wolves active again in the wedge

[denali]

http://stevenscountycattlemen.wordpress.com/

last paragraph

“The present circumstances suggest the Department does not intend to lethally remove wolves and will not pursue the science to determine how many wolves our area can actually support based on ungulate populations and predator demands. Instead, they will tailor policies to suit environmental groups and hire additional Conflict Management Specialists that will attempt to manage the people, not the problem,” said Nielsen.

[bearpaw]

McIrvins had another calf killed in the wedge on July 2 and two more cattle were killed in the Smackout pack area recently, but WDFW says none of the 3 kills can be claimed as wolf kills, unconfirmed. 

Nielsen definitely hit the nail on the head. It's all over the local radio today, if you listen to Rep. Joel Kretz (in the attached file) he sums it up pretty well.

Basically NE Washington has been fed to the wolves and the rest of the state doesn't care. Even the Washington Cattleman's Association doesn't seem to care what happens to cattlemen in NE WA. It should be noted that Stevens County Cattlemen Association is a separate organization from the Washington Cattlemen. The way it was explained to me is that the Washington Cattlemen's Association is more a representative for feedlots. I don't know if that's true and I don't know all the politics between the different cattlemen. I had thought Washington Cattlemen's Association was firmly opposed to wolves, but I suppose wolves are not much threat to feedlots, I don't know they he made a deal with the humane society that supposedly killed the wolf bills.

Fortunately the Wildlife Commission passed a measure this spring that allows ranchers to shoot a wolf if caught in the act of attacking cattle, but you have to catch them in the act. That's the way I understand it.

[pianoman9701]

Of course, the answer from the state will be to keep throwing more money at this. Doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. Total insanity. Time to manage.

[headshot5]

Unfortunately, unless you kill the wolf camped out inside a dead cow, like Luke in a tauntaun (Starwars reference).  The chances are you will not be confirmed as protecting your livestock.  Everyone whom shoots a wolf per the new law will pretty much need an "Go Pro" cam or similar, or a group of video recording folks like the Sasquatch hunting shows.  Unless, you have the most concrete evidence in the world, you will just be killing a wolf near the scene of a suicidal livestock, and could quite probably get hit pretty hard.  If a dead cow cannot be proven to be killed by wolves right now (by our current experts) what are the chances that you can prove it (prove it to the experts) when you are protecting your livestock.


     

[Brianshounds]

The people of WA need to just take management into there own hands like the people of ID, WY, and MT have. Its a common rule in ID, WY, and MT that if you see a wolf you shoot it, ask any one in any bar, That will be the response. The fish and game of WA needs to find that more wolfs are being killed without a season then if they had a managed season on them. So every one do there part and don't go into the woods without a gun loaded on there side.

[wolfbait]

Methow Valley Wolf Kill!



A newborn calf was killed at the Diamond M Ranch on July 2, drug out of a “tight six-strand barbwire fence” and consumed. The calving pen is only 250 yards from the ranch house and 100 yards from a workshop. On the night of the kill, outside flood lights were on and dogs were tied up not far from the pen, indicating that human presence provided little deterrent for the predator.

A report by WDFW Conflict Management Specialist Jay Shepherd noted that there were wolf tracks near the carcass and there was a drag mark where the carcass had been pulled outside of the pen. The carcass was consumed and “no splintered bones were present with the ribs largely intact, as can be seen at wolf kills.” Despite this evidence, Shepherd determined the kill was made by an “unknown predator” and noted that coyote tracks were within 150 feet of the carcass.

Conversely, a Stevens County Sheriff’s Department report of the incident said that while they were unable to definitively tell it was a wolf kill, it was “highly likely based on the totality of the circumstances.”

Bill McIrvin, co-owner of the Diamond M, said the ranch has never had problems with coyotes and believes the kill is attributed to wolves.

The recent incident at the McIrvin ranch shows a troubling trend of WDFW not confirming wolf kills, a determination that could have lead to the lethal removal of the animals.

What's One More Lie From WDFW?

[Mudman]

We knew they didn't kill the breeding pair right?  Gotta feed the puppies!  I am sure glad I can trust my Gov.

[ICEMAN]

 

[bearpaw]

We have so many single and pairs of wolves in the NE corner now that packs are going to be popping up everywhere a new pack can fit in, or in this case where some wolves were remioved. This wolf photo was taken on the opposite side of the wedge, this wolf could easily be living at McIrvins now. Word on the street is that McIrvin's neighbor has been seeing lots of wolves, including some white ones. Check out the wolf tracks in the snow along the road last winter in the wedge. 

[Ridgeratt]

Talked to a local bus driver on Saturday evening who was slowing for a stop on Thursday and had a target of opportunity run across the road in front of her.  But she was on the Whoa up peddle instead of the giddy up peddle. Kids on the bus were yelling hit the gas!!!!   

Not being a disbeliever but couldn't that just be some one running a sled dog team? I'm sure they said they got them all in the fall!!

[denali]

  as pointed out on another thread,,, far right peddle is the "wolf" peddle,, mash it

[bearpaw]

Talked to a local bus driver on Saturday evening who was slowing for a stop on Thursday and had a target of opportunity run across the road in front of her.  But she was on the Whoa up peddle instead of the giddy up peddle. Kids on the bus were yelling hit the gas!!!!   

Not being a disbeliever but couldn't that just be some one running a sled dog team? I'm sure they said they got them all in the fall!!

Right, a dog sled team.... 

[BOWHUNTER45]

The way our country is heading it will not belong before the people start taking a lot of different issues into their own hands ....It is getting worse and worse everyday ...we all just need to quit for a year ..fishing and hunting both ...I know some of us make a living off of hunting and fishing but if we do not start acting extremely then we are in deep sheeeeet !

[Dan-o]

Luckily for us, WDFW plans to let the wedge naturally repopulate with wolves that don't eat cattle.   

Remember?

So this shouldn't be an issue........     

[turkeyfeather]

It baffles me how WDFW still thinks we are all a bunch of morons that will buy any stupid explanation they give us. How arrogant!!!  Only when they start to respect the ranchers and outdoorsman will we be able to truly be able to logically try and handle this situation.