The spring season has arrived with the cold days of winter receding into the distance, thus making way for the warmer days of spring. Spring, a time of renewal for nature, brings new smells and a welcome freshness into the air. The Rocky Mountains have been exceptionally dry these past months, resulting in low amounts of snow and few spring rains to date.

Our last update revealed a time of profound change for the Cascade pack as it brought news of the deaths of both Betty and Stoney, the alpha male and female. The deaths of Stoney and Betty late in autumn marked the rise of two new alphas for the pack, likely Alpine and Black Face, to continue the legacy of the Cascade pack.

olves in the central Rockies often live shorter lives than we would expect. Human-caused mortality factors are the highest source of wolf mortality in the central Rocky Mountains. It was therefore rare that we had the occasion of celebrating the deaths of two wolves that had died of natural causes.

At the beginning of the new update period, on February 16, Alpine was located via aerial telemetry in the Panther River Valley, travelling along the river with three other wolves. The pack total should have been 5 at this time, including Alpine's mate Black Face, the beta female Mrs. Grey, and the 2 pups. It is possible, however, that one of the pack members was travelling upslope in the trees, and was thus not sighted by the researcher in the airplane.

On February 22, an aerial telemetry flight revealed that Alpine was again in the Panther River Valley - this time close to the Barrier Warden cabin. The Cascade wolves make regular excursions to the Yaha Tinda Ranch, where approximately 1500 elk spend the winter months due to the low accumulation of snow in this area. The pack may have been returning from a foray to the ranch. Unfortunately no wolves were sighted on this trip, leaving us wondering whether the pack still had all five members.

Each winter, a backcountry tracking survey of several species is organized by Banff National Park. Wolves are one of the species surveyed. The purpose of the 'Sensitive Species Survey' is to conduct a census of several species via tracking, and compare population changes over years. This is accomplished by many crews skiing through all major river or creek drainages in Banff National Park during the same one week period in late February each year. The last point is critical, because if the timing of the surveys was staggered, it is possible that 2 crews could count the same wolf pack in two different drainages. Central Rockies Wolf Project researchers have participated in the survey since it began in the early 1990s. This year, the sensitive species revealed tracks of 5 wolves in the Dormer Valley. This was very good news, as it indicated that all of Alpine's pack were present.

On March 26, Alpine was located on the Dormer Plateau by a researcher conducting an aerial telemetry flight. The Dormer is a very unique area of Banff National Park because it supports a large number of big horn sheep and mountain goats. It is likely that the pack was hunting sheep in the Dormer area. Late winter is a time of greater vulnerability for prey animals. They are generally in poor condition by late winter, and wolves have a higher success to attempts ratio in their hunting expeditions. This is very beneficial to the pregnant female in the pack, as maintaining good condition is critical to the well being of the soon-to-be-born pups.

By late April, aerial telemetry flights located Alpine near their traditional den in the northern reaches of Banff National Park. This suggests that pups will be produced this year. Alpine is the likely candidate for the breeding female because she produced a pup last year, and appeared to step in to the alpha female position. It is possible, however, that Mrs. Grey could also produce pups. Multi litters of pups, although rare, have occurred in the Central Rockies. In 1999, Palliser, a radiocollared female member of the Cascade pack produced a litter of pups in addition to the pup that Betty produced. Palliser was tragically killed in a prescribed burn in May 1999, and we were unable to determine the fate of her pups.

The production of a second litter in a pack may be related to food density. For example, in Yellowstone National Park, where a recolonizing population of wolves appears to have a limitless source of elk for prey, multiple litters are not uncommon. During the spring of 2000 in Yellowstone National Park, an incredible total of three females in the Druid Peak pack produced litters of pups, with a combined sum of 20 pups! Last winter, the Druid Peak pack number at least 27 individuals. If the Cascade pack has done well making kills during the winter, we may see two litters of pups produced.

Social dynamics of the pack also play a role in determining the production and survival of a second litter of pups. The alpha female has much power over her pack mates, especially the female component of her pack. Some alpha females harass the other females of breeding age in the pack for weeks leading up to the breeding season. This is done by constant snarling at and pinning down the other females, and serves to exert authority over the subdominant individuals. It may also cause levels of stress in the subdominant members of the pack that preclude their ability to come into estrus. If a subdominant female comes into estrus, the alpha female may watch her closely, and prevent her from breeding. Tempers often run high during the breeding season, and it is not uncommon for some pack members to temporarily split off from their pack, perhaps to get a break from the tension.

Some alpha females are less benign than others, and a variety of factors may interact to determine whether a second litter is produced in a pack. If a subdominant female produces a litter, she will typically present the pups to the alpha female when the pups are old enough to emerge from the den. The alpha female may choose to accept the pups, and may even rear them herself or share the rearing duties with the subdominant female. The alpha female may also decide to kill the pups. Last year, Alpine produced a pup as a subdominant female, and Betty produced a pup as the alpha female. The two pups were co-raised by the mother-daughter team of Betty and Alpine. At one point, Alpine moved the two pups from the den site in response to an airplane circling overhead. Betty was on a hunting foray at the time, and returned to discover that her pup was missing. Betty did not panic, however, and communicated with Alpine via howling. This indicates a benign leadership, and a high level of trust in her daughter Alpine to care for her pup. Betty was 10 at the time, and may have been relieved to have help from her daughter in raising her pup.

Our den site observations on the Cascade pack will be conducted during the last week of June. This research will give us important information in regards to the hierarchy in the Cascade pack. This is especially important with the passing of the previous alpha pair - Betty and Stoney. It will also allow us to accurately assess pup recruitment. We hope that both pups from the spring 2000 litter survived the winter. Information on survival is an important component of population ecology. Information on survival, pup production, and pack social structure has been gathered by the Central Rockies Wolf Project for the Cascade pack since 1999 when they switched den locations to a more easily visible location. Prior to 1999, the Cascade pack used a den that was not conducive to observations.

What will the summer months hold for the Cascade pack? Who in fact are the new alpha pair - Alpine and Black Face? Or is there another alpha pair? How many pups will Cascade pack produce this spring? Stay tuned for the next update on Alpine, Black Face, the new pups, and the rest of the Cascade Pack!