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I was surfing old posts, 2007 one, maybe some newer folks to HW will enjoy.761Wolves / Re: Wolves in Washington« on: December 06, 2007, 04:16:34 PM »Is there wolves in Washington?? There has been wolves here for a long time, maybe for ever. My Dad told of 2 wolves harassing him as a kid trying to catch his horse in the pasture. He was able to keep them at bay by swinging his rope around his head, the whirling noise kept them back until he got back to the barn. That was in the methow about 1912. Mother and Dad had their honey moon and first winter in a trappers cabin on what is now the Pasayten Wilderness boundary. Dad would be gone on the trap line for 6 days then come back to take care of the hides the 7th day of the week, providing the weather cooperated. For two days a wolf sit about 100 yards from the cabin watching Mother, Dad come the next day checking the tracks, sure enough it was a wolf. That was 1927. I was about 14 when I was camping out in Gardner meadows (about 11 miles into the now Wilderness) just my dog and horse, no tent or even a fly, just an old army blanket. I was camped by the edge of the timber, there was a full moon on the meadows but the timber was in the shade of the mountain and very dark. I had gathered enough squaw wood to get me asleep, when all of a sudden my dog was very scared and getting as close to the fire as possible. Then I seen this wolf moving from one bush to another in the moonlight, it was slowly circling about 50 yards away, it would go into the timber then after a while it would be back in the moon light again. I was scared, when it was in the light I would try to find more wood in the dark, when it went into the dark I would stand as close to the fire as possible, I have no idea how close it got on the dark side. It was a very long night, my fire was very small by first light the last time I seen the wolf. That was 1949. Close to the same year me and another kid was helping 3 men pack salt (by pack horse) for the cattle, we were going around under Story peak when there was 3 wolves following us at about 150 yards, one of the guy's had a pistol but the wolves never got closer, they followed about an hour. About 1953 while hunting deer in the methow I found a freshly killed wolf, he had been shot. About 25 years ago I seen a wolf two different years near Reynolds peak, one year she had 2 young with her, I think it was the same wolf both years. Other people seen these to. For a few years, 15-20 years ago while I was packing for an outfitter the USFS would have a couple people at the trail head at day light to inform the hunters how important it was to NOT shoot any coyotes, it was sickening how they got this message across without mentioning the word wolf. If my memory serves me right it was illegal to shoot coyotes during deer season in that period. I don't know but suspicion they had planted some wolves in the area and didn't want any body to mistake them for coyotes. About 15 years ago I know of a wolf encounter that happened close to my home by a close acquaintance. So is there wolves in Washington? Yes there is, and has been a long time. I don't know of a pack, hopefully there never will be.
