North Bend wolf

[Gringo31]

NO, THE I-90 ROADKILL WASN’T THE FIRST KNOWN WESTSIDE WOLF
APRIL 30, 2015 ANDY WALGAMOTT   LEAVE A COMMENT
 
The apparent wolf struck by a vehicle on I-90 less than 42 road miles east of downtown Seattle is not the first one confirmed to be west of the crest.

The Associated Press is reporting that it is “the first verification that the controversial animals have crossed the Cascade Range.”

Rather, it represents the furthest westward advance of the species in Washington.

Since at least 2011, a wolf or wolves have been hanging out near the upper end of Ross Lake in the upper Skagit River, which drains into northern Puget Sound.

The most recent WDFW Wildlife Program report includes this image of one by Hozomeen Campground:

(WDFW)
(WDFW)

“Tracks found in the [Ross Lake] drawdown found by park staff and fisheries biologists suggest the presence of more than one individual,” states the April 13 report.

WDFW’s wolf map has included a gray-shaded circle around this country since at least 2012. The coloring denotes a suspected pack or one that dens outside Washington — under USFWS conventions, only packs that shack up within a state are counted towards its recovery goals.

To be sure, WDFW’s wolf observation map includes numerous citizen reports further west than either the Hozomeen or North Bend wolves, and while those are considered unconfirmed, earlier this week the agency’s wolf policy lead Dave Ware said the latter animal represented “pretty good evidence that wolves are probably moving into and around western Washington, although we have not yet documented a pack.”

In past years there have been reports from outside Enumclaw and around Mt. St. Helens, but so far no confirmations.

Technically speaking, there’s a “wild” wolf not far outside WDFW HQ in Olympia — the Ruby Creek female now lodged at Wolf Haven in Tenino after becoming habituated to hanging out around homes and barnyard animals in the Pend Oreille Valley town of Ione.

While the bulk of Washington residents who want wolves live on the west side of the crest, none are actually required to reside here under WDFW’s three-zone recovery plan. Wolf advocates had wanted a fourth in the Willapa Hills and Olympic Peninsula, but the Fish & Wildlife Commission didn’t go for that.

Still, it’s highly likely more wolves will follow this week’s animal’s path west into the rainy side of the state.

IN OTHER NEWS, Washington wolf manager Donny Martorello reports state trappers were able to capture a black-coated yearling female member of the Smackout Pack yesterday.

He says it was given a GPS collar. That should help with range-riding efforts, as last year, telemetry on the pack was lost after a cougar ate the breeding male last spring.

The yearling’s coat collar is the same as that of the I-90 wolf, and DNA samples could link it to that pack or others in the northeastern corners of Washington or Oregon, or further abroad.

A USFWS spokesman says results from the lab are expected in four to six weeks.

Brent Lawrence also confirmed that the wolf was killed by a vehicle, and said that it had likely been a large truck.

He added that a second reported roadkill to the west of where the wolf was found could not be located by USFWS staff.

[mfswallace]

He added that a second reported roadkill to the west of where the wolf was found could not be located by USFWS staff.

It magically disappeared 

[Dave Workman]

No need for DNA, this must have been one of the Mystical Lookout Pack. They are the only Pack that can be confirmed in two locations in opposite ends of Okanogan at the same time. And their females travel to Idaho, Oregon, and California .......
without even missing a breeding season!

What, they got frequent flyer miles with Alaska Airlines or something?

[JimmyHoffa]

Think it came from the Wolfbait pack and was trying to make its way home to the Methow. 

[T-Dozzer]

You should see the Facebook comments on NorthBend Facebook page.....when will these *censored*s learn........"wolves are not dangerous, more people are hurt by dogs every year"

 

[cem3434]

You should see the Facebook comments on NorthBend Facebook page.....when will these *censored*s learn........"wolves are not dangerous, more people are hurt by dogs every year"

 

Ignorance is bliss I guess. Just wait until the wolves take down one of the local elk in the Wood River neighborhood of North Bend....Maybe the liberal hippies will then figure out what we already know.

[jackelope]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

[Skyvalhunter]

Thats why it is such a shame when a poor little defenseless wolf gets hit buy a car!!

[pianoman9701]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

Do you think that would still be the case if there were as many wolves as dogs?

[AspenBud]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

Do you think that would still be the case if there were as many wolves as dogs?

Do you think there will ever be 78 million wolves in the US?

[kodiak 907]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

Do you think that would still be the case if there were as many wolves as dogs?

 
Exactly right. Example: more people are bitten by black labs than pit bulls in the u.s. Does this make the lab more dangerous than a pit... No. It only shows more people own labs and the stats will confuse the people that do not do the proper research..

[pianoman9701]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

Do you think that would still be the case if there were as many wolves as dogs?

Do you think there will ever be 78 million wolves in the US?

My response was to a straw man statement. Of course more people are injured by dogs. More are injured by ferrets, too. That has absolutely nothing to do with the dangers that an increasing population of wolves represents.

[Dave Workman]

You should see the Facebook comments on NorthBend Facebook page.....when will these *censored*s learn........"wolves are not dangerous, more people are hurt by dogs every year"

 

There's a North Bend Facebook page?

There goes the neighborhood

[jackelope]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

Do you think that would still be the case if there were as many wolves as dogs?

Its been a very long week. I should've known better than trying to make a joke in the wolf forum without 1st specifying it as a joke.

[pianoman9701]

Well, there probably are a lot more people injured by domestic dogs than wolves every year.

Do you think that would still be the case if there were as many wolves as dogs?

Its been a very long week. I should've known better than trying to make a joke in the wolf forum without 1st specifying it as a joke.

It has been a long week. Neither Aspen or i knew it was a joke, clearly.