IDFG "accidentally" collars 4 wolves

[grundy53]

How do you accidentally collar 4 wolves? I bet the dog ate their homework too.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1003319099735025&id=209374779129465

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[pianoman9701]

Oops. "I thought it was an elk until it barred it's teeth!"

[Duckslayer89]

Probably easier for them to find wolves anymore then elk. I guess if they follow the wolves for 9 years thinking they are living elk it would make the elk herd look like they are doing well

[grundy53]

Honestly I think they really wanted to collar wolves but the feds wouldn't let them so they "accidentally" did it. "Bold strategy cotton" .

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[elkboy]

Grundy is on to something there...  "Better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission."   

[Katmai Guy]

Follow the signals and shoot the rest of the pack, simple!

[2MANY]

Actually about a month ago the black copter flushed and killed 4 wolves on the Idaho side of Lost Trail Pass near Salmon.
They were a problem on my friends range land and mighty hard on the calving.
Glad they smoked em.

[bobcat]

I guess they accidentally collared these wolves in much the same way some people have accidentally shot wolves. 

[JDHasty]

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it's investigating after Idaho officials reported inadvertently putting tracking collars on four wolves during recent helicopter flights into a central Idaho wilderness restricted to putting collars on elk. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Deputy Director Ed Schriever in a statement Wednesday says the agency didn't clearly communicate to one of the helicopter crews. Schriever says the agency will refine its procedures so the mistake isn't repeated. Forest Service spokesman Wade Muehlhof says the wolf collaring was not part of the agreement and the federal agency considers it a serious violation. Three environmental groups sued last week to stop the helicopter flights into the wilderness. Attorney Tim Presso with Earthjustice says Fish and Game could use the tracking collars to kill the wolves.

The Forest Service has issued a statement here, with Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor Chuck Mark saying, “As the authorizing official, I take this matter very seriously."

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2016/jan/13/idaho-fish-game-collared-4-wolves-during-heli-trips-wilderness-violated-pact/

[lokidog]

Follow the signals and shoot the rest of the pack, simple!

Don't need the wolves collars, just follow the non-moving elk collars.....   

[KFhunter]

IDFG director to helicopter crew:  "Hey we got permission to collar some Elk in the Frank Chruch, here's 4 collars stick em on some old cows.  We'll use the same contract as always?"

helicopter crew:  "10-04 we'll get back to you next week..the old contract language is acceptable, we'll bill you for 4 elk"

USFWS to IDFG:   "Hey you idiots you collared wolves!  That's not acceptable!! you could use the tracking information to kill the wolves!!"

IDFG director: "umm, we told them to collar Elk, we'll get back to you"

Helicopter crew: "sorry boss, we couldn't find any Elk so thought we'd collar some wolves for you instead - my bad"

 

[JimmyHoffa]

probably find more elk by collaring wolves than having to pull collars off dead elk once a week.

[Naches Sportsman]

If the usfs finds the state isn't following the specifications in the special use permit, they should take the special use permit away allowing the state biologists and their pilots to fly in the wilderness. Make them walk in . It is frustrating when bios think they can do whatever they want.

[bobcat]

Naches, but it was only an accident. 

[blackveltbowhunter]

That earthjustice attorney is on to something! 

[Naches Sportsman]

Naches, but it was only an accident. 

*censored*!!

It looks bad when the usfs is getting sued for not keeping the wilderness quiet. Seriously give them a stern warning. If they violate the specifications of the special use permit again, ground all flights and lay the book at them.

In my opinion, bios are just too damn lazy these days to walk in.

That earthjustice attorney is on something! 

Fixed it if you are referring to me. Leave the wilderness wild. I like to enjoy my piece and quiet in nature

[JDHasty]

Naches, but it was only an accident. 

*censored*!!

It looks bad when the usfs is getting sued for not keeping the wilderness quiet. Seriously give them a stern warning. If they violate the specifications of the special use permit again, ground all flights and lay the book at them.

In my opinion, bios are just too damn lazy these days to walk in.

That earthjustice attorney is on something! 

Fixed it if you are referring to me. Leave the wilderness wild. I like to enjoy my piece and quiet in nature

When I am enjoying my piece in nature it kinda' makes it not so quiet. 

[MuleDeer]

Naches, but it was only an accident. 

*censored*!!

It looks bad when the usfs is getting sued for not keeping the wilderness quiet. Seriously give them a stern warning. If they violate the specifications of the special use permit again, ground all flights and lay the book at them.

In my opinion, bios are just too damn lazy these days to walk in.

That earthjustice attorney is on something! 

Fixed it if you are referring to me. Leave the wilderness wild. I like to enjoy my piece and quiet in nature

You do realize they were going in to collar elk/wolves/whatever, right?  That is not possible on foot alone.  For the purposes of collaring, the helicopters are needed for corralling the animals and/or flushing them out of cover.  Walking in is not an option.....unless you can teach them how to catch elk on foot, by hand.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Naches, but it was only an accident. 

*censored*!!

It looks bad when the usfs is getting sued for not keeping the wilderness quiet. Seriously give them a stern warning. If they violate the specifications of the special use permit again, ground all flights and lay the book at them.

In my opinion, bios are just too damn lazy these days to walk in.

That earthjustice attorney is on something! 

Fixed it if you are referring to me. Leave the wilderness wild. I like to enjoy my piece and quiet in nature

I agree that Wilderness should be quiet, which is one reason they timed the capture for winter.  I also think we need to be realistic in our expectations for wilderness.  I would support some limited chainsaw use for trails, helicopter use for situations like this, and other projects that make sense.  It's not like this was a recreational project.  We need to be paying attention to the herds too.

Capturing elk on foot or horseback is pretty tough.... I don't think it has anything to do with "lazy bios". 

[andrew_in_idaho]

This is the frank church we are talking about. How many cessnas and other small crafts fly in there and land every day during hunting season. Why are they making a big deal out of helicopters flying in to collar animals for research anyway?


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[idahohuntr]

This is the frank church we are talking about. How many cessnas and other small crafts fly in there and land every day during hunting season. Why are they making a big deal out of helicopters flying in to collar animals for research anyway?


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The Frank in the summer and fall is probably only slightly behind Sea-Tac in volume of air traffic.   

[blackveltbowhunter]

Naches, but it was only an accident. 

*censored*!!

It looks bad when the usfs is getting sued for not keeping the wilderness quiet. Seriously give them a stern warning. If they violate the specifications of the special use permit again, ground all flights and lay the book at them.

In my opinion, bios are just too damn lazy these days to walk in.

That earthjustice attorney is on something! 

Fixed it if you are referring to me. Leave the wilderness wild. I like to enjoy my piece and quiet in nature

My response was in reference to the Associated Press release Hasty  posted. Not implying you are with earthjustice. I agree keep the wilderness wild, and wolf free. I like my peace and quiet as well.

[2MANY]

Drunk rafters are always fun though.

[Oh Mah]

They say its easier to apologize for doing something your not supposed to do than asking for permission to do what you want to do.     accident my but.

[Duckslayer89]

Does anyone think IDFG was collaring them to track the pack and thin them out later on? Make them easier to find aerial hunting? One could only wish...

[JimmyHoffa]

This kind of reminds me of the thread where WDFW was supposed to be doing mule deer surveys, but instead were chasing elk around and away from hunters with a helicopter. 
Do they take all their wolf gear when they go out to do elk stuff?  (like use the same collars and same dose of tranquilizers)  I'd assume that when doing wolf ops, they have the carnivore bios along?
Just hope they are getting good data.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Does anyone think IDFG was collaring them to track the pack and thin them out later on? Make them easier to find aerial hunting? One could only wish...

Yes, probably.  Collared wolves are often used as a Judas animal to the pack.