As suspected, the pack did head south again, although nowhere near as far as on their January foray. Still, they seem to have accomplished what they probably set out to do, and that is to find more muskoxen and kill one or more. They spent 6 locations (2.5 days) basically in one spot (see close-up map) before starting on their long trek back to the northwest, covering 26.4 miles (42.2 km) straight-line distance in the 12 hr after they left their possible kill. Of course as they head back northward, they are also searching for muskoxen. Day in and day out, they search for food. After all, what else do they have to do anyway?
When will they begin breeding?
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about the ice sheet around Ellesmere Island, but over the time period you have been researching wolves there have you noticed changes in wolves or muskox movement or behavior as ice breaks up earlier (If that is the case)?
ReplyDeleteDeLene,
ReplyDeleteMid-March to early April.
Dave
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI’ve noticed no change in ice break up in my study area. About 250 miles
S., parts of the Northwest Passage remain open longer.
Dave