This image of GPS tracking of multiple wolves in six different packs around Voyageurs National Park was created in the framework of the Voyageurs Wolf Project. It is an excellent illustration of how much wolf packs in general avoid each other’s range.
In Voyageurs National Park a typical wolf pack territory is somewhere around 50-70 square miles but that can vary from year to year. So that’s about the size of the areas marked with the different colors. The white line marks the boundary of the national park.
As beautifully demonstrated by the animation, wolf packs generally avoid being around each other unless they are fighting for food that may be in short supply. When that occurs, they may engage in battles with other packs in order to continue have their claim on a given location as well as the food found within it.
Wolves may need to shift their territory due to human activity as well. When people clear out part of their natural habitat they may have to find a new route to get to their food sources. This can also create conflicts among the various wolf packs due to overstepping their bounds.
Sources: Voyageurs Wolf Project, Wolfworlds
The white pack are the stoners of this group. They travel half as much and stumble deep into other pack’s territories, a lot. They’re probably trying to bum some Doritos from their neighbours.
this comment is about me and i dont like it!
Now this is just showing that packs in Voyagers National Park. It would also be interesting to see a correlaction between those packs and the packs just outside of the park.
Interesting. Food, water, safety and geography, each pack has their own home bases which is demonstrated best by the white pack. I would be curious as to how many members of each pack were carrying transmitters.
Interesting. Food, water, safety and geography, each pack has their own home bases which is demonstrated best by the white pack. HI would be curious as to how many members of each pack were carrying transmitters.
A wolf pack is a family of related wolves
I am seriously curious if this is raw GPS data, corrected and/or smoothed. GPS coverage in forest canopy areas is subject to coverage anomalies. Some of these can take the form of positional jumps and during a time series like this can look almost normal. I have worked with gps receivers placed in vehicles with less than adequate views of the sky and have learned the hard way.
Gentlemen…sounds like you all are Wolf savoy. I suggest you contact Rick McIntyre
A wolf biologists. In spring, summer and fall you can find him in Lamar Valley. Rick was instrumental with bringing wolves back to Yellowstone. Rick is the man about wolves.
Shit the yellow in the middle of everyone and toing the lines on all sides! They must be the pack with the prime real estate!
I LOVE seeing all the IDIOTS chiming in! But I think Kira’s right, the White pack is more gutsy. Great study, thanks! I reread Ian’s statement 3 times and it’s still Bla Bla Bla!
Both male and females will search out new mates
With only 6 packs and human interaction causing fragmented populations, wonder how closely related these packs are and how data can be understood.
The age and genetics are only data they cannot explain history or relationships.
Genetics can’t explain history or relationships? Please explain this statement.
I think Ian was saying that it would be great if the colors also told the story of their relationships if any ( mothers to sons and daughters and fathers, brothers and sisters)with each as well and not just pack colors. That would explain orientations as well and how repelling from other territories prevents inbreeding.
Gutsy white wolf pack! Just walking into red blue and green territory
Maybe less food in their zone—?
This may be a single individual who is a young or outcast male. Wolf packs also avoid inbreeding by straying into other territory to mate.
The white line you are talking about is the park boundary. It says that in the article. Also, you can see the white line going through water.
Umm, hop ya know love swin and wher they live, water fresh and they walk on it.lol
Umm, hope ya know wolves can swin and where they live, water freeezes and they walk on it.lol
The white line (GPS collar, not boundary) doesn’t move in a natural way. ie, wolves don’t walk 15 miles in a straight line. I think we’re seeing some GPS irregularities here.
You’re a fkn retard, anything can walk in a straight line
It’s more likely that the GPS collar on the white pack is pinging less frequently then the other collars. Each dot is a ping. The line between dots is placed so you can better follow the trail of the Wolf. If a wolf is moving quickly. Like when it is tracking prey. The next dot May pop up far away. There would be a straight line between the two dots even though the wolf did not move in a straight line
Justin – good call.
Is it a fenceline?