavloski)_]
An observation shack 120 feet (36.6 m) from the pen was used to
determine the activities and interactions of the four wolves. Weise
spent three nights in the shack and also observed the wolves each day of
the one-week penned period, for a total of 20 hours of observation (Fig.
14).
During preliminary air and ground checks of radio equipment, we
discovered that Wolf No. 10 had a defective collar. Thus on March 12, we
subdued her with a choker, restrained her with ropes, replaced her
collar and released her just after sunset. We then opened the pen, and
let the other wolves loose.
[Illustration: _Fig. 13.--While in captivity, the wolves were fed
primarily on road-killed deer (Photo by Don Pavloski)_]
The subsequent locations of the wolves were then checked intermittently
through aerial radio-tracking (Mech 1974), with a receiver and antenna
from the AVM Instrument Co., Champaign, Illinois, used in a Cessna 172
and a Piper Colt. We made two flights each day for the first 2 days
after release, one each day when weather permitted, until April 20,
three per week in May, approximately two per week from June through
September, and three per week in October and November. A total of 194
hours were flown, 80 per cent by Weise, and the remainder by Hook.
Aerial locations were usually recorded to the nearest 40 acres (16 ha.).
We also tracked the wolves from the ground whenever interesting or
significant activities were observed during flights or were reported by
ground observers. Carcasses of prey animals were investigated from the
ground after consumption was complete and the wolves had left. Deer
eaten by the wolves were considered killed by them if the ground check
revealed fresh blood or flesh, or signs of a struggle. Scats were
collected along the tracks of the wolves in the snow whenever possible.
When radio signals were received from the same location for unusually
long periods, ground checks were made to determine the cause.
Attempts were made to verify all sightings and track records reported by
local citizens, by comparing them with the aerially-determined
locations.