The article was so short and the link has been provided so here is what it says:
By Mark Davis, Powell Tribune, Associated Press
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.
Smith says the survival rate of gray pups is only about 7%.
Smith says Yellowstone had as many as 174 wolves in the park in 2003.
Smith largely blames outbreaks of disease—including distemper, mange and the parvovirus—and packs moving out of the park for the decline.
Smith says the leading cause of natural mortality is wolves killing wolves.
Wolf numbers are also reportedly down in the Gros Ventre Wilderness as well after increased hunting quotas. Game managers are saying that has likely been the reason more elk wintered in that area than last year.
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I like the part about more elk wintering in Gros Ventre Wilderness. That's a good sign. My buddy hunts Idaho and says the elk populations have dropped dramatically (in his opinion) since the wolves arrived. Like any critter, wolves need to be monitored and managed, too, if balance is to be maintained. Seems like 'nature' is providing some management of it's own in Yellowstone ("distemper, mange, and parvovirus".)