Wolf population declining in Yellowstone National Park
(Marc Cooke | Wolves of the Rockies | The Associated Press) This Aug. 1, 2012 photo provided by Wolves of the Rockies shows a yearling wolf pup in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley in northern Wyoming. Montana officials want to triple the number of gray wolves hunters and trappers can kill in an area bordering the park, citing complaints the predators are eating too many elk wanted by hunters and outfitters.
Powell, Wyo. • 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 parvo virus — and packs moving out of the park for the decline.
Smith says the leading cause of natural mortality is wolves killing wolves.
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