Just Curious.....Wolves in Whatcom?

[Birddogman]

I have been told by the old timer on my road that at one time there were wolves in GMU 407 as well as Gizzly and moose.  I most recently was told by a friend that he almost hit a wolf (or wolf like) dog when he was coming down from baker mountain about 8 miles East of Glacier.  I am just curios if anyone has seen or heard of them?  Thanks

[Forrestrover.02]

Interesting. My friend and I also saw a wolf on the Mt. Baker Hwy as we were driving down from the mountain. This was back in the late 90's.

[SWHUNTER]

There is a suspected pack at the upper end of Ross Lake.

[NWBREW]

Moose...Yes there have been photos on here of one crossing Hwy 20 and swiming across the upper Skagit.

Grizz....possible

Wolves...could be.  I believe someone on here has posted pics of a pack but were deemed to be hybreds by the powers that be. 

[3nails]

 I remember pics in the newspaper of moose inside the north end Bellingham in the 90's. I spend a lot of time in the high country around Baker and have never seen wolves or wolf sign. I believe I have seen two griz but not 100% certain.

[Special T]

I have seen 4 wolves just outside of Sedro Woolley, and th epics were posted on the skagit and the WDFW has yet to confirm them. Supposedly the agent is interested in documenting them... I have heard that several loggers in the area have seen them, some up close in the area N of the skagit... The reference to the wolves in a pic as "hybrids" come from the fact that some person in the area used to raise/rescue them, and may have "escaped"... I i were to do some serious work i'd talk to the Border patrol tha monitors the border.

[Birddogman]

Good idea Special T.  I have asked them about hunting spots for grouse before and have heard some wild stories of bear & cougar.  Next time I'm flagged down on S. Pass rd. I will have to ask. 

[baker5150]

There was a poached moose carcass found on the Mt. Baker Highway just 2 or 3 years ago.  The story was in the bellingham herald, so consider the source.

[bearpaw]

There are photos of wolves in the Nooksack here: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=79244.30

[BOWHUNTER45]

   Here this will blow you away  There was someone raising wolves up around Sauk Valley R.D  A buddy told me about them years ago So we went up there and we tried something we should not of  You could not see them because they were tucked away So since I thought he was BSing me I pulled out a diaphram  and screamed twice and all the sudden here comes 4 huge freakin wolves on a dead run ...yeah this is no sheet ... they came to the fence and were howling like crazy ... this was during late bow season and at least 8 to 10 years ago .... I believe the wolves seen in the nooksack were these Hydrid wolves ....and yes this is a true story !!

[luckyman]

  Here this will blow you away  There was someone raising wolves up around Sauk Valley R.D  A buddy told me about them years ago So we went up there and we tried something we should not of  You could not see them because they were tucked away So since I thought he was BSing me I pulled out a diaphram  and screamed twice and all the sudden here comes 4 huge freakin wolves on a dead run ...yeah this is no sheet ... they came to the fence and were howling like crazy ... this was during late bow season and at least 8 to 10 years ago .... I believe the wolves seen in the nooksack were these Hydrid wolves ....and yes this is a true story !!

I heard them wolves had been turned loose and was running free.

I did see a wolf up the p5000  near Spada around 1990 while running  bait to my bait piles. I'm quit sure it weren't no coyote

[seth30]

Saw one out there in 2010, not sure if it was a hybrid or pure wolf.   Funny thing when I posted about it no one beleived me, now if I posted all would.

[bearpaw]

Saw one out there in 2010, not sure if it was a hybrid or pure wolf.   Funny thing when I posted about it no one beleived me, now if I posted all would.

So very true, nobody wanted to believe much about wolves only 2 or 3 years ago, different story now.

[seth30]

Saw one out there in 2010, not sure if it was a hybrid or pure wolf.   Funny thing when I posted about it no one beleived me, now if I posted all would.

So very true, nobody wanted to believe much about wolves only 2 or 3 years ago, different story now.

Good thing I am thick skinned some of the HUNTWA Members comments then

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I posted the pics of the wolves in the Nooksack, I also posted pics of tracks I found 3 years ago in 418 after hearing wolf howls.  I sent all the pics to the WDFW biologist, he is no longer there but he said without even seeing them that they were "hybrids".... I have heard a lot of other stories from people who have seen them also.  They don't have to travel far from BC to get to Whatcom where I have seen them.

[Knocker of rocks]

I posted the pics of the wolves in the Nooksack, I also posted pics of tracks I found 3 years ago in 418 after hearing wolf howls.  I sent all the pics to the WDFW biologist, he is no longer there but he said without even seeing them that they were "hybrids".... I have heard a lot of other stories from people who have seen them also.  They don't have to travel far from BC to get to Whatcom where I have seen them.

You've written of that encounter several times, and the actions of the bio were completely unprofessional and non-scientific.  I have seen wolves near Hope BC in 1996 and 2006, and it would be a mere little lupus jaunt to get to the Nooksack.  Even three years ago, I think most wildlife biologists knew the Cascades were soon to become wolf habitat.

Griz are common just N and NE of the Mount Baker area.

Several threads have been written about moose in the Ross Lake, Methow and Lake Wenatchee areas.  They are small yet well established populations which the professionals are well aware.  I posted photographs of moose prints from Thunder Creek about a year ago

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah I have seen tracks to in the nooksack ...all were up on Grandy !!!

[h2ofowlr]

In April of this year they had confirmation of two at the top end of Baker Lake.  They were reported as being migrators, so not a confirmed pack.  One was also poached near Ross, I believe two years back.  I think the individual was charged for it as well.  There are a few that can confirm this.  There around!

[BOWHUNTER45]

yEAH I  heard about that but no one charged from what I heard !

[Northway]

I posted the pics of the wolves in the Nooksack, I also posted pics of tracks I found 3 years ago in 418 after hearing wolf howls.  I sent all the pics to the WDFW biologist, he is no longer there but he said without even seeing them that they were "hybrids".... I have heard a lot of other stories from people who have seen them also.  They don't have to travel far from BC to get to Whatcom where I have seen them.

You've written of that encounter several times, and the actions of the bio were completely unprofessional and non-scientific.  I have seen wolves near Hope BC in 1996 and 2006, and it would be a mere little lupus jaunt to get to the Nooksack.  Even three years ago, I think most wildlife biologists knew the Cascades were soon to become wolf habitat.

Griz are common just N and NE of the Mount Baker area.

Several threads have been written about moose in the Ross Lake, Methow and Lake Wenatchee areas.  They are small yet well established populations which the professionals are well aware.  I posted photographs of moose prints from Thunder Creek about a year ago

Do you know anything about how they have managed wolves just over the border in the southern BC Cascades? I've read that there has been more wolf activity up there over the last few years, but haven't seen any confirmation of that. Given that a majority of the captured wolves who have made it into the WA north Cascades have that BC/Coastal DNA, it seems to have major implications for how quickly the Cascades are re-colonized.

From photographs, the BC coastal wolves appear to be slightly smaller than their rocky mountain counterparts. The captured alpha female from the Teanaway pack looked no bigger than one of those Coywolves they have up in the Northeastern US.

[Special T]

That is a great point and wouldn't it be great to analize the DNA from those 2 different animals.

[Kola16]

About 8ish years ago, there were "wild dogs" that were running wild. I don't know if they were hybrid wolves, or not we were just told that they were "wild dogs". They were running around the Sauk Valley Road, and WDFW officers were shooting them. It was a while ago so I don't remember every detail, but there were (I think) 24 dogs, and I heard of 4 shot.

[Birddogman]

I find it interesting that a major route north towards canada (Canyon Creek Rd.) is closed and no effort is being put into fixing it.  Seems like a great place to "plant" wolves out of B.C. A lot of open land and now, limited visuals from hunters.  I would be interested to see any pics if others have them. 

[kodiak 907]

This is the pic that i saw (did not take) of the wolves on the nooksack.  My brother snapped a cell phone pic of a pretty good size wolf on the Sauk V. road two years ago right next to a couple houses.  Imho I think someone was raising them and letting them go. >:

[X-Force]

I find it interesting that a major route north towards canada (Canyon Creek Rd.) is closed and no effort is being put into fixing it.  Seems like a great place to "plant" wolves out of B.C. A lot of open land and now, limited visuals from hunters.  I would be interested to see any pics if others have them.

I would go up there all the time when it was open. saw lots of deer, bear, yotes and some cats but no wolves. it wouldn't surprise me that they are in there. I don't think it will be opened again anytime in the near future.

[AspenBud]

I believe someone on here has posted pics of a pack but were deemed to be hybreds by the powers that be. 

Not beyond the realm of possibility. (Neither is the real deal however)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/10/wolf_hybrid_escapes_owners_ken.html#incart_river_default

If you don't think that many haven't escaped and gone unreported over the years...