WDFW Claims cow was not wolf kill

[Curly]

BTW - I can't imagine wolves relocating themselves over to the coast.  For them to get over into the Olympics, or Pe Ell, Raymond, Naselle, etc. areas they would have to be transplanted west of I-5.  I just can't see them heading that way on their own, so I'm glad they did the zones like they did for that reason.

[Curly]

My point is the same regardless and I guess I should have rephrased it. The sooner wolves are in all three units and achieving their goal the sooner we can manage them.

I'm not saying we have to like it, but I think this is how it plays out.

I agree but I'm still curious about where wolves actually have to be in order to meet the requirements of the plan. Will there need to be a breeding pair on the Olympic Peninsula, for instance?

The way I read the plan, the answer is no. 

[bobcat]

There are already wolves on the west side, so I really don;t think you are going to have to worry about it.  But why would you need to believe me, I'm not a paid WDFW biologist.

I've heard rumors but have yet to hear of any proof. There are trail cameras everywhere over here. No trail cam pictures yet that I have seen.

[AspenBud]

There are already wolves on the west side, so I really don;t think you are going to have to worry about it.  But why would you need to believe me, I'm not a paid WDFW biologist.

I keep hearing rumors of them in the Toutle and Lewis units, that's for sure.

Unfortunately there were a lot of folks who liked to breed hybrids around there for a number of years and WDFW and the sheriffs  got called to investigate some for many years. Until one is trapped or caught in the act...

[NWWABOWHNTR]

page 27 of the wolf plan shows the map for the 3 zones... you could read it as they just need to get south of I90 and that would count for the southern  cascades/Northwest coast.  WOlves are already south of I90 in the taneum... they just say they are from the teanaway pack wandering... or the ones in the whatcom and skagit counties (Nooksack)... but by the time we reach the 15 BP's in the right zones for3 years, we likely will be like Idaho was and be close to 900+ wolves and 33 BP's.  They doubled last year, expect that to be 3x this next year, and then exponential growth for 3-5 more years.  Look at what Idaho's growth was from day one through the 1000 wolf mark.   

[bobcat]

page 27 of the wolf plan shows the map for the 3 zones... you could read it as they just need to get south of I90 and that would count for the southern  cascades/Northwest coast.

Yes, that's how I read it. If that's the case, then we will get to the minimum required breeding pairs much sooner than if the requirement was for there to be wolves on the Olympic Peninsula and the Willapa Hills.

[bearpaw]

There are already wolves on the west side, so I really don;t think you are going to have to worry about it.  But why would you need to believe me, I'm not a paid WDFW biologist.

 

[bobcat]

There are already wolves on the west side, so I really don;t think you are going to have to worry about it.  But why would you need to believe me, I'm not a paid WDFW biologist.

 

Again, where is the proof?

[Curly]

Wolves need confirmed ASAP.

 

[bearpaw]

Wolves need confirmed ASAP.

 

In the NE there are at least twice as many packs as they have confirmed. 

[NWWABOWHNTR]

There are already wolves on the west side, so I really don;t think you are going to have to worry about it.  But why would you need to believe me, I'm not a paid WDFW biologist.

 

Again, where is the proof?

Pictures and locations of the Nooksack wolves have been sent to region 4 again...

[bobcat]

Pictures and locations of the Nooksack wolves have been sent to region 4 again...

Okay, so those will be included in the same zone as the Wenatchee, Teanaway, and Lookout packs (North Central.)

What I'm more interested in is confirmation of wolves on the west side, that are within the south cascades/northwest coastal zone.

[Ridgeratt]

Pictures and locations of the Nooksack wolves have been sent to region 4 again...

Okay, so those will be included in the same zone as the Wenatchee, Teanaway, and Lookout packs (North Central.)

What I'm more interested in is confirmation of wolves on the west side, that are within the south cascades/northwest coastal zone.

I'm sure you are starting to!!

[SGTDuffman]

Wonder how they count those packs in the far NE corner of the state. Like if the packs "range" falls outside of our borders, do they count as a WA pack? They could theoretically be counted towards Canada or Idaho instead right? As a way to fudge the books.

Anyway, here's a quote from the story that started this thread:

“State biologists and enforcement officers dissected the dead cow in Pitcher Canyon on Tuesday with the ranchers present. Monda said they did not find any puncture holes, crushing bruises or internal bleeding that are characteristic of wolves or other predators having killed an animal.

Something did eat the cow, but all evidence indicated that it was fed upon after it died,” he said. “But there was no sign of a scuffle, no torn-up ground, no blood. There was absolutely no sign that it was killed by a predator of any kind.”

Ross Hurd, the rancher who owns the cattle with his two brothers, said he disagrees with the agency's conclusions. He said the agency's investigators talked about the path of the struggle over some 30 yards, and the disturbed ground, and the bloody wound on the back of the cow's neck. He also said he understands that the agency needs specific evidence to confirm it was a wolf kill, but he doesn't understand how the agency can conclude a wolf did not kill his cow.

For now, he's more concerned about wolves still lingering on his ranch. This morning, a wolf came right through their calving area, traveling up through their lowest field from below. They were able to chase it away, he said.

[AspenBud]

There are already wolves on the west side, so I really don;t think you are going to have to worry about it.  But why would you need to believe me, I'm not a paid WDFW biologist.

 

Again, where is the proof?

Pictures and locations of the Nooksack wolves have been sent to region 4 again...

This one of them?

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=79244.0;attach=151798;image

Did they ever even bother to find these when you last reported them?