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Wolf Population Declining In Yellowstone National Park

Grey wolf in Yellowstone Park.
Jim Peaco
/
National Park Service
Grey wolf in Yellowstone Park.

POWELL, Wyo. (AP) — Officials say Yellowstone National Park's gray wolf population has dropped to about 80 wolves — less than half of the highest population mark in the park.

The Powell Tribune reported on Thursday that while park officials won't have an accurate count until the fall after surviving pups are visible, the park's top biologist, Doug Smith, doesn't expect the numbers to rise dramatically after litters are included in population estimates.

He says the survival rate of gray wolf pups is only about 7 percent, and that Yellowstone had as many as 174 wolves in the park in 2003.

Smith largely blames outbreaks of disease — including distemper, mange and the parvo virus — and packs moving out of the park for the decline.

According to Smith, the leading cause of natural mortality is wolves killing wolves.

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Information from: Powell (Wyo.) Tribune, http://www.powelltribune.com

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