WDFW News Release: Wolf post-recovery plan development

[jackelope]

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

August 2, 2019
 Contacts: Julia Smith, Wolf Coordinator, (360) 902-2477
 Staci Lehman, Public Affairs, (509) 892-7853
 Samantha Montgomery, Public Affairs (360) 688-0721

Wolf post-recovery plan development

OLYMPIA- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has opened a public comment period to gather input on how the department will manage wolves in Washington post-recovery.

Biologists are confident that Washington's wolf population is on a path to successful recovery. Since 2008, the state's wolf population has grown an average of 28% per year. WDFW documented a minimum of 126 individuals, 27 packs, and 15 successful breeding pairs during the last annual population survey.

"Long-term sustainability and persistence of Washington's wolf population will always be a department priority," said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. "We know that Washington wolves are doing well, and it's our responsibility to be prepared to help wolf and human populations coexist in the same landscape."

Although it may be a few years before meeting wolf recovery goals, WDFW is preparing for when wolves are no longer designated as state or federally endangered by developing a post-recovery conservation and management plan. It will guide long-term wolf conservation and management.

As part of using the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process, WDFW will include an extensive public input and engagement process to develop the plan. This involves preparing a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will evaluate actions, alternatives, and impacts related to long-term wolf conservation and management. The department will develop the draft EIS based on feedback, and the public can review and comment on the draft once it is complete.

"The department currently uses the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, adopted in 2011, to guide wolf management activities in Washington," said Julia Smith, WDFW wolf coordinator. "However, the 2011 plan was developed specifically to inform and guide Washington wolf recovery while wolves are considered threatened or endangered. The new plan will focus on how the department will conserve and manage wolves after their recovery."

Public input and feedback is vital to this effort. The public scoping comment period is open from Aug. 1, 2019 through Nov.1, 2019. You can share your thoughts by taking an online survey at https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/gray-wolf/post-recovery-planning, or by attending one of the following 14 public scoping open houses in your community:

Spokane
 Sept. 3, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Spokane Community College (SCC), The Lair Student Center, Building #6, Sasquatch and Bigfoot Room 124 & 124C, 1810 Green St., Spokane, WA 99217

Colville
 Sept. 4, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Agriculture & Trade Center, 215 S. Oak St., Colville, WA 99114

Clarkston
 Sept. 5, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Quality Inn and Suites, Half Mahogany Room, 700 Port Drive, Clarkston, WA 99403

Chelan
 Sept. 11, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Chelan Fire Station, 232 E. Wapato Ave, Chelan, WA 98816

Pasco
 Sept. 25, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Franklin PUD auditorium, 1411 W. Clark St, Pasco, WA 99301

Selah
 Sept. 26, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Selah Civic Center, 216 S. 1st St., Selah, WA 98942

Mt. Vernon
 Oct. 7, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 10441 Bayview-Edison Rd., Mt. Vernon, WA 98273

Issaquah
 Oct. 8, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Eagle Room, City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA 98027

Kelso/Longview
 Oct. 9, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center, 510 Kelso Drive, Kelso, WA 98626

Morton
 Oct. 10, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Lyle Community Center, 700 Main Street, Morton, WA 98356

Olympia
 Oct. 15, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Natural Resources Building (Room 172), 1111 Washington SE, Olympia, WA 98504

Goldendale
 To be determined

Port Angeles
 Oct. 29, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Peninsula College, House of Learning (Longhouse), 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles, WA 98362

Montesano
 Oct. 30, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 Montesano City Hall, 112 N. Main St., Montesano, WA 98563

A webinar will also be available for those who are interested. It will be from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17. It can be viewed at https://player.invintus.com/?clientID=2836755451&eventID=2019091001 or from the home page of WDFW's website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.

 

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.


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[Bob33]

I don't have much doubt that the plan based on "public input and feedback" will be disappointing for hunters.

[bearpaw]

I'll hope for the best but it's going to be like watching holiday fireworks, no matter if a good plan is developed or not, the wolf groups will file lawsuits and/or initiatives to stop any management. 

[CementFinisher]

bump. take online survey https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/gray-wolf/post-recovery-planning/public-input/survey

[Bango skank]

Well at least they actually have meetings scheduled in colville and spokane instead of just olympia or seattle, but damnit, in september.  They always do stuff like this during deer season.

[Bango skank]

   third gender.  Really?

[fishngamereaper]

SO they are still not willing to admit that wolf recovery has actually surpassed target numbers. " It will be a few years"  Really.  whats a few 3, 7, 10?

They continue to underestimate numbers to avoid having to deal with "post recovery", and I suspect they will continune to do so for as long as they can.

[Ghost Hunter]

I'll hope for the best but it's going to be like watching holiday fireworks, no matter if a good plan is developed or not, the wolf groups will file lawsuits and/or initiatives to stop any management. 

I missed the July 4th fireworks.  Saving dates for Longview and Colville.  Going to try to make one of them depending on where I am at the time.  Should be a good show.

[wolfbait]

SO they are still not willing to admit that wolf recovery has actually surpassed target numbers. " It will be a few years"  Really.  whats a few 3, 7, 10?

They continue to underestimate numbers to avoid having to deal with "post recovery", and I suspect they will continune to do so for as long as they can.

 

Are you sure it wasn't a cougar that attacked your dog-we found a coyote track over there, so we are going to call your wolf killed calf a coyote kill-by the time we got to the cow there was nothing left but hide and hip bones-And BS continues...

[X-Force]

SO they are still not willing to admit that wolf recovery has actually surpassed target numbers. " It will be a few years"  Really.  whats a few 3, 7, 10?

They continue to underestimate numbers to avoid having to deal with "post recovery", and I suspect they will continune to do so for as long as they can.

That’s not how biologist work. The any biologist studying wolves will tell you 126 wolves... but probably more. They down work in “probably” they work in verifiable numbers. With 15 breeding pairs and a growth rate of 15% it will be 3-7 years. Unless WDFW has found more wolves south of I90 in their scat survey.

Look at GYE grizzly bear recovery. The acceptable grizzly count is probably half of the actual bear numbers. Then once the bears get off the ESA it’s all about litigation.

Either way you look at it wolves from an actual management position is a few years away.

[pianoman9701]

My lower colon is uncomfortable with the continued volume of smoke it receives regarding wolf "Management". If I lived and worked in NE WA, I would likely have my own management plan in effect.