They shot the alpha female. Oops.

[wolfbait]

"He added the alpha wolf weighed 66 pounds and was 3 years old. Pamplin said they couldn't determine it was the alpha female from the air.

Biologists say losing the alpha female harms the survival of a wolf pack, but other females in the pack may fill that role."

"Alpha" Wolf?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtFgdwTsbU

[wolfbait]

The down side of this is that the state's "management plan" is based on so many "breeding pairs" in each region. Sadly this seems like a big step backward from the goal of actual wolf management. 

"He added the alpha wolf weighed 66 pounds and was 3 years old."

Seems a little small to be a three year old.

WDFW and their friends are going to make sure that everything they do will hurt wolf delisting on paper. At 66 pounds it sounds to me like they shot a pup, but this news should bring some more wolf money in for CN, DoW etc. from their wolf wailing friends. I bet they have whip themselves into a good frenzy by now.

I wonder how long WDFW will drag this out?

A pup or a malnourished animal.

We know they been eating a few sheep and killing a bunch just for fun, so that kind of leaves out the hungry end of things.

[headshot5]

I would bet that if a wolf comes in heat it will get bred...  Alpha or not. 

[jasnt]

The alpha will choose a new one. There will be no lag in that paks growth

[Stein]

The alpha will choose a new one. There will be no lag in that paks growth

Agreed, they are much smarter than 90% of the people commenting online.

[AspenBud]

The down side of this is that the state's "management plan" is based on so many "breeding pairs" in each region. Sadly this seems like a big step backward from the goal of actual wolf management. 

"He added the alpha wolf weighed 66 pounds and was 3 years old."

Seems a little small to be a three year old.

WDFW and their friends are going to make sure that everything they do will hurt wolf delisting on paper. At 66 pounds it sounds to me like they shot a pup, but this news should bring some more wolf money in for CN, DoW etc. from their wolf wailing friends. I bet they have whip themselves into a good frenzy by now.

I wonder how long WDFW will drag this out?

A pup or a malnourished animal.

We know they been eating a few sheep and killing a bunch just for fun, so that kind of leaves out the hungry end of things.

True, but lack of food and smaller size may have been in part what drove them to the sheep. Sheep are easier to kill than elk or even deer. If I were a hungry wolf I know what I'd go for, the prey that takes less energy to kill.

[jasnt]

If they where starving i dout they would have been killing for fun. Takes too much energy to kill if they aren't going to eat it.

The down side of this is that the state's "management plan" is based on so many "breeding pairs" in each region. Sadly this seems like a big step backward from the goal of actual wolf management. 

"He added the alpha wolf weighed 66 pounds and was 3 years old."

Seems a little small to be a three year old.

WDFW and their friends are going to make sure that everything they do will hurt wolf delisting on paper. At 66 pounds it sounds to me like they shot a pup, but this news should bring some more wolf money in for CN, DoW etc. from their wolf wailing friends. I bet they have whip themselves into a good frenzy by now.

I wonder how long WDFW will drag this out?

A pup or a malnourished animal.

We know they been eating a few sheep and killing a bunch just for fun, so that kind of leaves out the hungry end of things.

True, but lack of food and smaller size may have been in part what drove them to the sheep. Sheep are easier to kill than elk or even deer. If I were a hungry wolf I know what I'd go for, the prey that takes less energy to kill.

[pd]

Ooooops.

Did you read through the comments on the KING5 website?  Is it just my imagination, or were the vast majority of the commenters:

1. Angry with WDFW's decision,

2. Suspicious that WDFW is involved in a conspiracy to eliminate wolves (boy, the commenters don't spend much time on HuntWa, do they...),

3. Female,

4. Employed at universities.

Please correct me if I have a mistaken impression.

[birddogdad]

this is the same bleeding heart agenda as cutting down a eagles nesting tree.... nature will adapt, others will step in the role.... if this wolf died attacking something/ got sick and died would the remaining group perrish? I think the Bio should have is degree checked (did he get it from a crackerjack box?)

[Old Man Yager]

Ooooops.

Did you read through the comments on the KING5 website?  Is it just my imagination, or were the vast majority of the commenters:

1. Angry with WDFW's decision,

2. Suspicious that WDFW is involved in a conspiracy to eliminate wolves (boy, the commenters don't spend much time on HuntWa, do they...),

3. Female,

4. Employed at universities.

Please correct me if I have a mistaken impression.

No, no, I think you hit the nail on the head with your impressions!!!

[billythekidrock]

The down side of this is that the state's "management plan" is based on so many "breeding pairs" in each region. Sadly this seems like a big step backward from the goal of actual wolf management. 

I agree.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Did you read some of the comments ? I think the best plan I can come up with is shoot all the females ...That's a start from keeping them from reproducing and then start shooting the remainder of the males until they are all gone  Some of those people are so far gone that I should not be reading any comment they make 

[huntnphool]

The down side of this is that the state's "management plan" is based on so many "breeding pairs" in each region. Sadly this seems like a big step backward from the goal of actual wolf management. 

 I couldn't care less if they never reach the "goal"!!! This is a step in the right direction if you ask me!

[Woodchuck]

The down side of this is that the state's "management plan" is based on so many "breeding pairs" in each region. Sadly this seems like a big step backward from the goal of actual wolf management. 

 I couldn't care less if they never reach the "goal"!!! This is a step in the right direction if you ask me!

Oh don't get me wrong, I am right there with you. Maybe I should have said a step backward from state sanctioned wolf management.

[AspenBud]

If they where starving i dout they would have been killing for fun. Takes too much energy to kill if they aren't going to eat it.

Almost everything I've ever read on that says they do that when they're hungry. Hunger sends them into a killing frenzy. Makes sense to me.

Wolves are usually pretty skinny under all that fur.