wolf #'s down in Yellowstone

[Shootmoore]

sounds like it is time for a new job 

4 more years and I am out of here I hope. 

[whacker1]

2014 election has you running against Maria Cantwell?

[Shootmoore]

2014 election has you running against Maria Cantwell?

Now thats funny right there, I would never get elected to a political position for two reasons.  #1 I'm not a pretty man.  #2 I am to honest, and tell it like I see it.  It gets me in trouble more often than not.  For sure I would never have a chance against someone who can tell it like "you" see it to get elected.

Shootmoore

[bearpaw]

That is the wrench in the comparison there 101.  Comparison of the Alaskan habitat area vs what we have here in Washington.  The prey as well as the wolf population has a greater area to spread out to allow for recoupment of the prey species.  Here in Washington State with the limited habitat available due to population numbers, it is kind of like fish in the barrel for the wolves.  The wolf and the deer and elk MUST share the same limited area.  Where in Alaska there is room for the game animals to avoid the wolf packs, here there is only so much habitat.  I would argue the same thing applies to Canada.  There is just much much more prime habitat for the prey species to spread out to avoid the wolves.

Here in Washington State, especially on the east side of the state, there is only so many wintering area's available for the deer and elk.  With the numbers of wolves that are wanted, there will be enough wolf packs to cover all of those area's.  You will either have predation by wolves or the wolves will drive the deer and elk to less quality wintering grounds causing a higher rate of winter kill.

Think about 15 breeding pairs of wolves in Washington, then think about the elk feeding stations.  Any bets that the wolves WILL be around the feed stations in the winter once they get established in sufficient numbers.  Basically what you will have is an end of elk feeding programs.  Now you will not only have predation reduction in the elk herds, but winter kill from lack of winter range.  It's a downhill spiral either way you look at it.

Thanks for the discussion, I enjoy it but I am beginning to ramble off the topic.  

Very good comment shootwell, I agree for the most part, but will add that if there are 15 confirmed breeding pairs, there are most likely at least double that number of breeding pairs actually on the ground. Right now WDFW claims there is 1 pack in NE WA in Pend Orielle county, but there are additional packs in NE WA that WDFW has not confirmed yet, and quite a few people in this area know it because of the wolves being seen in different areas. There's at least 1 pack if not 2 in southern Stevens County and 1 pack in northern Stevens County with pups seen multiple times this year.

According to folks in other areas, there are wolves in the blues now, and there are at least 2 or 3 packs in the Methow instead of the 1 claimed breeding pair.

[wolfbait]

In Washington and other states the wolves will put the game herds in an animal pit, which means they will kill so many that they will never be able to recover. Washington unlike Alaska has much more livestock for the wolves to kill before they start to stabilize. Even with the minority plan, at the rate the wolf packs are being confirmed we will hit over population in a short period of time. I think eventually the wolves will be put on the shoot on sight status, but not until they have ruined hunting or have become a serious threat to people.

[jackelope]

Or will wolves just move farther, which explains why the wolves are showing up in WA, OR, and CO.

you gonna try and convince wolfbait of that theory?