Views from telemetry flights

Currently the Red Wolf Recovery Program is monitoring ~65 red wild wolves and ~50 sterile coyotes in the field.  To track these radio-collared individuals, we use both aerial and ground telemetry techniques.  Telemetry flights are typically performed 2-3 times/week weather-permitting.  These efforts allow us to identify where collared animals are (and who they're with) on the landscape.  Our field coordinator, Art, snapped a few interesting photos last month during flights: Photo 1) shows the congregation of migratory tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) on Pungo Lake (Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge) for the winter. At some points during the season, this lake and surrounding area (including Lake Mattamuskett) serves as vital feeding areas for 30,000+ swans.  Photo 2) shows an adult male wolf (shown in red square) resting near a white-tailed deer kill (shown in red circle).  These are tricky to see, but go to show how vigilant and alert the wolf biologists are to monitor from the air!

Photo Credits: A. Beyer/USFWS