NorthwestJanuary 28, 1996

Associated Press

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. This year's second batch of Canadian wolves was released into acclimation pens in Yellowstone National Park on Saturday.

Park spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews says a total of six wolves were released into one-acre pens early Saturday five in the Rose Creek pen in Lamar Valley and one in the Nez Perce pen near Madison Junction, which was holding wolves brought to the park earlier in the week.

The action marked the last of this year's scheduled releases in Yellowstone.

Eleven wolves were released into pens earlier this week, for a total of 17 wolves this year.

Eight wolves captured earlier this month near Fort St. John, British Columbia, were released Thursday in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Twelve more were expected to be released there during the weekend.

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The Idaho wolves will be released immediately, while the Yellowstone wolves will be held in their acclimation pens for up to 10 weeks to allow them time to get used to their new surroundings.

Matthews said the six wolves brought to the park Saturday all appeared in good health, as do the 11 wolves brought to the park earlier.

Last year, 15 wolves were released in Idaho and 14 released in Yellowstone.

A total of nine pups were born to packs in Yellowstone, and officials have said the relocation program was proceeding better than they had hoped. Because of that, and because of congressional efforts to shift relocation funds, this year's relocation could be the last in the program, according to Ed Bangs, the program director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The program originally called for relocating Canadian wolves for five years.

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