Below is an example of the Fishtrap pack's territory. I have left out any reference points such as roads, specific locations, geographical features, etc. This is to protect the wolves since there are a good number of people who would like to see them dead. For my purposes, however, I can superimpose this map onto topo maps and then add the pack's known travel routes along with their den site and rendezvous site locations.  This gives me an idea of how the wolves are utilizing their territory throughout the year.

One feature of the wolves' annual movement is their seasonal shift from one side of the territory to the other.  Despite the seasons, the wolves still patrol most of their territory unless the climate, i.e., winter snow, prevents them from doing so.  However, the wolves' prey items such as deer, elk, and moose, are also at the mercy of the weather. Consequently, when the prey move in response to climatic conditions the wolves follow. Thus the pack undergoes seasonal shifts within their territory. 

I chose the geographic center of the pack's territory as a reference point for seasonal movement, and in 2004 it was generally in a north-south direction. In other years the seasonal shifts were in different directions. For example, through the fall of 2002 and into the winter of 2003, the pack's movements were often east-west.  This corresponded to the pack's travels over the Cabinet Mountains to the west side of this range.

These movements began when the pack apparently split in the winter of 2003 and ended when one of the wolves was killed by a vehicle on the west side of the Cabinet Mountains. During this time, one of the two branches of the Fishtrap pack was apparently "visiting" the other branch which lived on the western side of the Cabinets.  The western branch was called the Green Mountain pack which disbanded when one of their members was killed by a vehicle in March 2003. 

This is all theory of course.  However, there are several indications that the two groups were visiting:

1. The behavior of crossing the Cabinet Mountains began when the pack split.

2. This behavior ended when the wolf was hit and killed by a motor vehicle.

3. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's annual report for 2003 showed that the territory of the Green Mountain pack was completely "engulfed" by the territory of the Fishtrap pack (see the 2003 annual report).  In my opinion, this would not have happened unless the two packs knew each other or were related in some way.

During the summers, the Fishtrap pack has tended to stay in other areas of its territory. This corresponds, at least in part, to the movement of prey which is no longer hindered by winter snow and are now more dispersed.  During this time of the year, however, the pack has reproductive and social issues it must deal with which helps to limit the pack's movement within their territory, at least for the pack as a whole. For example, a den site area must be located and prepared for the arrival of pups. After that, rendezvous sites are necessary to train the pups to become active and contributing members of the pack. 

Although the wolves are freer to move around in the spring and summer time, their movements still incorporate the locations of the den and rendezvous sites.  Consequently, the pack as a whole has limited movement during the denning and rendezvous site season.  Individual pack members, however, still move around a great deal during the spring and summer, and the extent of their movements can rival those of the nomadic time of year.