摘要: At the end of 2005, at least 118 wolves in 13 packs occupied Yellowstone National Park (YNP). This represents a decline of 51 wolves (a drop of 30%) from 2004, the largest population decline since reintroduction. Seven packs counted toward the breeding pair objective for the Yellowstone Recovery Area. Four packs dissolved or left the park: Geode Creek and Specimen Ridge packs no longer exist, the Biscuit Basin pack moved into Idaho, and the Chief Joseph pack is now counted as a state of Montana pack (other than denning in the park, movements are all outside YNP). One new pack (Hellroaring Creek) formed when the Leopold pack split and some members occupied old Geode Creek territory. The decline in 2005 is largely attributed to poor pup survival. Disease is suspected as the cause but laboratory tests are still pending. At least 69 pups were born and 22 (32%) survived. Pup survival is typically gt 60 …