WDFW concludes action to remove Northeast Washington wolf pack

[deaner]

kind of ridiculous that wolves in the olympics have anything to do with delisting wolves in eastern washington.

[bearpaw]

They could raffle the chance to go shoot the wolves next time, make some money off it and I could get my wolf rug!

And for the life of me, I can't figure that out!  We're in a huge budget deficit, and they just totally passed up a huge opportunity to make some money!  There are TONS of people who would pay handsomely to hunt one of these mongrels, and it would only cost the state money to print up the damn tags.  Stupid, stupid, stupid political BS

I agree, but they cannot hold a season unless wolves are delisted. They have to pay hunters to shoot them so it is considered professional removal.

kind of ridiculous that wolves in the olympics have anything to do with delisting wolves in eastern washington.

completely agree, but that is what we got with the wolf plan

[denali]

You knew this was coming




By Miguel Llanos, NBC News

The chairman of the state Senate committee that oversees Washington's Department of Fish & Wildlife tells NBC News that the killing of a gray wolf pack in recent days was "inexcusable" and that he is demanding answers about why the agency thought it was necessary. 

"I find it inexcusable that we allowed ourselves to get to a place where killing the entire pack was the necessary decision when other non-lethal options – within the department and with ranchers – were not totally exhausted first," said Sen. Kevin Ranker, chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee.

"I find it ironic that the attacks on livestock that caused this situation ... took place on a ranch that has been outspoken about the removal of the pack and has refused to work with the department to implement prevention measures successfully adopted by other ranchers," he added.

The department gave the order to kill the entire pack, estimated to be eight wolves, after the pack became accustomed to attacking cattle instead of relying on wild prey.

"To say I am disappointed in the department's actions would be a gross understatement," Ranker said. "I can tell you, however, as the chair of the committee with oversight over the Department of Fish & Wildlife, this story is far from over."

In a letter Friday to the department, Ranker demanded to know:

    What specific actions the department took before authorizing the kill;
    Exact costs associated with killing the pack;
    What actions the department will take to avoid a repeat.

The department "has provided very general descriptions of a few non-lethal measures taken" under the state plan for managing gray wolves, he said in the letter. "The wolf plan however includes an extensive list of husbandry techniques, non-lethal deterrents, and relocation options that were not utilized in the case of the Wedge pack. The fact that the Department pursued removal of not just individual animals, but the entire pack, clearly evidences the agency's failure to effectively use these non-lethal tools to deter wolf-livestock depredation."

Ranker also said the department's strategy for managing gray wolves could backfire. "I fear that the Department’s actions ... will be viewed by some who do not support wolf recovery as setting a precedent that localized public pressure can dictate wolf plan implementation, including lethal removal decisions," he stated.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/29/14151323-killing-of-wolf-pack-criticized-by-key-washington-state-lawmaker?threadId=3578300&commentId=70540479#c70540479

[bearpaw]

It's quite obvious to me that this man needs a depredating pack of wolves in his district if not in his immediate neighborhood. 

[KFhunter]

Looks like we may be heading towards a de-facto open season, if WDFW officers drag their feet to calls or not respond at all  -rare as they might be with 82.2 % of HW members stating they would not turn in someone for shooting a wolf-  we could see a situation like Idaho with their fish and game not enforcing the laws.

"shoot as many as you can, then tag the last one" was a quote attributed to a wildlife officer from Idaho.

Will we see something like that here very soon with a division in the ranks of WDFW?

[denali]

Sent him a short email.

Dear Senator Ranker

In your discussions with the WDFW about wedge pack wolves, you could request that future wolves that are trapped and collared should be released in the 40th district.

Here are a few of the benefits!

1 ) a political win for you. The return of the iconic wolf to NW Washington can be a foundation of your legacy.

2 ) delisting can occur sooner

3 ) No more wolves will have to die.

4 ) I would be willing to help defer some of the cost in these tough economic times, let me know where I can send a donation to aid Western Washington wolf recovery.


Thank you, B____

[KFhunter]

There are a ton of city deer over there, especially in areas off limits to hunting.  I know there are gobs of yotes in around town, so imagine wolves instead of yotes.

that and all the pets and whatnot


The west will see wolves, and will hate them.   The faucet has been left on, and the bathtub is overflowing.  Just a matter of time!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Ranker is a maggot ...After reading this I hope they take is frickin job just like they did with Californias Game commissioner ...that would be awesome ..the antis are not buying his sheet and I hope it bites him in the arz !!!!

[saylean]

His contact info:

Contacting Sen. Kevin Ranker
By phone:

Olympia Office: (360) 786-7678
Bellingham Office: (360) 676-2160
Anacortes Office: (360) 588-6227

By e-mail:

Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov

By postal mail:

Sen. Kevin Ranker
PO Box 40440
Olympia, WA 98504-0440

Bellingham office:
960 Harris Street, Suite 201
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-2160

Anacortes office:

2415 T Ave., Suite 202
Anacortes, WA, 98221
(360) 588-6227

Staff contacts:

Kendall Farley, Legislative Assistant
Kendall.Farley@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7678

For communications inquiries:

Dana Robinson Slote, Senate Democrats Communications Director
Dana.RobinsonSlote@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7845

[deaner]

wow the senator demands to know the cost of killing the pack..... how about the cost of trying all non lethal methods for a year or so and THEN killing the pack?  what an idiot

[bearpaw]

Senator Ranker is up for re-election and his opponent is John Swapp http://www.swappforsenate.com/contact.html who I emailed to find out his positions on many issues of concern to our members. I am anxious to see if I get a reply and what it will be.

Dear Mr Swapp,
I operate a Washington based online hunting forum www.hunting-washington.com which members are hunters, fishers, and outdoors people. We have a number of members in the legislative district where you are running for election to the senate.

Many of our members are quite unhappy with the position that Senator Ranker has taken regarding removal of the wolf pack that has been attacking and eating cattle in Stevens County.

I would like to ask what your position is regarding removal of that wolf pack and on wolf management in general.

I would also like to ask about your position on the 2nd Amendment and on hunting in Washington State.

I would like to post your comments on our forum for our 11,800+ members and guests to read. Feel free to call me if you wish at (509) 684-6294.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Best Regards,

[KFhunter]

Senator Ranker is up for re-election and his opponent is John Swapp http://www.swappforsenate.com/contact.html who I emailed to find out his positions on many issues of concern to our members. I am anxious to see if I get a reply and what it will be.

Dear Mr Swapp,
I operate a Washington based online hunting forum www.hunting-washington.com which members are hunters, fishers, and outdoors people. We have a number of members in the legislative district where you are running for election to the senate.

Many of our members are quite unhappy with the position that Senator Ranker has taken regarding removal of the wolf pack that has been attacking and eating cattle in Stevens County.

I would like to ask what your position is regarding removal of that wolf pack and on wolf management in general.

I would also like to ask about your position on the 2nd Amendment and on hunting in Washington State.

I would like to post your comments on our forum for our 11,800+ members and guests to read. Feel free to call me if you wish at (509) 684-6294.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Best Regards,

I would take his silence as a position not in line with the desires of H-W - but we need to give him a little more time perhaps?

[Kola16]

wow the senator demands to know the cost of killing the pack..... how about the cost of trying all non lethal methods for a year or so and THEN killing the pack?  what an idiot

  Good point

[KFhunter]

I don't for one second buy that this is an all new development for him.  It's not like this whole thing was done in secrecy, he had his chance to wade in and give WDFW his 2c.
Where was his voice Two years ago?  Two months ago?  Two weeks ago?

but noo, he has to make a big deal of it now that it's done to pander votes for his re-election. 
Get all the pro-wolf lovers all fired up to re-elect him.

What a POS

[CAMPMEAT]

He's a friggin' tree hugger, democrat from Orcas island, enough of his anal spewing BS. He needs to be replaced. Idiot !!!!