wolf removal halted

[csaaphill]

WDFW halts lethal wolf removal in Ferry County.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

August 18, 2016

Contact: Donny Martorello, (360) 902-2521
WDFW Wildlife Program, (360) 902-2515

WDFW ends action against wolf pack,
pending further conflict with livestock

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today halted efforts to lethally remove members of a wolf pack in Ferry County, but will restart the operation if there is another confirmed wolf attack on livestock.

State wildlife officials shot and killed two members of the Profanity Peak wolf pack from a helicopter Aug. 5 after confirming five wolf-caused cattle mortalities since mid-July on the rangelands between Republic and Kettle Falls.

Since Aug. 3, when the last of those attacks was confirmed, WDFW has found no evidence of any additional depredations by wolves in that area, said Donny Martorello, WDFW wolf policy lead.

"The goal of removing some wolves from the pack was to stop wolf attacks on area cattle herds," Martorello said. "The last confirmed depredation by the pack was two weeks ago, but we are prepared to resume operations to remove wolves if monitoring efforts confirm new attacks."

WDFW staff will continue to track the wolves' movements by monitoring GPS signals from radio-collars attached to two pack members, he said.

During the two-week removal operation, WDFW officials used those signals to find wolves from the air, set traps and pursue them on the ground, Martorello said. These efforts became increasingly difficult in the second week, when the wolves withdrew to a heavily timbered area of the Kettle River Range, he said.

The Profanity Peak wolf pack is one of 19 known wolf packs in Washington state. Earlier this summer, WDFW determined that the pack had at least 11 members, including six adults and five pups.

WDFW Director Jim Unsworth authorized the lethal removal of some members of the Profanity Peak pack after staff biologists confirmed that wolves had killed at least four cattle – a cow and three calves. WDFW field staff confirmed a fifth fatal wolf attack on a calf that same day, and found it "probable" that the pack also killed three other calves earlier this summer.

Unsworth said the department's action was consistent with both the state's Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and a new protocol for the lethal removal of wolves, developed this year by WDFW in conjunction with an 18-member advisory group composed of environmentalists, livestock producers and hunters.

"This department is committed to wolf recovery, and for that reason we have a shared responsibility to protect livestock from repeated depredation by wolves," Unsworth said. "Maintaining public tolerance for wolves sometimes requires lethal measures, and we are prepared to respond if we confirm another wolf attack in the area this year."

The two wolves killed this month were a breeding female and another adult female wolf. 

Martorello said wildlife officials did not target the breeding wolf, but there is no way to identify the breeding animals during a removal operation.

"The pups are weaned at this age, so the loss of the breeding female is not likely to affect their survival since the remaining adults will provide them with food," Martorello said.

The cattle killed by members of the Profanity Peak pack in recent weeks belonged to two ranchers who had taken preventive actions to deter attacks by wolves, Martorello said. Both have range riders keeping watch over their herds and sanitation measures in place to avoid attracting wolves. One rancher also turned his calves out to pasture at a higher weight as a defense against predators, Martorello said.

Other provisions state that:

The department must confirm four or more wolf depredation events on livestock within a calendar year, or six or more confirmed such events within two consecutive calendar years.
Wolves must have killed, not just injured, livestock in at least one of those confirmed depredation events.
WDFW must expect depredations to continue without taking lethal action to stop them.
The department must notify the public about the pack's activities and related management actions. 
The new policy is available at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/livestock/LethalRemovalProtocolGrayWolvesWashingtonDuringRecovery_05312016.pdf.

WDFW is preparing a complete report on the recent action, including information about staff recommendations, the director's decision, and wolf removal activities.

The removal of two wolves from the Profanity Peak pack marks the third time that WDFW has used lethal measures to address repeated depredations on livestock since 2008, when the first pack was confirmed in Washington state. A total of 10 wolves have been removed through those actions.

During that time, the state's confirmed wolf population has grown from two wolves in one pack to at least 90 wolves and 19 packs by early 2016.

Additional information about wolf packs and WDFW management actions is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf

[Killmore]

Only two, that isn't going to help much

[villageidiot]

Just lovely!  So now the pack is sprinkled with holy water and forgiven.  They will go back and regroup and increase tHeir pack size.  They will come back with a clean slate and can kill 4 more cattle before they are reprimanded again.  This will be a continuos circle forever.
  The very sad part is that once they are delisted WDFW will walk away and depredations are totally on the backs of the rancher.   A wolf cancer was introduced and once it has got a good foothold the Doctor will turn his back and walk away. 
  This wolf reintroduction will be looked on years down the road as the most idiotic fiasco our game department ever partook of.

[KFhunter]

I smell an injunction  3...2....1....

[csaaphill]

I guess today the reopened it. So now they are going to resume the cull, but bet it changes as fast as this did.

[villageidiot]

I just read where the Ferry County Commissioners gave the sheriff authority and permission to go kill the remaining pack regardless of what WDFW does.  They appear to have had enough of this double talk and promises that do not materialize.
  Several years ago the Okanogan county commissioners did the same thing with cougar hunting.  It was reinstated in cooperation with WDFW in control and eventually died again due to the legislature failing to continue the pilot program.  We haven't had any Okanogan commissioners since with enough courage to step up and do it again.  It appears the public is tired of the Okanogan commissioners and they are being replaced this fall.

[jackelope]

Not halted. Restarted.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Killem all!!!!!

[Bob33]

How the other side is reacting:

http://nywolf.org/washingtons-profanity-peak-wolf-pack-under-fire/

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife helicopters are in the air now to kill members of the Profanity wolf pack. Why?  To protect cattle on public lands.

The decision was made under the guidelines of a new lethal removal protocol that was agreed to this spring by the state Wolf Advisory Group, a stakeholder group convened by WA Fish and Wildlife that includes agency staff and reps from the ranching, hunting and conservation community.

According to the protocol agreed to by the advisory group, lethal removal of wolves is considered after four confirmed depredations in one calendar year and requires that the affected ranchers have employed sanitation measures to avoid attracting wolves to livestock carcasses and have tried at least one proactive measure to deter conflicts with wolves at the time the livestock losses took place.

The kill order was issued following investigations concluding the wolves recently killed a fourth calf belonging to the Diamond M Ranch, the same operation that called for killing the Washington’s Wedge Pack in 2012. All the losses occurred on public lands grazing allotments in the remote and relatively roadless northeast corner of the state.

While the agency’s use of nonlethal measures to try to prevent conflict is a positive step, should we allow the killing of our nation’s wildlife on public lands? What say you?

Ways to take action.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1170202556383835&id=785877131483048&substory_index=0

"Helicopter Gunners Kill Two Wolves in Northeastern Washington"
**********************************
Helicopters are in the air to kill members of the Profanity Pack . WOLF ADVOCATES!!! Please speak up. Don't let them die while we stand silently by.
‪#‎SavetheProfanityPack‬
‪#‎ProtectWolves‬
‪#‎Speak4Wolves‬
‪#‎Wolves‬ ‪#‎nonlethal‬ ‪#‎rangeriders‬
‪#‎ProtectPublicLands‬

This rancher ( who got the Wedge pack killed) grazed cattle in KNOWN wolf den area and rendezvous sites! Why? Is there nowhere else he could have grazed his cattle ?

Also, this news article says that there's a "muffled " response from advocates. Let's "unmuffle" it and ‪#‎SpeakForWolves‬!!
bit.ly/2aE7ILK

[Bango skank]

2 down, 9 to go.

[Elkaholic daWg]

WDFW News Release: WDFW to restart wolf removal after finding dead, injured calves


do.not.reply@dfw.wa.gov

 
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

August 19, 2016

WDFW to restart wolf removal after finding dead, injured calves

OLYMPIA – State wildlife biologists have received authorization to remove a wolf pack in Ferry County after investigating two calf carcasses and an injured calf in a grazing area today.

The injured calf was classified as the subject of a confirmed wolf attack and the dead calves as subjects of probable wolf attacks. Since mid-July, WDFW has confirmed that wolves have killed or injured six cattle and probably five others, based on staff investigations.

Jim Unsworth, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), authorized field staff to remove the remaining members of the Profanity Peak wolf pack to prevent additional attacks on cattle in the rangelands between Republic and Kettle Falls.

State wildlife officials shot two pack members Aug. 5, but announced an end to wolf-removal efforts after two weeks passed without finding any more evidence of wolf predation on cattle.

"At that time, we said we would restart this operation if there was another wolf attack, and now we have three," said Donny Martorello, WDFW wolf policy lead. "The department is committed to wolf recovery, but we also have a shared responsibility to protect livestock from repeated depredation by wolves."

Martorello noted that removing the entire Profanity Peak pack may prove challenging, given the rugged, timbered landscape in the area.

The Profanity Peak wolf pack is one of 19 known wolf packs in Washington state. Earlier this summer, WDFW determined that the pack had at least 11 members, including six adults and five pups.

Since 2008, the state's confirmed wolf population has grown from two wolves in one pack to at least 90 wolves and 19 packs by early 2016.

For more information on the conflict with the Profanity Peak pack, see the previous news release at http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/aug1816a/. Periodic updates to WDFW's Wolf Advisory Group are posted at http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/advisory/wag/.

[nwwanderer]

Big surprise!!!  Love the timing, done on the 18th, back at it on the 19th

[MtnMuley]

Big surprise!!!  Love the timing, done on the 18th, back at it on the 19th

Do you expect anything less out of WDFW? Glad to head Ferry Co is managing their own problem and not the westside *censored*s.

[Dave Workman]

Here’s A Subject Almost As Volatile As Gun Control: Wolves


 

The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) has reportedly decided, for the second time since the agency began aggressively managing wolves, that it will eradicate a wolf pack due to livestock predation, this one being dubbed the Profanity Peak pack.

http://libertyparkpress.com/heres-a-subject-almost-as-volatile-as-gun-control-wolves/

[pianoman9701]

Nice to see one of your articles, Dave. 

[Dave Workman]

Nice to see one of your articles, Dave. 

Very kind of you. I've been writing at Liberty Park Press now for a couple of months, and likewise at Conservative Firing Line.

[wolfbait]

"Since 2008, the state's confirmed wolf population has grown from two wolves in one pack to at least 90 wolves and 19 packs by early 2016."


I wonder how many at WDF&wolves believe their own BS?

[Bango skank]

Emergency Wolf Rally - Speak for the Profanity Pack

2016/09/01 in Olympia

https://www.facebook.com/events/590116031172455/

Organizer Brett Haverstick

Details:

Calling all wolf activists, wildlife advocates, first nations and citizens and people of the state of Washington and across America, to attend an emergency wolf rally at the state capital in Olympia, Washington to call on Washington Governor Jay Inslee to stop the ruthless killing of the Profanity Wolf Family. This gathering aims to draw further national attention to the outrageous aerial gunning of native gray wolves by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife on federal public lands located in northeast Washington. This is a peaceful, non-violent and family friendly event. Please bring banners, signs and musical instruments. It's time to dissolve the highly-political Washington Wolf Advisory Group, and start a new scientific and public process to biologically recover gray wolves across the Pacific Northwest.

 

[Timberstalker]

What a bunch of bleeding heart liberals.

[Ridgeratt]

I saw a cattleman wearing a t-shirt this weekend said:

I Love Wolves


with Gravy.!!!

[Killmore]

sounds like the westside needs a few wolves

[WAPatriot]

sounds like the westside needs a few wolves

Sounds like your member of the washington wolf lovers association. SSS and stop wishing wolves of others thats sick in the head.

[Killmore]

If your thinking I'm a wolf supporter, think again!!

sounds like the westside needs a few wolves

Sounds like your member of the washington wolf lovers association. SSS and stop wishing wolves of others thats sick in the head.

[JakeLand]

If your thinking I'm a wolf supporter, think again!!

sounds like the westside needs a few wolves

Sounds like your member of the washington wolf lovers association. SSS and stop wishing wolves of others thats sick in the head.

 Well we sure as hell don't want them on this side of the mountains...... Oh ya there has been
 

[Killmore]

We need them on the west side so the supporters can understand what its like to live with them, once they see the devastation they do, them maybe that will help them understand. We got rid of the wolves for a reason.

[WAPatriot]

We need them on the west side so the supporters can understand what its like to live with them, once they see the devastation they do, them maybe that will help them understand. We got rid of the wolves for a reason.

That's the most retarded logic I have ever heard.

Kill them all SSS, poison um, trap em. Last thing we need is more wolves. Also in case you didn't know we have um here just not infested yet like the eastside.

[birddogdad]

sounds like they need to get cracking and finish the removal soon!

[dwils233]

The common argument I see from wolf supporters is that its the cattle and rancher's fault for being there, yadda yadda yadda.

I think its time we actually ignore the livestock argument and hit them back with their own logic. "wolves are a beautiful special species that must be saved" seems to be the logic, but what happens when we point out that wolves are single handedly responsible for the decimation (and soon extirpation) of woodland caribou in the lower 48? We need to face facts and acknowledge that they will never understand or respect wildlife management unless its about saving endangered species. So we should use that to our advantage to make a dent in the sacred cow that is wolf management.

I don't know if that makes any sense but I've just been so frustrated with all of this west side boohooing about the profanity peak pack while another pack extirpates an entire species in the same dang state. 

[JakeLand]

Why is it always WEST SIDE !!! We don't want the wolves anywhere in this state !!! I get sick of hearing the blame always on the westsiders WELL it's not most of the push for reintroduction was outta state groups

[WAPatriot]

I wish more of the east side guys would nut up and start dealing with the wolves rather than complain about how bad they are. It's pretty simple in regards to what needs to be done. Don't let wdfw and wolf lovers have there way. Start killing those wolves.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I wish more of the east side guys would nut up and start dealing with the wolves rather than complain about how bad they are. It's pretty simple in regards to what needs to be done. Don't let wdfw and wolf lovers have there way. Start killing those wolves.

The common argument I see from wolf supporters is that its the cattle and rancher's fault for being there, yadda yadda yadda.

I think its time we actually ignore the livestock argument and hit them back with their own logic. "wolves are a beautiful special species that must be saved" seems to be the logic, but what happens when we point out that wolves are single handedly responsible for the decimation (and soon extirpation) of woodland caribou in the lower 48? We need to face facts and acknowledge that they will never understand or respect wildlife management unless its about saving endangered species. So we should use that to our advantage to make a dent in the sacred cow that is wolf management.

I don't know if that makes any sense but I've just been so frustrated with all of this west side boohooing about the profanity peak pack while another pack extirpates an entire species in the same dang state. 

I agree.  We need to be making that argument for the caribou's sake though, not simply because people don't like wolves.