Wedge Pack: More cattle attacked in Stevens County (poll and letter)

[bearpaw]

Another wolf attacked calf was found yesterday, Thursday 8/30/2012 in GMU 105 (the wedge). The Stevens County Commissioners discussed this last night. McIrvin was on local radio this morning and said he has 40 dead calves plus damages to the rest of his herd. Roy Graber his neighboring rancher has also suffered losses last winter while his cattle were being fed through the winter.

Not an exact quote, but McIrvin said he feels he is not getting much help and is being abandoned.

[Atroxus]

Another wolf attacked calf was found yesterday, Thursday 8/30/2012 in GMU 105 (the wedge). The Stevens County Commissioners discussed this last night. McIrvin was on local radio this morning and said he has 40 dead calves plus damages to the rest of his herd. Roy Graber his neighboring rancher has also suffered losses last winter while his cattle were being fed through the winter.

Not an exact quote, but McIrvin said he feels he is not getting much help and is being abandoned.

I just heard on the radio this morning, (KUOW) that after pressure from activists WDFW has scrapped their plans to kill 4 wolves, but may still take action if predation continues. 

[buckfvr]

If you want to see them take action, go shoot a wolf.......

[Silent-one]

If you want to see them take action, go shoot a wolf.......

  If the WDFW were serious about this issue there would already be 4 more dead wolves.  They have had the approval for over a week now to kill them.  It should'nt be to hard to turn on the tracker and find the pack.

[bearpaw]

Actually they have had sharp shooters up in the wedge (GMU 105) but the wolves have figured out they are being hunted and are not standing around begging to be shot. I know they have seen wolves but have been unable to kill any more of them. This is why it took the pioneers so long to eradicate wolves.

[Miles]

Actually they have had sharp shooters up in the wedge (GMU 105) but the wolves have figured out they are being hunted and are not standing around begging to be shot. I know they have seen wolves but have been unable to kill any more of them. This is why it took the pioneers so long to eradicate wolves.

That's also why they should be a "SOS" animal... 

Shoot On Site, coming to a deer hunt near you 2012.

[Gringo31]

The problem is that many of us don't feel the need to voice what we see as common sense.  Wild animals that attack personal property need to be removed.....or.....at least the property owner has the RIGHT to defend/protect his property.

I wish WDFW would look at this as a local issue.  The "feelings" of people who are out of state or not even in 200 miles of this area I don't think should have a say.

[CAMPMEAT]

Wolf hunting is legal right across the border in BC from McIrvins. I wonder if the BC ranchers are having to same wolf problems ?

[Miles]

That's why they're at McIrvins...

[CAMPMEAT]

That's why they're at McIrvins...

..................oh crap, I forgot about that !!!  and illegals at that.

[Silent-one]

Actually they have had sharp shooters up in the wedge (GMU 105) but the wolves have figured out they are being hunted and are not standing around begging to be shot. I know they have seen wolves but have been unable to kill any more of them. This is why it took the pioneers so long to eradicate wolves.

I can understand it being difficult to get shots off in that country, but I do believe that if the state was serious about the issue there would already be more dead wolves. It might be harder than I would think but, it seems to me that if they have the alpha male collared and the pack is hanging together it should'nt be to hard to slip in un-noticed and take one or two out. After a week or two of monitoring there movements you would even think they could determine where they might be at a certain time or where they are going, then get someone in a position to intercept them.

I just dont think they are taking the issue as serious as they should, more of a just sit back and see what happens stance. Maybe there hoping that McIrvin will decide to pull his herd out early and they wont have to deal with it for the rest of the year.

On another note I have heard that the WDFW is not being very cooperative with the Spokane Tribe on information from the Huckleberry pack. I understand they have a trapper up in that area right now trying to catch one or more and get collars on them. I was told the other day that the Spokane Tribe has hired the same trapper that the Colville's used to try and trap some of them as well. When he contacted the bioligists in the area they would not give him any information on the pack, I was told that there excuse was "we are not giving you any information because we know that if you guys get a collar on one you will not share any of the information with us."

The spokane tribe has no established season on the wolves yet and right now it is open for Tribal members to harvest one if they please. I know there are several tribal members that tried to get some last winter and were unsuccessful. I believe this year is going to be different and we will soon hear about one or more of the Huckleberry pack being harvested on the Spokane Res.

[CAMPMEAT]

I talked to a tribal member face to face yesterday and he said, The tribe does not want ANY tribal member to shoot a wolf.

[bearpaw]

Actually they have had sharp shooters up in the wedge (GMU 105) but the wolves have figured out they are being hunted and are not standing around begging to be shot. I know they have seen wolves but have been unable to kill any more of them. This is why it took the pioneers so long to eradicate wolves.

I can understand it being difficult to get shots off in that country, but I do believe that if the state was serious about the issue there would already be more dead wolves. It might be harder than I would think but, it seems to me that if they have the alpha male collared and the pack is hanging together it should'nt be to hard to slip in un-noticed and take one or two out. After a week or two of monitoring there movements you would even think they could determine where they might be at a certain time or where they are going, then get someone in a position to intercept them.

I just dont think they are taking the issue as serious as they should, more of a just sit back and see what happens stance. Maybe there hoping that McIrvin will decide to pull his herd out early and they wont have to deal with it for the rest of the year.

On another note I have heard that the WDFW is not being very cooperative with the Spokane Tribe on information from the Huckleberry pack. I understand they have a trapper up in that area right now trying to catch one or more and get collars on them. I was told the other day that the Spokane Tribe has hired the same trapper that the Colville's used to try and trap some of them as well. When he contacted the bioligists in the area they would not give him any information on the pack, I was told that there excuse was "we are not giving you any information because we know that if you guys get a collar on one you will not share any of the information with us."

The spokane tribe has no established season on the wolves yet and right now it is open for Tribal members to harvest one if they please. I know there are several tribal members that tried to get some last winter and were unsuccessful. I believe this year is going to be different and we will soon hear about one or more of the Huckleberry pack being harvested on the Spokane Res.

Doesn't any tribe just like any other government agency have to have a USFWS approved wolf plan before they can manage wolves. 

[Silent-one]

I talked to a tribal member face to face yesterday and he said, The tribe does not want ANY tribal member to shoot a wolf.

The problem with the Spokane Tribe is they are undecided on how to handle the issue. In order for them to not be shot tribal council would have to pass a resolution to protect them. As of right now that resolution has not been passed and they can be hunted by Tribal Members. As far as having to have approval from the USFWS: First of all the tribe is not a Government Agency, they are a Sovereign Nation and since the wolves were delisted from the FESA they can now be hunted by the tribes if they choose to do so and the feds have no say in it. There is no requirement for an approved wolf plan, unless it is that specific tribes requirement.

Like I said, the Spokane Tribe is undecided on how to manage the wolves. I was just talking to my budy the other day and told him that if he wanted to shoot a wolf he better hope is the first one, because with there biologist being undecided once one is killed I am sure she will fold under all the pressure that the state and the greenies will give her. I personaly now one individual that shot at a wolf last year on the reservation and missed. One member even had traps out last winter trying to trap them, and like I said there a currently several Tribal Members that are packin and will shoot on site. It wont be long!

 

[Kowsrule30]

I know some good guys from the Spokane tribe.... They aren't found of the wolves one bit.... Don't think you'll hear too much about it...