WDFW Wolf Information Page?

[haus]

Just curious how the rest of you interpret the overall message of this page:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/management/gray_wolf/wolf_wildlife.html

Wolves are expected to inhabit areas with healthy populations of their main ungulate prey -- elk, deer, and moose.
These areas already support other wild predators and recreational hunting, so behavioral changes are expected for all species to compete.
Elk populations in other states with wolves (ID, MT, WY) have mostly remained stable, although some have declined in a few areas where wolves were one of several mortality factors.
Based on other states’ experiences with wolves, Washington might expect 200 wolves to take up to 2,520 elk and 4,180 deer per year (recreational hunters currently average 7,390 elk and 38,100 deer per year.)
After wolves are delisted, if research determines wolf predation is a limiting factor for at-risk ungulate populations, non-lethal or lethal control of wolves could be considered.
Wolf interactions with other carnivores, like coyotes, may shift some species populations in Washington but probably not significantly.

Other wildlife may benefit from wolves, either directly as with scavengers on kills, or indirectly with whole ecosystem responses to wolf presence over time.

What are your opinions? Do you view this is a balanced set of highlighted points about wolves in WA? In your opinions what kind of message is this page sending? etc etc.

[wolfbait]

Once you realize that WDFW is being run by DoW you won't have any trouble understanding why they lie to the public. As you know wolves in all three states mentioned have slaughtered the hell out of the game herds, the only herds that are doing well are the ones that the wolves have not gotten to yet. Personally I think Washington already has well over two hundred wolves and more are being released every year, it won't take to long and many of you will realize to late that Washington went to the wolves. Here in the Methow we use to have way to many coyotes now we hardly every see any. Look at the language in Washingtons wolf plan, it is lined with the same BS. Don't expect WDFW to manage anything but the wolves in the future, hunting rules will change as the game herds disappear into wolf chit, and we will pay more to hunt less. For the fans it sounds like the wolves will not have to much of an impact but as a hunter who has seen what the wolves have already done in the Methow, with just
five wolves. I see a different side. WDFW lie about how many wolves Washington has and fail to confirm known wolf packs.

[villageidiot]

It's pretty clear whoever wrote this article never even bothered to look at the statistics that their own people put out.  The elk in Yellowstone have been depleted by around 75%, sheep way down and they reported that the moose are practically non existant.  How can anybody possibly report that the populations are remaining stable.  I guess you could say that after the populations have now been almost depleted they are remaining stable at zero or close to it.  No mention in the report of how many livestock were killed the last year.  The one confirmed pack in Oregon has already killed 9 calves this spring.  Getting off to a great start with the cattlemen.  I do remember without looking it up again that Montana (could of been Idaho) the govt. folks killed 272 wolves that were repeat livestock killers last year alone.  These folks need to go read the stats for themselves from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming before they start spouting out info. but then I guess the Defenders of Wildlife are paying you then you saywhat they want. 

[Little Dave]

I interpret the message as a collection of published statements to present the least optimistic outcome that might be acceptable to a majority of the readers.

The statement by these selections implies some known problems but leaves this as an excercise to the reader.  I have taken the liberty of editing the same phrases:

Wolves are expected to inhabit areas with healthy populations of their main ungulate prey -- elk, deer, and moose, and then move on to sheep and cattle when wild game is depleted.
These areas already support other wild predators and recreational hunting, so behavioral changes are expected for all species to compete during the "Prohibition of Management" phase.
Elk populations in other states with wolves (ID, MT, WY) have mostly remained stable, although some have declined in a few large areas where wolves were one of several mortality factors, the primary factor.
Based on other states’ experiences with wolves, Washington might expect 200 wolves to take up to 2,520 elk and 4,180 deer per year (recreational hunters currently average 7,390 elk and 38,100 deer per year.  Yet they contribute to all four primary income streams to the department, so a 33% loss in hunting opportunity may significantly impact both game and non-game species programs.)

After wolves are delisted, if research determines wolf predation is a limiting factor for at-risk ungulate populations, non-lethal or lethal control of wolves could be considered if the conference room wasn't already reserved for Jim's vacation picture slide show.
Wolf interactions with other carnivores, like coyotes, may shift some species populations in Washington but probably not significantly.  To summarize, we're really not sure what will happen.

Other wildlife may benefit from wolves, either directly as with scavengers on kills and intestinal parasites, or indirectly with whole ecosystem responses to wolf presence over time like completely still silence except for the jets passing overhead.

[wolfbait]

Well said, good clarification! L.Dave

[h2ofowlr]

Too bad the hunters couldn't come together and say enough is enough and start a wolf euthanizing program.