Finally Wildlife Managers Kill Wolf In Stevens County

[Ridgeratt]

 OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - State wildlife managers have killed a female gray wolf they say preyed on livestock in northeast Washington state.
   
Fish and Wildlife officials said they shot the animal Tuesday following a series of wolf attacks on a herd in Stevens County near the Canadian border.
   
Agency director Phil Anderson says the decision was made after officials determined it wouldn't affect wolf recovery objectives and after non-lethal efforts were used to protect livestock. The wolf killed was part of the Wedge pack.
   
Officials are attempting this week to remove a second wolf in the area.
   
The group Conservation Northwest on Tuesday questioned whether enough non-lethal efforts were made to protect livestock from wolves.
   
Gray wolves are endangered under state law but are no longer federally protected in the eastern third of Washington. A state plan approved last December allows the state to kill wolves that attack livestock.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Isn't it nice they have started on the area that has had the first documented wolf kill .

Laissez les bons temps rouler

[bobcat]

Just kill 'em all then, they're all going to kill livestock eventually, especialy after all the deer, elk, and moose are gone.

[bearpaw]

We are following in the footsteps of Idaho and Montana. Many of us have said before how this will end up, but many did not like what we had to say. So far the wolves are holding up their end. 

Any guesses how this ends, look at Idaho and Montana. Visit any small town and you will quickly learn that wolf season never ends there.

[Ridgeratt]

We are following in the footsteps of Idaho and Montana. Many of us have said before how this will end up, but many did not like what we had to say. So far the wolves are holding up their end. 

Any guesses how this ends, look at Idaho and Montana. Visit any small town and you will quickly learn that wolf season never ends there.

I have a pretty good idea how this will end up there. Considering the folks that live there.
I realize this isn't one of the areas that will draw much interest from some folks who could care less until they get a strong hold in some place like the Teanaway!

 But I for one am ecstatic!

I had refrained from making any more posts here but this is just too good of news!

[Bob33]

More here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018869322_wolves08m.html

[bobcat]

More here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018869322_wolves08m.html

Thanks, that should be entertaining. I like reading the comments from all the wolf lovers.

[bearpaw]

The McIrvins are not the only ranchers who have had trouble, they are getting the press right now. Plenty of other ranchers have had trouble and Stevens County is inching closer to being completely fed up with wolves. Cattlemen had another big meeting a couple days ago in Colville, these are all the usual baby steps that have occured everywhere else that wolves have over multiplied.

To their credit, WDFW is acting on this faster than I expected at McIrvins. But while they are concentrating on controlling the wedge pack there is another 14+ packs in Region 1 which are multiplying in numbers and which means more new packs will emerge. Please understand if 1 or 2 trappers have confirmed this many packs in WA, anyone should realize there are a lot more packs out there.

WDFW needs to hire more trappers and do it soon to get these wolves confirmed or they are contributing to the problem. 

[BullMagnet76]

Just kill 'em all then, they're all going to kill livestock eventually, especialy after all the deer, elk, and moose are gone.

 

[CementFinisher]

        Glad to see they actually did something

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yes it is good news ... Just the start of what we are in for 

[Curly]

Doesn't this prove how stupid the wolf plan is that WDFW approved?  Why don't they just open season and let everyone have some fun shooting them?   

[Bob33]

Please understand if 1 or 2 trappers have confirmed this many packs in WA, anyone should realize there are a lot more packs out there.

"The rebound is typical of the pattern, Ware said, in which recovery begins slowly, then picks up speed."

[KFhunter]

Can't wait until I get to hunt them, I know just where to start too   

[BOWHUNTER45]

No doubt it is going to pick up speed .The only problem is once they decided they have made a huge mistake it is to late.. then who are they going to blame ? You sure would think they would realize from Idaho and Montana that this is a very bad idea ... Just do not undrstand 

[bearmanric]

On another note watching the news. Coyotes are taking over west seattle. I love it. Rick

[KFhunter]

heh
 
it won't be long, wait until they are goooood and pissed and then get baiting and body grip traps back - and hounds!

[BENCHLEG]

I think we should live trap them and send them to seattle. This state is assbackwords

[GrainfedMuley]

On another note watching the news. Coyotes are taking over west seattle. I love it. Rick

Coyote......Wolf....they look the same to me..........

[Ridgeratt]

I talked with Whorton this spring at the Bone Barn. He told me that they were at the guy up the roads from Mcgirvins doing their best to keep the wolves out of his caving pens. So they have been aware of the problem for quite a while it has just came to the point were they have to do something.

The McIrvins are not the only ranchers who have had trouble, they are getting the press right now. Plenty of other ranchers have had trouble and Stevens County is inching closer to being completely fed up with wolves. Cattlemen had another big meeting a couple days ago in Colville, these are all the usual baby steps that have occured everywhere else that wolves have over multiplied.

To their credit, WDFW is acting on this faster than I expected at McIrvins. But while they are concentrating on controlling the wedge pack there is another 14+ packs in Region 1 which are multiplying in numbers and which means more new packs will emerge. Please understand if 1 or 2 trappers have confirmed this many packs in WA, anyone should realize there are a lot more packs out there.

WDFW needs to hire more trappers and do it soon to get these wolves confirmed or they are contributing to the problem. 

[CAMPMEAT]

I think it's so funny that ALL comments about the wolves comes from the westside. The westsiders have not a clue what they are even talking about.
( I'm talking about the greenies, WDFW etc only ) They get all this info from most likely unreliable sources. They have no worries about lively hood or anything else. I can bet that 0 % of the people that have all these facts have never seen a wolf in the wild.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Sounds like an Eastsider talking Campmeat  Unless your talking about WDFW AND THEIR BIOs  All I know is I do not want to see one on the westside nor the eastside  .. and if we do not find away to shut them down then we all have a problem ...how anyone concerned about wildlife would want these monsters roaming the hills is beyond me ..and how the greenies have more power and say so than we do is beyond me too !!!!

[hunter-4-life]

Any we think it is bad now...... They haven't even met their objective goal for the population yet. It will only get worse as they populate in numbers.

[Ridgeratt]

Westsider's or Greenie's?

 Guess I took a short nap!

 

[buckfvr]

I wish there was some way we could take initial steps to hold WDFW and the commissioners legally accountable for the ensuing  disaster.  Tell them in a letter, signed by as many outdoorsmen and women as possible.  They need to face charges with fines and loss of employment and jail time.  The way they stick it to a guy who kills a deer illegally, they should be hung for the destruction we will no doubt witness first hand.   

[NWBREW]

Any we think it is bad now...... They haven't even met their objective goal for the population yet. It will only get worse as they populate in numbers.

It has been met mutiple times. They just keep changing the number.

[bearpaw]

Sightings and trail cam photos pretty much indicate about 15 packs in region 1 alone. It's my firm belief this state is exceeding the required packs for delisting except for possibly in the SW & Olympic zome. We need some of these packs to move there so we can delist the whole state. As I stated before, it seems the only thing keeping the Okanogan from confirming packs is a biologist who seems to have to much power in controlling wolf confirmations there.

Members of this forum have documented numerous packs in the upper Cascades and Okanogan. What gives??

The problem is WDFW only counts what they prove to exist, right now they only have two trappers for the whole state. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Sounds like an Eastsider talking Campmeat  Unless your talking about WDFW AND THEIR BIOs  All I know is I do not want to see one on the westside nor the eastside  .. and if we do not find away to shut them down then we all have a problem ...how anyone concerned about wildlife would want these monsters roaming the hills is beyond me ..and how the greenies have more power and say so than we do is beyond me too !!!!

Reread my post.

[NWBREW]

To their credit, WDFW is acting on this faster than I expected at McIrvins. But while they are concentrating on controlling the wedge pack there is another 14+ packs in Region 1 which are multiplying in numbers and which means more new packs will emerge. Please understand if 1 or 2 trappers have confirmed this many packs in WA, anyone should realize there are a lot more packs out there.

WDFW needs to hire more trappers and do it soon to get these wolves confirmed or they are contributing to the problem. 

Dale, I to did not expect them to take action as fast as they did and you hit the nail on the head with the number of wolves in Region 1. This is why it is so important to post all the info anyone has about sightings, pictures and such. I believe they are paying attention to the info posted on this site. Thanks to those who go the extra mile to bring this to the attention of the WDFW.

[Ridgeratt]

To their credit, WDFW is acting on this faster than I expected at McIrvins. But while they are concentrating on controlling the wedge pack there is another 14+ packs in Region 1 which are multiplying in numbers and which means more new packs will emerge. Please understand if 1 or 2 trappers have confirmed this many packs in WA, anyone should realize there are a lot more packs out there.

WDFW needs to hire more trappers and do it soon to get these wolves confirmed or they are contributing to the problem. 

Dale, I to did not expect them to take action as fast as they did and you hit the nail on the head with the number of wolves in Region 1. This is why it is so important to post all the info anyone has about sightings, pictures and such. I believe they are paying attention to the info posted on this site. Thanks to those who go the extra mile to bring this to the attention of the WDFW.

For everyone who has thought they have taken action this fast. This was documented back in 2007. the problem was it /was considered a transient pack.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=11430

Guess I just don't understand.

[bearpaw]

You are exactly correct ridgeratt, I just figured WDFW would try to postpone any action even longer. But I think they sense that they are getting closer to losing control in NE WA. They are going to have to act in order to keep any form of control, they have been sitting by figuring out how to fit all these wolves in Washington with a ridiculous wolf plan and wolves have simply been multiplying.

By reasonable calculations of sightings there are at least 15 packs in Region 1 alone. They are here, they are breeding, this is only the beginning, it's going to get ugly, especially when all our moose disappear, elk and deer become fewer, and hungry wolves are forced to eat beef or whatever else they can get.

STAY TUNED....

[Ridgeratt]

There is another thread on here wanting to know if someone thinks the WDFG Introduced wolves!
It Doesn't matter if they did or not! Simple they are here regardless, Now the question is how are they going to be dealt with.
Dale you are aware of the amount of loss the local ranchers have sustained in the wedge.
As you have made comment to the WDFG is doing Damage control now before this turns into a control issue for them.

You have had several reports from people who you may consider reliable.

I just base my observations on what I see.

I'm nothing more than a ghost wandering around out there.

[Special T]

Ridgeratt... the only reason why its not important is because there is apparently no proof of there was then i would expect a huge lawsuit. Not enough people are taking thier cameras into the woods and every where else they go. 

[GrainfedMuley]

There is another thread on here wanting to know if someone thinks the WDFG Introduced wolves!
It Doesn't matter if they did or not! Simple they are here regardless, Now the question is how are they going to be dealt with.
 I just base my observations on what I see.
 

Yes it does matter if they were planted or not. If it EVER comes out that the WDFW did bring these wolves in, it proves acountabilty. The state accelerated the population if they did bring them in. Then yes that would lead to law suites for damages accured to ranchers. Not only is all of this BS political, but it also boils down to good old fashioned money. EVERYTHING the state decides on is based on money. Plain and simple.

[bobcat]

There's no way the WDFW planted wolves. They simply couldn't do that, it's not possible. They'd have to tell the public, and first they'd have to get approval. They didn't do that or we'd know about it. And, I agree they base a lot of their decisions on money, so therefore, they wouldn't do anything to decrease deer and elk numbers in this state. Deer and elk tags is where the money is at, and they know it.

[GrainfedMuley]

Good point! But deep down my gut tells me there is more to this than just migration.   

[bearpaw]

It is unfortunate that our wildlife and livlihoods are basically considered worthless in comparison to the life of a wolf. I think WDFW saw pie in the sky with wolves, they advanced a preposterous wolf plan that takes little into account of deer, elk, moose, and endangered caribou populations in Washington, not to mention people's livlihoods. WDFW drank the wolf koolaid and fell hook, line, and sinker for the false biology that has been promoted by wolf loving biologists who have no interest in our deer, elk, moose, and caribou. If anything comes back to bite, I think it will be the loss of our last woodland caribou herd in the lower 48 states.

I don't think Caribou were adequately considered in the wolf plan.

There are biologists that echo the sentiment of many sportsmen, however WDFW chose the side of the wolf lovers as has every other agency. Simply look to Idaho and Montana to see what happens in the areas that wolves populate. Also note that Idaho cannot sell their deer and elk tags any longer and that many changes in wolf policy are taking place in IDFG as compared to wolf policy only 3 to 4 years ago.

Like ridgeratt, I am out there and I am making observations of what is going on. I fully expect to see the same evolution of the wolf issue in WA as we have seen in ID/MT.

[CAMPMEAT]

I know the WDFW planted turkeys up here from the Wilbur area to Ferry County without any public input. They did it about 5-6 years ago.

[CedarPants]

Like others, I as well was a bit surprised to see the WDFW take lethal action less than a year into the wolf recovery and management plan they adopted.  Yes, members of this pack have been causing a ruckus up there for the better part of 5 years or more now, but prior to fairly recently there was a lot of federal red tape and legal hoops that the WDFW would have had to have jumped through if any action was to be taken.

To be honest, I fully expected them to sit back and wait a minimum of 3 years before even considering lethal action.  So I do give them credit on this.

I just hope it's an indication of how the WDFW intends to handle things moving forward and isn't a 1 time event meant to temporarily appease us while our hunting fees are being raised again 

[Ridgeratt]

There's no way the WDFW planted wolves. They simply couldn't do that, it's not possible. They'd have to tell the public, and first they'd have to get approval. They didn't do that or we'd know about it. And, I agree they base a lot of their decisions on money, so therefore, they wouldn't do anything to decrease deer and elk numbers in this state. Deer and elk tags is where the money is at, and they know it.

I'm not implying that they personally planted the wolves but I also believe that they may have had knowledge that it could have been being done.

I guess the same could be said that "Fast and Furious" was only a car movie as well.

[Special T]

Great comparison! 

[Ridgeratt]

As the "KING" said;

Thank ya, Thank ya very much!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I know the WDFW planted turkeys up here from the Wilbur area to Ferry County without any public input. They did it about 5-6 years ago.

yEAH BUT THATS A GOOD THING ...Now invite me up and we can go kill some 

[bearpaw]

There's no way the WDFW planted wolves. They simply couldn't do that, it's not possible. They'd have to tell the public, and first they'd have to get approval. They didn't do that or we'd know about it. And, I agree they base a lot of their decisions on money, so therefore, they wouldn't do anything to decrease deer and elk numbers in this state. Deer and elk tags is where the money is at, and they know it.

I'm not implying that they personally planted the wolves but I also believe that they may have had knowledge that it could have been being done.

I guess the same could be said that "Fast and Furious" was only a car movie as well.

Great point and comparison, no doubt anything is possble with agencies, that has been proven.

I think it's more likely that wolf groups may have planted wolves, if wolves were planted, and you may be right, WDFW may know.

It's common knowledge about the hybrids that were released in GMU 121 but WDFW has done nothing about it that I know of.

[jackmaster]

Just kill 'em all then, they're all going to kill livestock eventually, especialy after all the deer, elk, and moose are gone.

[CAMPMEAT]

I know the WDFW planted turkeys up here from the Wilbur area to Ferry County without any public input. They did it about 5-6 years ago.

yEAH BUT THATS A GOOD THING ...Now invite me up and we can go kill some 

Anytime..........

[Ridgeratt]

Shouldn't the 3 threads that refer to this be all lumped into one?
My feelings won't be hurt. If mine gets merged.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=103213.msg1344900#new

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=102974.0

[BOWHUNTER45]

I agree ...