5th Wolf Pack, Pup tagged by WDFW

[bearpaw]

Smackout Pack Confirmed, Pup Caught by WDFW

Talked to a local rancher this weekend who brought me up to date on this pack that hasn't been released to the media yet. My son and I have been watching and reporting about the wolves in GMU 111 there were two groups all winter using the same areas in the unit. One group of two stayed just above Ione on the east side, the other group which had 4 adults last winter lives near Smackout Meadows on the west side of Smackout Pass. My son has had them howl back before, but they have not answered back when I have been there.

(Last year another local person got a trailcam picture of a black wolf just a few miles from this same area.)

We had warned a local rancher who runs cattle in the area that we were seeing tracks and so he has been watching closely. In June he just started putting his cattle out on pasture, recently he and his wife were repairing fence because his cattle have been run through fences several times during June, they heard a wolf howl a ways off in the woods, so (not really expecting anything to happen) he howls at the wolf, within seconds the wolf howls back and its closer, it howls a couple more times as it comes closer, within a few minutes they can hear the wolf moving in the brush within yards of them, they jumped in their rig and got the **** out of there.

There is a spot my son had said looked like an area the wolves would like to den above the meadows. He is extremely familiar with wolves having lived around them in central Idaho. The rancher told me he has heard at least two different wolves howling together right in there this summer. So he and his son rode in looking for the wolves. They had a wolf circling and barking at them as they rode through, they also spotted three pups in the area.

The rancher called the WDFW who pulled a trapper out of the selkirk area to come monitor these wolves. So far the trapper has caught, took dna, tagged one pup, and released it. He couldn't put a collar on the pup as it was too small for a collar.

So far the ranchers cattle have been run through several fences and spend most of their time grouped up in the meadows rather than spreading out like normal. I told him the wolves are prey testing his cattle and he knows it too. I also told him that I was afraid he may be the next rancher in the news with wolf losses, he knows that too.

I have to commend the rancher for trying to do everything the right way. The only things he expects in return is that WDFW properly document these wolves, comes up with a reasonable management plan, that his cattle can be protected, and that his losses are recoverable.

WDFW now has proof this pack exists, they are trying to catch more of the wolves, and they have trailcams out, this will be interesting to see how long it is before the WDFW releases info about this now "confirmed" wolf pack to the public. I also wonder how many more packs around the state they know about, but are not releasing the info to the public.

I added the 3 pups into our wolf tally which is now at 92 estimated wolves in Washington.

[whacker1]

Thanks

[Axle]

The only things he expects in return is that WDFW properly document these wolves, comes up with a reasonable management plan, that his cattle can be protected, and that his losses are recoverable.

Ya right! And What dream land is he living in?

[danderson]

Shouldnt that information be provided to the public, after all they work for us, or do they. I dont care if its confirmed or not, I want to know how many wolf packs are in washington state, my god who do they think they are anyway the CIA.

[Goomsba]

 

Sure would be nice to know, but it'll never happen.

[denali]

Thanks Bearpaw , this will be interesting to watch

[NWBREW]

That's good to know Dale. I have several trailcams out but I haven't gone back to check them since May28th. I have spent a lot of time up Smackout from the west side. When you are talking about Smackout meadows are you talking about the big fields where the ranchers bring their cattle down too before winter?

[CedarPants]

Good info and hats off to the rancher for doing things the right way.  Thanks for sharing

[bearpaw]

That's good to know Dale. I have several trailcams out but I haven't gone back to check them since May28th. I have spent a lot of time up Smackout from the west side. When you are talking about Smackout meadows are you talking about the big fields where the ranchers bring their cattle down too before winter?

Yes, from a little below the meadows to the top of the pass is where we have seen a lot of tracks. The trailcam photo of the black wolf was taken just to the north a couple miles. The wolf that came to the rancher when he howled was right at the meadows. This last winter there were 4 wolves hunting together in that general area and another two wolves hunting together over by Ione.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I'd heard that the trapper was working over around Smackout, hopefully he gets an adult to put a collar on. 

Wolves are not much good at hiding, hopefully we can continue getting reports to DFW and continue to get good repsonse from them.  I'm encouraged that their new trapper is doing so well and spending some real time out in the woods.

[Machias]

That area used to be a favorite for houndsmen hunting lions in the winter.

[bearpaw]

I'd heard that the trapper was working over around Smackout, hopefully he gets an adult to put a collar on. 

Wolves are not much good at hiding, hopefully we can continue getting reports to DFW and continue to get good repsonse from them.  I'm encouraged that their new trapper is doing so well and spending some real time out in the woods.

My rancher friend likes the trapper, he said the guy will talk about wolves and what he is finding, he is camped right there. Those are definitely the kind of people WDFW needs to build more trust with the public regarding the wolf issue. 

[StacyDave97]

Well, this should be an interesting couple of years for hunting then.  I was walking Rocky Creek Rd. a year ago in June and came across 2 wolves - haven't seen any since then.  But interestingly enough we have several pictures of elk on our game cams from June.  We've had our game cams out for the last 3 years, pretty much year round and that is the first time we've ever had elk on them.  They are moving for a reason...dont ya think?

[mulehunter]

Thanks for post.  ITS Spreading fast.

Mulehunter.

[jackelope]

Any more on this?