DIAGNOSING PREGNANCY, IN UTERO LITTER SIZE, AND FETAL GROWTH WITH ULTRASOUND IN WILD, FREE-RANGING WOLVES

摘要: We document the accuracy, efficacy, and safety of ultrasound in estimating reproductive characteristics gray wolves(Canislupus)incentralAlaska.Weexamined68adultfemalewolveswithultrasoundduringlateMarchand early April to diagnose pregnancy litter size. Seventy-two percent were pregnant. compared diagnoses with postmortem embryo or placental scar counts 14 females that died within 10 months being examinedbyultrasound;allultrasoundandpostmortemexaminationsagreedinthediagnosesofpregnancy.Among 12 pregnant females, 6 agreed exactly fetal count, 11 1 fetus, all 2 fetuses. In sample we detected a decline average color density between mid-September midFebruary. Radiocollared monitored from air estimate denning rates. Distance den declined as parturition approached, but few localized near dens before parturition. Among 46 femalesdiagnosedbyultrasound,80.4%enteredandremainedatdens,15.2%failedtoenterdens,and4.4%denned abandoned week. None diagnosed nonpregnant entered dens. present modelsoffetalgrowthfromultrasoundmeasurementsofembryonicvesiclediameters(EVD)orcrown‐rumplength (CRL) utero CRL was better predictor gestational age (r ¼ 0.92) than EVD 0.79). found no evidence capture during 2nd trimester affected productivity.