OT: Wolf Watch - Page 12

I guess neither of them had to get through the math to get a biology degree.  If Montana has 256 wolves in 2005 and 524 wolves in 2009, how is that NOT double?!  I hope they had some mathematicians sign that paper too!  Not fair to look at yellowstone numbers from 2005 to present?  Just want to go back a year?  Gotta go up before it can go down, doncha think?

Also, in you first source it states, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, "Recovery goals call for 10 breeding pairs per area, or a total of 30 breeding pairs distributed through the 3 areas, for 3 years"  which has been the case for TEN YEARS NOW, during which time the OVERALL population has TRIPLED.  But that's OK, evolution is moving things along faster than the politicians can.  We now have mother nature's answer, in the forms of resource depletion, pack rivalry, and disease.

A 20% mortality rate, and despite all that, the population grew...
 

Monitoring
In 2009, > 320 wolves in >44 packs (>27 breeding pairs) inhabited Wyoming, including Yellowstone National Park. The wolf population grew approximately 6%. For more information, please see our 2009 Annual Report at: http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/wyomingstatus2010/03192010.html
 

One thing to be careful about, when looking at these numbers, is that there are "state" figures and there are "recovery area" figures.
Recovery Areas
1. Northwestern Montana
2. Greater Yellowstone Area (YNP, WY and parts of MT & ID)
3. Central Idaho
 

Here are the "Federal Recovery Area" population growth tables
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/annualrpt09/tables/FINAL_2009_%20BP_by_REC_%20AREA_Table_4a_&_Figure_5_03-08-10.pdf

For those who have no use for wild wolves, the facts prove via DNA that our beloved German Shepherds and domestic dogs evolved from wolves.  In fact, the sable colour is dominant in that it is the dominant wild wolf colour from which our dogs are decended. 
Now if you have a hard time with the association of our beloved GSDs with its ancestors, then do some research about our own human ancestors....