The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) announced the discovery of tracks and possible scat of wolves in northern Elko County.
On March 17, a pilot from a helicopter capture crew contracted by NDOW identified three suspected wolves near Merritt Mountain, north of Elko, while conducting a scheduled moose collaring project.
NDOW biologists collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to organize a comprehensive search of the area. During their efforts, biologists discovered tracks in the area, with the freshest tracks leading toward the Idaho border before being lost in challenging snow conditions. NDOW biologists also conducted ground surveys, yielding track dimensions consistent with a wolf’s tracks. Subsequently, the biologists deployed trail cameras, collected scat and explored potential sites for collecting hair samples, which were then sent off for DNA testing. Results from the tests are anticipated in the coming weeks.
“We are doing all we can to gather information regarding this sighting and will keep the public updated as we learn more information,” said NDOW Director Alan Jenne. “Nevada is not a historic habitat for wolves, and we’ve had very few confirmed sightings in the state.”
Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed joy in welcoming wolves back to Nevada, emphasizing their importance in maintaining healthy mountain ecosystems in the West. Weiss believes there is ample space for wolves to flourish in Nevada.
