DISPERSAL OF WOLVES (CANIS-LUPUS) IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, 1969-1989

We examined the dispersal patterns of radio-collared wolves (Canis lup us) from 21 packs in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota, from 196 9 to 1989. A total of 316 wolves (542 wolf-years) were captured, radio -collared, and following during 21 years of radio-tracking; 75 were id entified as dispersers. Both sexes dispersed equally. Of the adults, y earlings, and pups, 8, 75, and 16%, respectively, dispersed. Most disp ersers left when they were 11-12 months old, only a few wolves dispers ing as adults. Dispersal occurred mainly in February-April and October -November. Adults dispersed short distances into nearby territories, b ut yearlings and pups dispersed both short and long distances. Yearlin g and pup dispersal rates were highest when the wolf population was in creasing or decreasing and low when the population was stable. Adults had the highest pairing and denning success, yearlings had moderate pa iring and low denning success, and pups had low pairing and denning su ccess. Yearlings and pups that dispersed a short distance had a higher success of settling in a new territory, likely reflecting available v acancies in nearby territories. Thirty-five percent of the known-age w olves remained in their natal territory for > 2 years; two wolves were known to have remained for > 7 years. The relative weight of pups at capture apparently did not affect their age or success of dispersal or the tendency to disperse.