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Author Topic: Washington wolf population continues to grow  (Read 44844 times)

Offline jasnt

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Washington wolf population continues to grow
« on: March 14, 2016, 04:18:54 PM »
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

March 14, 2016
Contact: Donny Martorello, (360) 902-2515
Bruce Botka, (360) 902-2262

Washington wolf population continues to grow

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s wolf population continued to grow last year and added at least four new packs, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) annual survey. By the end of 2015, the state was home to at least 90 wolves, 18 packs, and eight breeding pairs.

The recently completed survey shows the minimum number of wolves grew by 32 percent last year, despite the deaths of at least seven wolves from various causes. Since 2008, when WDFW documented just one pack and five wolves, the population has increased by an average of 36 percent per year.

“Wolf populations in Washington are steadily increasing, just as we’ve seen in the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain states,” said WDFW Director Jim Unsworth. “This increase – and the wolves’ concentration in northeast Washington – underscores the importance of collaboration between our department, livestock producers, and local residents to prevent conflict between wolves and domestic animals.”

Donny Martorello, WDFW wolf policy lead, said the new Beaver Creek, Loup Loup, Skookum, and Stranger packs were confirmed in Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties, respectively.

However, researchers found no evidence of the previously documented Wenatchee Pack, and the Diamond Pack shifted its activity to Idaho and is no longer included in Washington state totals.

Martorello said the minimum number of breeding pairs in Washington increased from five to eight – the first increase since 2011.

WDFW conducted the research using aerial surveys, remote cameras, wolf tracks, and signals from 22 radio-collared wolves from 13 different packs. Twelve wolves were fitted with radio collars during the year, while one pup was marked and released without a collar due to its small size.

Despite their growing numbers, wolves were involved in fewer conflicts with livestock than in 2014. Martorello said the department determined wolves from four packs were responsible for killing a total of seven cattle and injuring one guard dog.

Three of the seven wolves that died in 2015 were killed legally by hunters on the reservation of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, which authorized the harvest up to six wolves per year by tribal members. The four other deaths included one wolf killed in a collision with a vehicle, one shot in self-defense by a property owner, and one that died during an attempt to capture it. One wolf’s cause of death is unknown.

Unsworth said WDFW took several steps in 2015 to expand public involvement in wolf conservation and management. He said the most important actions were doubling the size of the department’s Wolf Advisory Group to 18 members, and initiating a “conflict transformation” process to improve working relationships among the members and the groups they represent and the department.

Martorello said WDFW will continue to emphasize the importance of preventive actions to minimize wolf attacks on livestock and domestic animals. For example, WDFW wildlife conflict specialists are available to work with residents of communities where wolves are present.

WDFW has also adopted a “range rider” program to provide an increased human presence in grazing areas. WDFW continues to offer cost-sharing agreements for ranchers through a program designed to help them reduce their expenses for preventive measures.

Gray wolves, all but eliminated from western states in the last century, are protected under Washington law throughout the state and under federal law in the western two-thirds of the state.

Because of the difficulty of confirming the presence of every single wolf, survey results are expressed in terms of the minimum number of individuals, packs, and breeding pairs. The state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan defines a pack as two or more wolves traveling together in winter and a successful breeding pair as an adult male and female with at least two pups that survive to the end of the calendar year.

Under the state management plan, wolves can be removed from the state endangered species list once 15 successful breeding pairs are documented for three consecutive years among the three designated wolf-recovery regions.

WDFW’s complete wolf survey for 2015 will be available by the end of March on the department’s website: (http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/).

Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline wolfbait

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2016, 08:00:49 PM »
Lets see now, the USFWS dumped wolves in the Yellowstone and Idaho between 1995-96, 7 to 8 years later in 2002 all three states were eligible for delisting.

WDFW said they started seeing wolves come into WA in 2002, and now 14 years later WDFW still can't seem to confirm enough wolves to delist.


Offline jasnt

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2016, 08:32:02 PM »
Lets see now, the USFWS dumped wolves in the Yellowstone and Idaho between 1995-96, 7 to 8 years later in 2002 all three states were eligible for delisting.

WDFW said they started seeing wolves come into WA in 2002, and now 14 years later WDFW still can't seem to confirm enough wolves to delist.


pretty disheartening isn't it!
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline REHJWA

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2016, 08:34:48 PM »
"Because of the difficulty of confirming the presence of every single wolf, survey results are expressed in terms of the minimum number of individuals, packs, and breeding pairs. The state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan defines a pack as two or more wolves traveling together in winter and a successful breeding pair as an adult male and female with at least two pups that survive to the end of the calendar year."

Minimums...... What a way to run things.....

Offline mfswallace

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2016, 08:45:26 PM »
And at the same time they don't put this much effort into deer and elk population surveys... if they can only get the minimun wolf pop, what does that mean for our ungulates.... :yike:

Offline steen

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2016, 08:50:30 PM »
"Because of the difficulty of confirming the presence of every single wolf, survey results are expressed in terms of the minimum number of individuals, packs, and breeding pairs. The state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan defines a pack as two or more wolves traveling together in winter and a successful breeding pair as an adult male and female with at least two pups that survive to the end of the calendar year."

Minimums...... What a way to run things.....
It's kinda like rats, if you see one you know there are 10 more you don't see!

Offline Eric M

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2016, 09:17:48 PM »
My favorite double speak was hearing WDFW a few years back saying they couldn't confirm the pack in Huckleberry area and then putting trail cam video of the pups from there on their YouTube page.

Offline jasnt

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2016, 09:29:34 PM »
My favorite double speak was hearing WDFW a few years back saying they couldn't confirm the pack in Huckleberry area and then putting trail cam video of the pups from there on their YouTube page.
:yeah:  :bash:
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline splitshot

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2016, 10:21:40 PM »
   never seen one in the wild but have heard them and seen their tracks.  will shoot one if I see it.     mike w

Offline Duckslayer89

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2016, 10:43:28 PM »
If it gets to much worse and they continue to deny the facts I won't be hunting in my home state. Not because I can't kill deer, but because I refuse to support a department that continues to lie and deceive its supporters. I would rather support Idaho and their wolf campaign. Which I already do with my one deer tag a year and wolf tag, but it's going to come up to two deer tags and an elk tag as well as bear tag in unit 10 for discount. I will still head into the woods but it will be with my mountain bike and camera.


Offline Elkrunner

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2016, 08:00:38 AM »
Although I do not like the idea of them.  There is now way in hell that I am going to shoot and shovel like the rest of you.  Too much could go on and I do not want that legal case of my hands.  Have at it if you want. 

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2016, 08:13:20 AM »
Unless I remember incorrectly, the owner of this site had either requested that illegal actions or the intent thereof not be posted, or had outright banned them. As I recall there were two reasons for this. 1. It leaves him in a bad position between the law and his members, and 2. Hunters are not the only ones viewing this site. Anti-hunters love to point out the illegal activities and the attitudes which justify them.

Can one of the mods please comment on the postings advocating poaching and SSS? Thanks.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2016, 10:01:27 AM »
What illegal activites. I am not advocating anything illegal I don't know what you are implying.  Look at what I wrote. 

Piano please tell me how you feel about wolves? Also how's that Unsworth kool aid taste?

Who said I was responding to your comment? I wasn't.

And, you don't know me. I guarantee Unsworth has received way more complaints from me about the wolf plan and other topics than from you. You might temper your comments until you know what about and to whom your talking. Ignorance is not your friend. I have opposed the outrageous wolf plan since way before it was passed and have attended multiple meetings and hearings in that regard before, during, and after its passing. So, don't talk to me about Koolaid. When the directions read "this side toward the enemy", make sure you have it pointed in the right direction.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2016, 10:23:05 AM »
It's a subject about which I'm very passionate, if you didn't glean that from my previous response. There's so much more at stake here than just the obvious game management problems, and those are very big. The lives and livelihoods of the people who live in the NE corner are in jeopardy and under constant attack. If you have Facebook, I'd encourage you to like the Stevens County Cattleman's Association page.

The point of my first post on this thread was about the wishes of the owner of this site to present hunting to the general public as an ethical and a needed tool for the management of our wildlife resources. If the general non-hunting public (which represents almost 97% of our population), sees us as unethical and lawless, then we lose our privileges one by one. We won't have much of a voice if we don't have a stake in the game.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace

Offline wolfbait

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Re: Washington wolf population continues to grow
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2016, 11:04:42 AM »
Looking back at the wolf group, wolf plan and now those appointed to the WAG, it should be quite clear to everyone that lawyers calling themselves  environmentalists are doing the bidding for WDFW and the USFWS. (the USFWS and WDFW can't sue themselves)---- Another example of corruption is the nature conservancy buying huge chunks of land and then selling it to the feds etc. which hides the true amount of land the government is buying up.


 


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