They shot the alpha female. Oops.

[bearpaw]

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 understand why this is the first thought that comes to mind. But it's not quite right!

We need packs in western Washington for delisting to occur. There are enough packs in NE WA to delist the whole state. Losing one breeding female only helps our situation here in the NE where we have been told it doesn't matter how many wolves we have no delisting is occurring until western WA has three confirmed packs.

Let me buy that shooter a beer, he saved hundreds of Huckleberry bucks and bulls! 

[idahohuntr]

Well the idea was that bio's do the data collecting.  You're average trapper isn't necessarily the best person to compile data, tissue samples, biographical information and administer any meds the wolf might need from darting or infections. 

WDFW hired a "trapper" that's really a data collecter;  I'm sure he's well qualified to collect all that data and administer medications, but doesn't have an old trappers knowledge of getting the wolf in the trap in the first place.

What was needed was trapping teams dispersed all across known and suspected wolf areas,  the trapper and the bio making a team with others able to tag along if needed - cattlemen reps and inviro reps if they desire to do so  (non-disclosure of course). 


This is a no brainer     To not do this tells me they only want the packs recognized they want to recognize while the other continue to build and build.  Once we hit that magical 15BP per WDFW then there'll be so many wolves in WA there is no danger of falling below the guide lines for wolves  (not so much for Elk and deer) and public as well as private (1800 sheep on Private Hancock land removed due to wolves) grazing will be severely impacted.  OR it's just gross negligence - you pick.

I don't think its limited to just the two choices you describe.  Its not the first one...they want to accurately count/document wolf packs...they know how politicized and emotional wolf management is so no one would be so stupid as to intentionally bias the data.  On the negligence, it sounds like it was just a general offer to help...earlier I was under the impression they had someone very specific for the job...if it was just a general "we will trap wolves for you" then no way in heck could they accept that.  And it sounds like that was the case, because if they had some superstar wolf trapper I really don't think it would have been any problem for wdfw to hire him as one of their staff.   

[bobcat]

We need packs in western Washington for delisting to occur. There are enough packs in NE WA to delist the whole state. Losing one breeding female only helps our situation here in the NE where we have been told it doesn't matter how many wolves we have no delisting is occurring until western WA has three confirmed packs.

Are you sure about this? According to the map I saw, no wolves are needed in western Washington. Where they are needed is in the region they are calling "Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast." Which includes all of western Washington but also the south half of Kittitas County, all of Yakima County, and all of Klickitat County.  It seems to me that there's plenty of room for wolves in that region without having even one wolf on the west side of the Cascade crest.   

[KFhunter]

I don't know who the Cattlemen's association had in mind, if anybody.

What I know is that they wanted a superstar wolf trapper to get them dogs on the tally sheets post haste. 


They'd also like a little more cooperation from WDFW, like a phone call or something if a pack of wolves moves into their grazing areas. 

The sheep herder with 1800 sheep on hancock lands never got that phone call, now he's got over 50 sheep dead and WDFW has an alpha breeder in the dirt and taking much criticism - from both sides. 



Documentation leads to de-listing,  how do you stall de-listing???  Don't document! 

[wolfbait]

Well the idea was that bio's do the data collecting.  You're average trapper isn't necessarily the best person to compile data, tissue samples, biographical information and administer any meds the wolf might need from darting or infections. 

WDFW hired a "trapper" that's really a data collecter;  I'm sure he's well qualified to collect all that data and administer medications, but doesn't have an old trappers knowledge of getting the wolf in the trap in the first place.

What was needed was trapping teams dispersed all across known and suspected wolf areas,  the trapper and the bio making a team with others able to tag along if needed - cattlemen reps and inviro reps if they desire to do so  (non-disclosure of course). 


This is a no brainer     To not do this tells me they only want the packs recognized they want to recognize while the other continue to build and build.  Once we hit that magical 15BP per WDFW then there'll be so many wolves in WA there is no danger of falling below the guide lines for wolves  (not so much for Elk and deer) and public as well as private (1800 sheep on Private Hancock land removed due to wolves) grazing will be severely impacted.  OR it's just gross negligence - you pick.

WDFW will drag confirmation of wolf packs/BPS out until they are either forced to confirm the last pack through wolf predation or the "public outcry" for management is getting to uncomfortable to ignore.

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 understand why this is the first thought that comes to mind. But it's not quite right!

We need packs in western Washington for delisting to occur. There are enough packs in NE WA to delist the whole state. Losing one breeding female only helps our situation here in the NE where we have been told it doesn't matter how many wolves we have no delisting is occurring until western WA has three confirmed packs.

Let me buy that shooter a beer, he saved hundreds of Huckleberry bucks and bulls! 

WDFW could have confirmed all the wolf packs/BPS three years ago on the west side. The reason for not confirming wolf packs/BPS is not because there is a lack of wolves. The USFWS, WDFW and the environmentalists need wolves to do as much damage as possible before they are forced to delist. Plus wolves are big money maker for environmental groups.

I highly doubt the USFWS or WDFW would shoot one of their breeders, but it sure looks good for the DoW and CNW in their pursuit to get new wolf rulings on Wolf predation.

 Remember Carter Niemeyer? He works for WDFW, and he surely knows a wolf pup from a three year old.

Keynote speakers include Mike Jimenez, Rocky Mountain wolf coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Wyoming; Carter Niemeyer, retired wolf specialist with the USFWS and the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services; and Donny Martorello, WDFW carnivore section manager.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jan0713a/

On Thursday, the specialist wrapped up their investigation and, after consultation with outside experts, including Carter Niemeyer, determined that 14 sheep were killed by wolves.  http://nwsportsmanmag.com/editors-blog/14-sheep-killed-wolves-earlier-week/

Washington has hunters on the ground, poised in readiness, to kill four members of the Wedge pack. These wolves have killed a lot of cattle, Carter Niemeyer has verified this, but what about the future? http://wolvesandwriting.com/2012/09/


Technician Baker delivered wolf traps to Carter Niemeyer in Spokane and retrieved trail cameras in the Huckleberry pack area. Technician Baker and volunteer Amanda Charron checked trail cameras in the Wedge. http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wildlife_weekly/2012/wildlife_weekly_2012aug20.pdf


Information on Wolf Depredation Investigations


OR -

"Our field personnel have been trained in wolf depredation investigations over the years by Carter Niemeyer about 8 years ago and more recently by Mark Collinge, Todd Grimm and Rick Williamson of the ID-WS program.. So, our wolves have come from Idaho and our training and techniques have come from ID. We use the long established forms and methodology developed by our ID WS program that seem to be well accepted by ID Fish &

I have experienced Carter Niemeyer working his way to become a wedge between

WS and State wildlife agencies. I have seen him in action and it concerns me to provide him a forum that will be used to promote the Carter Niemeyer way of investigating suspected wolf depredations when our agency has several experts in multiple states that have conducted far more investigations than retired USFWS wolf biologist and author Carter Niemeyer."

"Game and the USFWS there. Our forms include the original WS 200 and the revised WS 200 form that ID WS developed with guidance from the USFWS. We take pictures and write up our reports on the aforementioned forms and share those with ODFW or USFWS depending on which agency has the wolf management responsibility.

ODFW uses the same categories and definitions of the categories as WS does on the WS 200 form but they have come up with their own forms that guide the investigator through the investigation and evidence documentation as the WS 200 form but in more detail. But ultimately they don’t collect more or different evidence than we do. ODFW’s Wolf Biologists have used Carter Niemeyer as their mentor and expert consultant."

"In my opinion the Defenders have ceased the opportunity to exploit the differences of professional opinions between ODFW or USFWS in Oregon. Carter Niemeyer is the wedge and the Defenders are the mallet driving that wedge wherever and whenever they can. That is why I don’t see much value in WS providing or participating in forums that will facilitate the wedge driving activities of certain groups or individuals."

Read More @


http://www.thewildlifenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/USDA-wolf-depredation-investigation-memo.pdf


LIVESTOCK MORTALITY RATES IN WOLF OCCUPIED AREAS OF WASHINGTON
 Jeffrey Brown, Carter Niemeyer, Stephanie Simek, Hilary Cooley, Julie Young, R.B. Wielgus & others
 This project is ongoing as part of Jeffrey Brown’s MS project. We will radio-track calves from 18 cattle herds (9 herds in NE WA and 9 herds in the North Cascades of WA) over 4 years and investigate VHF mortality signals to identify and determine wolf livestock mortality rates in WA. This project is part of our comprehensive, interagency (WSU, WDFW, USFW, USDA) wolf/livestock interactions research and extension program in WA.

EFFECTS OF NON-LETHAL INTERVENTIONS ON REDUCING WOLF DEPREDATIONS AND INDIRECT EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK IN WA
 Azzurra Valerio, Carter Niemeyer, Stephanie Simek, Hilary Cooley, Julie Young, R.B. Wielgus & others
This project is ongoing as part of Azzurra Valerio’s Ph.D. project. We will radio-track 6 wolf packs (3 packs in NE WA and 3 packs in the North Cascades of WA) and 18 cattle herds (9 herds in NE WA and 9 herds in the North Cascades of WA) over 4 years and employ various non-lethal interventions (fladry, range riders, guard dogs, bio fencing, cow bells, etc.) to examine the efficacy of such interventions in reducing wolf/ livestock depredations and wolf/livestock indirect effects (weight loss, pregnancy, spatial overlap). This project is part of our comprehensive, interagency (WSU, WDFW, USFW, USDA) wolf/livestock interactions research and extension program in WA.


LIVESTOCK KILL RATES BY WOLVES IN WASHINGTON
 Gabriel Spence, Carter Niemeyer, Stephanie Simek , Hilary Cooley, Julie Young, R.B. Wielgus & others
This project is ongoing as part of Gabe Spence’s MS project.The project intends to determine the kill rate of wolves on livestock by monitoring wolves.  We will put GPS collars on at least 1 wolf in each of 6 packs that have territories that overlap summer livestock grazing areas; 3 packs in Northeast Washington and 3 packs in the North Cascades of Washington.  We will then investigate GPS clusters to locate and identify possible livestock kills.  Investigation of such clusters may also discover natural prey kills.  From this data we will determine the kill rate (kills/day/pack) of wolves on both livestock and wild prey for the grazing season (May – October). In addition, all GPS locations from wolves will be analyzed for space use, and relative densities of livestock and wild prey will be calculated.  We intend to determine how wolf kill rates relate to the density of prey and livestock (functional response). Additionally we will analyze how wolf use of grazing areas relates to cattle use and density.    http://environment.wsu.edu/facilities/carnivore/current.html

[bearpaw]

We need packs in western Washington for delisting to occur. There are enough packs in NE WA to delist the whole state. Losing one breeding female only helps our situation here in the NE where we have been told it doesn't matter how many wolves we have no delisting is occurring until western WA has three confirmed packs.

Are you sure about this? According to the map I saw, no wolves are needed in western Washington. Where they are needed is in the region they are calling "Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast." Which includes all of western Washington but also the south half of Kittitas County, all of Yakima County, and all of Klickitat County.  It seems to me that there's plenty of room for wolves in that region without having even one wolf on the west side of the Cascade crest.   

You are correct, there must be more wolf packs in "the other zones" and according to the map it wouldn't have to be in western WA since some areas of eastern WA such as the Klickitat and Yakima are included in the "Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast" wolf zone. I can't remember if the wolf plan specified there must wolves in the Olympics or SW WA, hopefully not!

But, I should have said wolf packs are needed in the other wolf zones, my bad. 

The effect is the same, NE WA is stuck with however many wolves breed here until the other zones get their wolf packs. I still want to buy the shooter a beer! 

[wolfbait]

Well the idea was that bio's do the data collecting.  You're average trapper isn't necessarily the best person to compile data, tissue samples, biographical information and administer any meds the wolf might need from darting or infections. 

WDFW hired a "trapper" that's really a data collecter;  I'm sure he's well qualified to collect all that data and administer medications, but doesn't have an old trappers knowledge of getting the wolf in the trap in the first place.

What was needed was trapping teams dispersed all across known and suspected wolf areas,  the trapper and the bio making a team with others able to tag along if needed - cattlemen reps and inviro reps if they desire to do so  (non-disclosure of course). 


This is a no brainer     To not do this tells me they only want the packs recognized they want to recognize while the other continue to build and build.  Once we hit that magical 15BP per WDFW then there'll be so many wolves in WA there is no danger of falling below the guide lines for wolves  (not so much for Elk and deer) and public as well as private (1800 sheep on Private Hancock land removed due to wolves) grazing will be severely impacted.  OR it's just gross negligence - you pick.

WDFW will drag confirmation of wolf packs/BPS out until they are either forced to confirm the last pack through wolf predation or the "public outcry" for management is getting to uncomfortable to ignore.

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 understand why this is the first thought that comes to mind. But it's not quite right!

We need packs in western Washington for delisting to occur. There are enough packs in NE WA to delist the whole state. Losing one breeding female only helps our situation here in the NE where we have been told it doesn't matter how many wolves we have no delisting is occurring until western WA has three confirmed packs.

Let me buy that shooter a beer, he saved hundreds of Huckleberry bucks and bulls! 

WDFW could have confirmed all the wolf packs/BPS three years ago on the west side. The reason for not confirming wolf packs/BPS is not because there is a lack of wolves. The USFWS, WDFW and the environmentalists need wolves to do as much damage as possible before they are forced to delist. Plus wolves are big money maker for environmental groups.

I highly doubt the USFWS or WDFW would shoot one of their breeders, but it sure looks good for the DoW and CNW in their pursuit to get new wolf rulings on Wolf predation.

 Remember Carter Niemeyer? He works for WDFW, and he surely knows a wolf pup from a three year old.

Keynote speakers include Mike Jimenez, Rocky Mountain wolf coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Wyoming; Carter Niemeyer, retired wolf specialist with the USFWS and the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services; and Donny Martorello, WDFW carnivore section manager.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jan0713a/

On Thursday, the specialist wrapped up their investigation and, after consultation with outside experts, including Carter Niemeyer, determined that 14 sheep were killed by wolves.  http://nwsportsmanmag.com/editors-blog/14-sheep-killed-wolves-earlier-week/

Washington has hunters on the ground, poised in readiness, to kill four members of the Wedge pack. These wolves have killed a lot of cattle, Carter Niemeyer has verified this, but what about the future? http://wolvesandwriting.com/2012/09/


Technician Baker delivered wolf traps to Carter Niemeyer in Spokane and retrieved trail cameras in the Huckleberry pack area. Technician Baker and volunteer Amanda Charron checked trail cameras in the Wedge. http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wildlife_weekly/2012/wildlife_weekly_2012aug20.pdf


Information on Wolf Depredation Investigations


OR -

"Our field personnel have been trained in wolf depredation investigations over the years by Carter Niemeyer about 8 years ago and more recently by Mark Collinge, Todd Grimm and Rick Williamson of the ID-WS program.. So, our wolves have come from Idaho and our training and techniques have come from ID. We use the long established forms and methodology developed by our ID WS program that seem to be well accepted by ID Fish &

I have experienced Carter Niemeyer working his way to become a wedge between

WS and State wildlife agencies. I have seen him in action and it concerns me to provide him a forum that will be used to promote the Carter Niemeyer way of investigating suspected wolf depredations when our agency has several experts in multiple states that have conducted far more investigations than retired USFWS wolf biologist and author Carter Niemeyer."

"Game and the USFWS there. Our forms include the original WS 200 and the revised WS 200 form that ID WS developed with guidance from the USFWS. We take pictures and write up our reports on the aforementioned forms and share those with ODFW or USFWS depending on which agency has the wolf management responsibility.

ODFW uses the same categories and definitions of the categories as WS does on the WS 200 form but they have come up with their own forms that guide the investigator through the investigation and evidence documentation as the WS 200 form but in more detail. But ultimately they don’t collect more or different evidence than we do. ODFW’s Wolf Biologists have used Carter Niemeyer as their mentor and expert consultant."

"In my opinion the Defenders have ceased the opportunity to exploit the differences of professional opinions between ODFW or USFWS in Oregon. Carter Niemeyer is the wedge and the Defenders are the mallet driving that wedge wherever and whenever they can. That is why I don’t see much value in WS providing or participating in forums that will facilitate the wedge driving activities of certain groups or individuals."

Read More @


http://www.thewildlifenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/USDA-wolf-depredation-investigation-memo.pdf


LIVESTOCK MORTALITY RATES IN WOLF OCCUPIED AREAS OF WASHINGTON
 Jeffrey Brown, Carter Niemeyer, Stephanie Simek, Hilary Cooley, Julie Young, R.B. Wielgus & others
 This project is ongoing as part of Jeffrey Brown’s MS project. We will radio-track calves from 18 cattle herds (9 herds in NE WA and 9 herds in the North Cascades of WA) over 4 years and investigate VHF mortality signals to identify and determine wolf livestock mortality rates in WA. This project is part of our comprehensive, interagency (WSU, WDFW, USFW, USDA) wolf/livestock interactions research and extension program in WA.

EFFECTS OF NON-LETHAL INTERVENTIONS ON REDUCING WOLF DEPREDATIONS AND INDIRECT EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK IN WA
 Azzurra Valerio, Carter Niemeyer, Stephanie Simek, Hilary Cooley, Julie Young, R.B. Wielgus & others
This project is ongoing as part of Azzurra Valerio’s Ph.D. project. We will radio-track 6 wolf packs (3 packs in NE WA and 3 packs in the North Cascades of WA) and 18 cattle herds (9 herds in NE WA and 9 herds in the North Cascades of WA) over 4 years and employ various non-lethal interventions (fladry, range riders, guard dogs, bio fencing, cow bells, etc.) to examine the efficacy of such interventions in reducing wolf/ livestock depredations and wolf/livestock indirect effects (weight loss, pregnancy, spatial overlap). This project is part of our comprehensive, interagency (WSU, WDFW, USFW, USDA) wolf/livestock interactions research and extension program in WA.


LIVESTOCK KILL RATES BY WOLVES IN WASHINGTON
 Gabriel Spence, Carter Niemeyer, Stephanie Simek , Hilary Cooley, Julie Young, R.B. Wielgus & others
This project is ongoing as part of Gabe Spence’s MS project.The project intends to determine the kill rate of wolves on livestock by monitoring wolves.  We will put GPS collars on at least 1 wolf in each of 6 packs that have territories that overlap summer livestock grazing areas; 3 packs in Northeast Washington and 3 packs in the North Cascades of Washington.  We will then investigate GPS clusters to locate and identify possible livestock kills.  Investigation of such clusters may also discover natural prey kills.  From this data we will determine the kill rate (kills/day/pack) of wolves on both livestock and wild prey for the grazing season (May – October). In addition, all GPS locations from wolves will be analyzed for space use, and relative densities of livestock and wild prey will be calculated.  We intend to determine how wolf kill rates relate to the density of prey and livestock (functional response). Additionally we will analyze how wolf use of grazing areas relates to cattle use and density.    http://environment.wsu.edu/facilities/carnivore/current.html

Communications with stakeholders are key to the success of any endeavor and wolf recovery is no exception. When done correctly communications engender connectedness and trust. When done poorly—as with the WDFW’s press release on the killing of the alpha female—they result in several thousand angry phone calls and e-mails to the Governor. That is a major public relations failure.   Why was this press release such a problem? Emerging science indicates more and more that maintaining pack structure is very important—which means it is critical to keep the alpha pairs. Our group and others were assured through various channels at WDFW that lethal control would be directed only towards young of the year and that the alpha pair would be preserved. Additionally, the WDFW, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Governor are engaged through various legal petitions and the Wolf Advisory Committee (WAG) either directly with Cascadia Wildlands or via our partners in the Pacific Wolf Coalition which makes us a stakeholder and gives us standing on this issue.   "The department’s wildlife veterinarian conducted a necropsy this week indicating the wolf was the pack’s breeding female."  WDFW press release September 4, 2014   So when we find out—basically by accident—that the alpha female was killed nearly two weeks after she died, we are upset. When we find news of this event buried deep in what can only be characterized as a pro-ranching press release our blood pressure raises a little more. And when we see this monumental mistake mentioned offhandedly, in a manner that dismissively characterizes the role of this female, and that implies that the delay in notification is related to the need for a necropsy (the animal equivalent of an autopsy) we really have to question whether this agency takes its role in wolf recovery or it responsibility to public at all seriously. (Please see trail camera photograph of lactating female wolf taken during the summer in Oregon to understand how absolutely silly the necropsy defense is.) - See more at: http://www.cascwild.org/category/restore_wolves/wolves/washington_wolves/#sthash.djYWZNGK.dpuf

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

[idahohuntr]

What a great press release from Cascadia Wildlands    Gives some perspective of the range of folks wdfw is dealing with!

I must admit...ol' Bob Ferris was on this forum not too long ago pushing his non-lethal garbage...where were some of you guys?? wolfbait, KF, bearpaw??  You left me to take on bob all by myself...I was genuinely disappointed the cavalry never showed up     

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,154835.125.html

[bearpaw]

What a great press release from Cascadia Wildlands    Gives some perspective of the range of folks wdfw is dealing with!

I must admit...ol' Bob Ferris was on this forum not too long ago pushing his non-lethal garbage...where were some of you guys?? wolfbait, KF, bearpaw??  You left me to take on bob all by myself...I was genuinely disappointed the cavalry never showed up     

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,154835.125.html

That was about the time I left for WI to remodel my sister-in-laws house, I missed his comments until you just provided the link and I read them.

[idahohuntr]

I figured folks were busy...if he comes back though I'm going to pm you guys, maybe he can tell us more about his non-lethal wolf plans...  

[bearpaw]

I highly doubt the guy is a hunter as he claimed.

[Elkslayer]

It sounds to me like there's more than one breeding female in this pack. If they are correct and the female they shot WAS the Alpha female is this the same female that had the litter of pups back in 2012? It would have been less than a year old when it was bred the first time then!

[KFhunter]

would explain the smallish size,  not sure if wolves do this but other species of animals will stop growing when bred and remain that size,   if she was bred young she might not ever reach her full potential.

[wolfbait]

It sounds to me like there's more than one breeding female in this pack. If they are correct and the female they shot WAS the Alpha female is this the same female that had the litter of pups back in 2012? It would have been less than a year old when it was bred the first time then!

The ducks just aren't lining up are they, I wonder which environmental group thought this up? How can we get the most bang from our buck, News Flash WDFW shot the "alpha" female. $$$$$$$$$

Press Release: Petition Filed to Require Nonlethal Steps to Control Washington Wolves - See more at: http://www.cascwild.org/press-release-petition-filed-to-require-nonlethal-steps-to-control-washington-wolves/#sthash.XvQxD59r.dpuf
"The petition to increase protections for wolves was filed by groups representing tens of thousands of Washington residents, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Cascadia Wildlands, Western Environmental Law Center, Gifford Pinchot Task Force, The Lands Council, Wildlands Network, Kettle Range Conservation Group and the Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club.   Today’s filing of the petition with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission starts the clock ticking on a 60-day statutory period within which the state must respond. If the petition is denied, groups intend to appeal for a final decision by Governor Inslee." - See more at: http://www.cascwild.org/press-release-petition-filed-to-require-nonlethal-steps-to-control-washington-wolves/#sthash.XvQxD59r.dpuf

I wonder why CNW and Dow are not included with the above group? Would it look wrong since both environmental groups are connected to WDFW?

[Elkaholic daWg]

If Inslee makes the final call we are forked