Yellowstone park begins tracking reintroduced wolves

CODY, Wyo. (AP) - Biologists have begun this year's efforts to monitor the progress of federally reintroduced gray wolves in and around Yellowstone National Park.

Last week, they began capturing wolves by helicopter, fitting them with radio collars, taking blood samples and documenting weight, gender and health.

The project is aimed at determining whether wolf populations are large enough to warrant the animals' removal from the Endangered Species Act.

Federal law requires a certain number of wolves to exist in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming before they no longer require federal protection.

Superintendent Mike Finley said the reintroduction program is doing better than expected since it started in 1995, with the birth of 130 wolf pups and 120 wolves currently living in the area.

A recovered population is defined as a minimum of 10 pairs of wolves breeding for three successive years in each of the recovery areas.

The goal is to capture 30 to 50 percent of the pups in each pack and replace or install collars on two lead adults in each pack.

Last year, biologists captures and collared 27 wolves from seven packs. Currently 35 wolves have been fixed with radio collars in the Yellowstone area.