Possible wolf attack.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Hybrid wolves tend not to last as a wild pack.  They just can't survive like a true wild wolf can.  There are surely a few around the state, but I don't think they're all that common.

[pianoman9701]

Yeh that

those puppy mill lab *censored*szu  mixes are super dangerous!!!!!

How about that gal that was stalked and killed by wolves in Alaska last year while jogging?

The woman was a Finnish/German hybrid, therefor inviting the attack. Wolves naturally eliminate mixed breeds from the wild. And, she was probably sick because they only prey on the sick and injured.

[grundy53]

Hybrid wolves tend not to last as a wild pack.  They just can't survive like a true wild wolf can.  There are surely a few around the state, but I don't think they're all that common.

If they are not that common why does the state blame most encounters/ livestock predation on them?

[WAcoyotehunter]

Hybrid wolves tend not to last as a wild pack.  They just can't survive like a true wild wolf can.  There are surely a few around the state, but I don't think they're all that common.

If they are not that common why does the state blame most encounters/ livestock predation on them?

Good question.   I don't know.  To be honest, I don't know if they do blame many attacks on them.  I'm sure more livetsock and poeple are attacked by dogs every year, but there's a lot more of them and they're in close proximity to livestock and people.  I'm sure the WDFW sees quite a few BS cases of "wolf attacks" that were cuts from fences or dogs. 

[grundy53]

Hybrid wolves tend not to last as a wild pack.  They just can't survive like a true wild wolf can.  There are surely a few around the state, but I don't think they're all that common.

If they are not that common why does the state blame most encounters/ livestock predation on them?

Good question.   I don't know.  To be honest, I don't know if they do blame many attacks on them.  I'm sure more livetsock and poeple are attacked by dogs every year, but there's a lot more of them and they're in close proximity to livestock and people.  I'm sure the WDFW sees quite a few BS cases of "wolf attacks" that were cuts from fences or dogs.

I agree. It just frustrates me because that's usually their first responce... "it was probably hybrids". They absolutely do not want to admit it could be wolves...

[WAcoyotehunter]

With all the wolf hysteria I suspect they're afaid of even mentioning the possibility.  You know full well that if they said it was a possibility anyone in earshot would be at the coffee shop the next morning preaching it as gospel.  Sad but true, people are crazy about wolves right now and the WDFW is smart not to open that conversation unless they're pretty sure it's a wolf depredation.

[grundy53]

With all the wolf hysteria I suspect they're afaid of even mentioning the possibility.  You know full well that if they said it was a possibility anyone in earshot would be at the coffee shop the next morning preaching it as gospel.  Sad but true, people are crazy about wolves right now and the WDFW is smart not to open that conversation unless they're pretty sure it's a wolf depredation.

I would agree except they are doing the same thing with wolf sightings. Which is counter productive to getting them accurately counted. If I report a sighting they say it was probably a hybrid. Instead of sending someone to investigate and possibly confirm.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I have only reported a few tracks and one howling response and they were pretty good about those times.  I think some agents are better than others and I know they have been getting bombed with sightings that are VERY unlikely.  If you feel like you have a sighting that is a sure thing you should be more persistant, if WDFW does not respond take a forest service, BIA, BLM, DNR...bio out with you. 

[buckfvr]

Their first course of action is if at all possible....discredit the report, hence hybrid......

[docsven]

Did i say wolves weren't aggressive? No.

As I've stated before, domestic dogs are far more people aggressive than wolves are. It's not either one gene thats the cause, it both of them mixing together. Your not getting a domesticated wolf with the animals. Hybrids are something that should have never existed.

There are wolf and wolf hybrid puppy mills in Washington and Idaho in area's where it is not illegal to do so. So yes, it is actually a huge problem.

How do you think we ended up with domestic dogs if there were not supposed to be hybrids (you said that they never should have existed)?  I have had a hybrid before.  He was nothing like you describe.

[bearpaw]

I didn't read all that was written just the first couple posts.

Here's my experience at reporting a wolf sighting to WDFW:

A neighbor who lives 2 or 3 miles away heard a loud commotion in his backyard. He went out to see what was happening and wolves were circling his kennel of german shepards trying to attack them. He ran into the house and came back out, now there were five adult wolves trying to attack his german shepards, he was afraid the wolves were going to go over the top of the keenel fencing so he fired shots in the air to scare them off. As soon as he started shooting the wolves took off.

I went to school with this guy and he has lived in this area his entire life. His dad was a principal in our local scool system for years. He has seen deer, bear, cougar, moose, and countless coyotes on his property which is at the base of a large mountain area. I beleive everything the guy told me and there is no doubt in my mind that he saw 5 wolves or wolf hybrids. I asked him if I could report the incident and he agreed.

I notified WDFW and in a day or two recieved a less than pleasant phone call from the Region 1 manager, telling me they were coyotes before the investigation was even complete. He also went on to chew me out for copying the information to my legislators. I lost all respect for that man and will publicly tell him that to his face when I get the chance. For his superiors in Olympia, if you even care, his name is Steve Pozzanghera, I suggest you send him to a customer service class and tell him to show the public a little more respect.

I have spent a fair amount of time outdoors and have never seen or heard of 5 adult coyotes traveling together in the summer time, much less attacking german shepards who weight 3 to 4 times as much as most coyotes. I told that to Pozzanghera and he had no reply.

That is the current situation in WDFW, at least some of their personel have been covering up all the wolf sightings they can. Only due to the outcry of citizens and the transfer of wolf management to the wildlife management department is there finally some effort to document sightings.

I hope the lady in Tonasket has a much more pleasant experience with the WDFW.

[bearpaw]

I should add, there are no neighbors in our area with wolf hybrids and I had two other reports of 5 adults wolves seen together in a pack just east of Colville last year.

[Special T]

BP your story combineded with the WDFW's contradiction of what constitutes evidence is why many have 0 Faith in the WDFW. THEY require DNA proof from US to prove its a wolf, but THEY get to say its a Hybrid with NO factual support. I distrust anyone with that kind of double standard... There may be individuals that are honest trying to manage this problem. The SYSTEM however is corrupt. 

[PlateauNDN]

Did i say wolves weren't aggressive? No.

As I've stated before, domestic dogs are far more people aggressive than wolves are. It's not either one gene thats the cause, it both of them mixing together. Your not getting a domesticated wolf with the animals. Hybrids are something that should have never existed.

There are wolf and wolf hybrid puppy mills in Washington and Idaho in area's where it is not illegal to do so. So yes, it is actually a huge problem.

How do you think we ended up with domestic dogs if there were not supposed to be hybrids (you said that they never should have existed)?  I have had a hybrid before.  He was nothing like you describe.

I had a lot of relatives that had hybrids and they were some of the best watch dogs and friendly as heck if they were familiar with you.  I noticed since the wolves have started to become evident in this State from an OFFICIAL stand point the price for "hybrid" pups has skyrocketed and they've started to increase in numbers in this area, I don't know about other areas?  

Sounds like assumptions and EDUCATED-GUESSES to me as far as the temperament of the animals.  If they are all hybrids then why not allow for the culling of them then?

[DoubleJ]

I didn't read all that was written just the first couple posts.

Here's my experience at reporting a wolf sighting to WDFW:

A neighbor who lives 2 or 3 miles away heard a loud commotion in his backyard. He went out to see what was happening and wolves were circling his kennel of german shepards trying to attack them. He ran into the house and came back out, now there were five adult wolves trying to attack his german shepards, he was afraid the wolves were going to go over the top of the keenel fencing so he fired shots in the air to scare them off. As soon as he started shooting the wolves took off.

I went to school with this guy and he has lived in this area his entire life. His dad was a principal in our local scool system for years. He has seen deer, bear, cougar, moose, and countless coyotes on his property which is at the base of a large mountain area. I beleive everything the guy told me and there is no doubt in my mind that he saw 5 wolves or wolf hybrids. I asked him if I could report the incident and he agreed.

I notified WDFW and in a day or two recieved a less than pleasant phone call from the Region 1 manager, telling me they were coyotes before the investigation was even complete. He also went on to chew me out for copying the information to my legislators. I lost all respect for that man and will publicly tell him that to his face when I get the chance. For his superiors in Olympia, if you even care, his name is Steve Pozzanghera, I suggest you send him to a customer service class and tell him to show the public a little more respect.

I have spent a fair amount of time outdoors and have never seen or heard of 5 adult coyotes traveling together in the summer time, much less attacking german shepards who weight 3 to 4 times as much as most coyotes. I told that to Pozzanghera and he had no reply.

That is the current situation in WDFW, at least some of their personel have been covering up all the wolf sightings they can. Only due to the outcry of citizens and the transfer of wolf management to the wildlife management department is there finally some effort to document sightings.

I hope the lady in Tonasket has a much more pleasant experience with the WDFW.

Question for those in the know.  You report wolf sightings on your property 3-4 times, with an incident like this, another time maybe it's tracks or a blurry trail cam pic, and they are sworn off as coyotes or hybrids everytime.  The next time it happens, you say "F it" and shoot one or 2 of those Coyote/hybrids before the rest scatter.  Then you call the authorities and they find out it was actually a wolf.  Will you get into trouble?