Meateater podcast on Mountain caribou in the Selkirks

[bobcat]

Bighorn sheep are different. This state, and probably all of the western states, historically had bighorn sheep in large numbers.

And they were all over eastern Washington until we came and destroyed much of their habitat with our farms, and domestic livestock, orchards, housing developments, etc.

Caribou were never abundant and widespread over the state like bighorn sheep were.

[Special T]

Unfortunately a huge part of helping the Caribou is reducing wolf numbers and that isn't a priority right now to those involved. Feds have owed it but bunny huggers in the state say it's forbidden.

[HighCountryHunter88]

Bighorn sheep are different. This state, and probably all of the western states, historically had bighorn sheep in large numbers.

And they were all over eastern Washington until we came and destroyed much of their habitat with our farms, and domestic livestock, orchards, housing developments, etc.

Caribou were never abundant and widespread over the state like bighorn sheep were.

so how much of the state historically, does a species need to range to receive some assistance (time and money) in your opinion?

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Bighorn sheep are different. This state, and probably all of the western states, historically had bighorn sheep in large numbers.

And they were all over eastern Washington until we came and destroyed much of their habitat with our farms, and domestic livestock, orchards, housing developments, etc.

Caribou were never abundant and widespread over the state like bighorn sheep were.

Well if you listen to the podcast, you will find they had a pretty large area in the northern portion of the states, from Washington to Montana, with reports as far south as the St. Joe here in Idaho. That's a pretty large area.

[bobcat]

Bighorn sheep are different. This state, and probably all of the western states, historically had bighorn sheep in large numbers.

And they were all over eastern Washington until we came and destroyed much of their habitat with our farms, and domestic livestock, orchards, housing developments, etc.

Caribou were never abundant and widespread over the state like bighorn sheep were.

Well if you listen to the podcast, you will find they had a pretty large area in the northern portion of the states, from Washington to Montana, with reports as far south as the St. Joe here in Idaho. That's a pretty large area.

Okay, I will when I get a chance. But if that's the case, what's it take to bring them back? I'd guess burning down much of the forest and killing all the wolves?

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Bighorn sheep are different. This state, and probably all of the western states, historically had bighorn sheep in large numbers.

And they were all over eastern Washington until we came and destroyed much of their habitat with our farms, and domestic livestock, orchards, housing developments, etc.

Caribou were never abundant and widespread over the state like bighorn sheep were.

Well if you listen to the podcast, you will find they had a pretty large area in the northern portion of the states, from Washington to Montana, with reports as far south as the St. Joe here in Idaho. That's a pretty large area.

Okay, I will when I get a chance. But if that's the case, what's it take to bring them back? I'd guess burning down much of the forest and killing all the wolves?

Heck no, well, the wolves do need to be put in check, but not burning the forests.  He talks a bit about the history of them and how changes in the ecosystem (habitat and predators) have affected the herd. They are actually quite a tough animal, they live above the snow line during the winters and thrive in old growth forests and eat tree moss.  They need to borrow some from the Canadian herds and get them breeding.  Ideally they would create a secure pen, 10 acres, up high where they live and give the calves a chance to grow up a bit before releasing them.  It is really a very informative listen.   The bio knows his stuff and is a cougar hunter in the Panhandle as well.   

[boneaddict]

It will never happen.  Saving the predators always has and appears to always will have the attention, the $ and the lobby.    From your cute little red tail hawk, on up,the consumptive food ladder.

I'm happy to have known the caribou and the country they exist in.   Too many wolves now.   Heck they don't even have signs on the trail heads anymore.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Canadian Gray Wolves are not native to Washington State. Its not proven that they were released here but migrated naturally, that still doesn't make them native. The Caribou are actually native and deserve to be protected from the non-native wolves that prey on them. Griz are actually native as well, and as scary as they are, I'm glad to have a few of them back. They are awesome animals. Shoot the wolves.

Caribou migrated here from Canada same as the wolves.  More of them live in Canada where the same wolves are more established.

I don't see the point in spending money to try to "save" a few animals at the fringe edge of their habitat.

[Jonathan_S]

yes they range from Canada, Washington, Idaho and Montana but thry are the last few caribou in the lower 48. The other native species like Grizzly, wolves, sheep, goats, moose etc have strong footholds across half the western United States.

If there were only 15 grizzly left in the entire US, or 15 bighorn sheep left think of the uproar. There would be multiple state, local and federal agencies moving heaven and earth to save them.

Let's just eradicate the Columbian White tailed Deer since there are so few.

[dwils233]

 It's frustrating to hear how they are well on their way to extirpation and that no agency seems to care at all about it. I wish I could shove all the dead carcasses from the last caribou herd in the lower 48 in front of every wolf lover in this state and force them to realize what a garbage policy is doing to our wildlife.  end rant

As far as their historic numbers, Apparently they used to be healthy enough that Teddy Roosevelt went on a hunt for the herd out of Priest Lake, so they have had a footprint in the states before. If we took a dismissive attitude about all our extirpated animals I think most of us wouldn't be hunting today. Most of our current game species had to be saved from dangerously low numbers.

 I think it's one of the best podcasts Rinella has done yet, especially for washingtonians. The biologist is a smart guy, I would love to pick his brain. Definitely worth everyone's time to listen

[boneaddict]

Look what they will do for a worm or a slug. Holy moly. How about an owl with spots.lol.  I guess I shouldn't laugh.   Hell, even a particular ground squirrel.   

[WAcoyotehunter]

The wolf cull continues in BC right along the border and they have the "go ahead" to cull wolves that move into Idaho, I think for ten miles, via helicopter. 

Another wolf was collared last week at Salmo pass and will be used as a Judas animal to locate that pack.  So far ~21 have been removed.

[Jonathan_S]

The biologist is a smart guy, I would love to pick his brain. Definitely worth everyone's time to listen

 

[Jonathan_S]

Dwils, maybe post a question you have for the biologist and somebody who thinks like him will answer your question 

[JLS]

Many of our elk herds are actually not native and didn't exist in certain areas until we decided to bring them here on a train from Yellowstone. Yes, elk on the east side of the Cascades are an invasive species.   

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Cold_Springs/Wildlife_Habitat/Elk.html

Rocky Mountain elk are native to the Columbia Basin; the elk on Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge are Rocky Mountain elk.

Prior to the 1800s, elk lived in every state and province except Alaska and Florida. Today, their range has been reduced to 24 states and seven provinces

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