GRAY WOLF PROJECT TOPS EXPECTATIONS.

Byline: Associated Press

Endangered gray wolves reintroduced to the wild in Idaho two years ago are sticking together and staying alive in numbers far greater than authorities had expected, the government's wolf recovery coordinator said.

``I doubt that we'll have to bring any more in, ever,'' Ed Bangs said, reiterating the announcement U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials made last fall in assessing the program that is moving into its third year.

After releasing 15 Canadian gray wolves during the winter of 1995 and 20 more a year ago, officials see the animals taking hold.

``All the signs are pretty encouraging,'' said Curt Mack, wolf coordinator for the Nez Perce tribe, which is supervising the recovery program in Idaho because the state chose not to get involved.

Gov. Phil Batt said recently that he believes the state will have to get involved in the program since it appears likely that the wolves will be removed from the Endangered Species list by the end of the decade or shortly after that.

In 1996, three breeding pairs produced a total of six to eight pups in Idaho.

``We have nine pairs now, with only two females left to pair up,'' Mack said.

But not everyone is happy with the wolves' success.

``I expect to see wolf cubs all over the place this next season,'' said Bob Sears, executive vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association. ``We're relieved they're not going to be bringing in any more.''

Of the 35 wolves released in central Idaho, four are known to have died and two are unaccounted for even though they were wearing radio collars.

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Photo: Endangered gray wolves reintroduced into the wild in Idaho two years ago are staying alive in numbers greater than expected.

Associated Press