New Wolf Article

[fishinmike]

US gray wolves rebound but face uncertain future
Loading... Share No Thanks Must Read?Thank YouYes     23 Email Story Print By JOHN FLESHER and MATTHEW BROWN, AP
27 minutes ago

 
In this February 2008 photo gray wolves howl at an exhibit area at the Inter...

 ATLANTA, Mich. — After devoting four decades and tens of millions of dollars to saving the gray wolf, the federal government wants to get out of the wolf-protection business, leaving it to individual states — and the wolves themselves — to determine the future of the legendary predator.

The gray wolf has recovered from near-extinction in the lower 48 states and now stands at a historical crossroads that could test both its reputation for resilience and the tolerance of ranchers and hunters who bemoan its attacks on livestock and big game.

Since being added to the federal endangered species list in 1974, the American wolf population has grown fivefold — to about 6,200 animals wandering parts of 10 states outside Alaska.

But the legal shield that made it a federal crime to gun down the wolves is being lifted in many areas — even though wolves have returned only to isolated pockets of the territory they once occupied, and increasing numbers are dying at the hands of hunters, wildlife agents and ranchers protecting livestock.

Wolves "are in the best position they've been in for the past 100 years," said David Mech, a senior scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey in St. Paul, Minn., and a leading wolf expert. The animals' long-term survival will "depend on how much wild land remains available, because wolves are not compatible with areas that are agricultural and have a lot of humans. There's just too much conflict."

Congress last spring canceled the animals' endangered status in five Western states. By the end of the year, the Obama administration plans to decide whether to lift protections in the upper Great Lakes region and in 29 Eastern states that presently have no wolves. Similar actions are planned for most remaining Western states and the Great Plains.

Since 1991, the federal government has spent $92.6 million on gray wolf recovery programs, and state agencies have chipped in $13.9 million, according to documents reviewed by the Associated Press.

"We are ready to declare success in those areas where wolves are now secure, turn over management responsibility to the states and begin to focus our limited resources on other species that are in trouble," said Gary Frazer, assistant director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species program.

In Montana and Idaho, where wolves can now be legally hunted and trapped, officials are seeking to sharply drive down wolf numbers this winter to curb attacks on farm animals and elk herds.

Some scientists and advocates say the hunts offer a preview of what will happen when the federal safeguards are lifted elsewhere. The government, they say, is giving up the recovery effort too soon, before packs can take hold in new areas. Vast, wild territories in the southern Rockies and Northeast are ripe for wolves but unoccupied.

"The habitat is there. The prey is there. Why not give them the chance?" said Chris Amato, New York's assistant commissioner for natural resources.

Federal officials are grappling with tight budgets and political pressure to expand hunting and prevent wolves from invading new turf. They insist the animals best known for their eerie howl, graceful lope and ruthless efficiency in slaughtering prey will get by on their own with help from state agencies.

The government still plans to nurture a fledgling Mexican gray wolf population in the desert Southwest. It's also weighing whether to expand protections for small numbers of the animals that have slipped into the Pacific Northwest from Canada.

However, there are no plans to promote their return elsewhere. Federal officials say it's not the government's job to return wolves to their previous range as long as the population is stable.

North America was once home to as many as a couple of million gray wolves, which are prolific breeders. But by the 1930s, fur traders, bounty hunters and government agents had poisoned, trapped and shot almost all wolves outside Canada and Alaska.

The surviving 1,200 were clustered in northern Minnesota in the 1970s. After the species was added to the endangered list, their numbers rocketed to nearly 3,000 in the state — and they gradually spread elsewhere.

Today, Wisconsin has about 782 wolves, Michigan 687 — far above what biologists said were sustainable populations.

The success story is hardly surprising in woodlands teeming with deer, said John Vucetich, a biologist at Michigan Tech University. But even in such an ideal setting, the wolves were able to return only when killing them became illegal.

"What do wolves need to survive?" Vucetich said. "They need forest cover, and they need prey. And they need not to be shot."

Shooting already is happening — legally or not — as adventurous wolves range into new regions such as Michigan's Lower Peninsula and the plains of eastern Montana.

Those sightings are unsettling to farmers because packs have killed thousands of livestock nationwide during their comeback.

If marauding wolves begin taking out livestock, people may quietly take matters into their own hands — "shoot, shovel and shut up," said Jim Baker, who raises 60 beef cattle near the village of Atlanta, Mich.

Wolves "could wipe me out in a couple of nights if they wanted," Baker said.

Since the late 1980s, more than 5,000 wolves have been killed legally, according to an AP review of state and federal records. Hundreds more have been killed illegally over the past two decades in the Northern Rockies alone.

Ranchers in some areas are allowed under federal law to shoot wolves to defend their livestock. In the northern Rockies, government wildlife agents have routinely shot wolves from aircraft in response to such attacks. Often that involves trapping a single wolf, fitting it with a radio collar and tracking it back to its den so the entire pack can be killed.

Biologists are confident that neither legal hunts nor poaching are likely to push wolves back to the brink of extinction.

Idaho has been the most aggressive in reducing wolf numbers, offering a 10-month hunting season that sets no limits. State officials say they intend to reduce the population from 750 to as few as 150 — the minimum the federal government says is needed in each Northern Rockies state to keep the animal off the endangered list.

Studies indicate plentiful habitat remains in other regions, including upstate New York, northern New England and the southern Rockies of Colorado and Utah. But experts say the Fish and Wildlife Service's plan would mean that any wolves wandering into those states could be shot on sight unless protected by state laws.

"Wolves, next to people, are one of the most adaptable animals in the world," said Ed Bangs, a former Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who led the effort to return wolves to the northern Rockies. "The key with wolves is, it's all about human tolerance."

___

Brown reported from Billings, Mont.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Loading... Share No Thanks Must Read?Thank YouYes     23 Email Story Print

[high country]

"Wolves "are in the best position they've been in for the past 100 years," said David Mech, a senior scientist with the U.S. GeologicalSurvey inSt.Paul,Minn.,anda leading wolf expert. The animals' long-term survivalwill"depend on how much wild land remains available, because wolves are not compatible with areas that are agricultural and have a lot of humans.There's justtoo muchconflict."

Laughable at best. How about the mica peak pack which was 3 miles out in the fields only a week ago and only 500yds from a home.

First degree horsechit.

[pianoman9701]

Makes me sick that people with a pen get published regardless of their content or substance.

[Holg3107]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45751709/ns/us_news-environment/

Saw this on MSN homepage this morning. Looks like its an update to this article. They are now going to lift the endangered species title in the great lakes area. 

[pianoman9701]

6,000 wolves will be killed in Alberta to make their population healthy there and to stop the devastation of the ungulates and domestic animals.

This article appeals to the emotions of the ignorant and will eventually hurt the animals that the author seeks to help. He states in the article that Idaho, with an estimated population of 750 wolves, will seek to cull up to 600 per year. What he has neglected to say is that as of the 19th of this month, only 166 wolves have been killed there. And, many in Idaho feel that the population is far greater than 750, by as much as two or three times. Idaho, MT, WY, OR, and WA are headed for uncontrolled wolf population explosions which will lead to the destruction of ungulates and wolves alike

Where we have failed as hunters, and our WDFW and USFWS have failed is in getting accurate information to the people about intelligent, science-based wolf information and management. The state and federal officials, in deference to and because of intimidation by the wolf advocate organizations, have not told the public the truth about humane wolf management. If we as hunters do not share the burden by becoming educated and addressing the concerns of an emotional and largely wolf-fact-ignorant public, no one will. It is imperative that all of us concerned hunters and conservationists learn the science, facts, and figures of wolf management, both from a historical and a forward-looking perspective if we expect to convince others that the present plans for wolf recovery spell folly for all of our wildlife, wolves included.

[Holg3107]

I couldnt agree more Pianoman. Hopefully the harvest numbers climb in Idaho as the herds begin to congregate into their wintering ranges and big game hunters have time to really focus on hunting wolves. I think that this hunting season has shown how challenging it is going to be to control the wolf population by methods of hunting and trapping, and that the DFW is going to have to look at other means in the near future.

[Mike450r]

"Wolves "are in the best position they've been in for the past 100 years," said David Mech, a senior scientist with the U.S. GeologicalSurvey inSt.Paul,Minn.,anda leading wolf expert. The animals' long-term survivalwill"depend on how much wild land remains available, because wolves are not compatible with areas that are agricultural and have a lot of humans.There's justtoo muchconflict."

Laughable at best. How about the mica peak pack which was 3 miles out in the fields only a week ago and only 500yds from a home.

First degree horsechit.

I don't believe he is saying wolves can't be in agricultural areas or areas with a lot of humans,  I think he is saying the conflict would be too great for the wolves to survive.  Meaning, if they end up in our yards and fields we will kill them.  And in my case he is right.

[high country]

Tough to find areas of higher coyote density than farm country. If a coyote can make a living out there so must the wolf be able to. We all know they only eat mice and grasshoppers.

[asl20bball]

... I think that this hunting season has shown how challenging it is going to be to control the wolf population by methods of hunting and trapping, and that the DFW is going to have to look at other means in the near future.

I believe something like 30k wolf tags were sold yet only apprx 200 wolves harvested. Also, if back in the early 1900's the Federal government had to poison the wolves b/c hunting and trapping wasn't working what does that tell you about how difficult wolves are/will be to manage through hunting. Oh, and God bless Idaho for going airborne!

[seth30]

Regardless of what we will be able to legally do with wolves, the populaiton will be out of control.  Looks like they are a very hard item to harvest. 

[400out]

government wildlife agents have routinely shot wolves from aircraft in response to such attacks. Often that involves trapping a single wolf, fitting it with a radio collar and tracking it back to its den so the entire pack can be killed.

 :tup:now that's the hunting that should be done!

[Johnb317]

Let's see  after the wolves eat the ungulates.... what's next?

Hopefully they eat a few tree huggers...   

too harsh?

[high country]

It kills me that Idaho is only 60 miles wide and they can kill wolves 2 miles from me....the same wolves that are at my place ten minutes earlier.