Rumor: Spokane Tribe Confirms 4 wolves with DNA samples

[bearpaw]

An unnamed source has notified me that the Spokane Tribe has confirmed that at least 4 wolves are living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The story is that the tribe sent in DNA samples which have been confirmed to be 1 female and 3 males. I expect this story will be officially released by the tribe soon.

This really isn't a suprise, numerous H-W members as well as many local residents have reported sightings in the Hunters and Springdale area over the last couple years.

[woodywsu]

I heard rumors that the tribes were taking care of the "new" species. Maybe thats how they got the DNA samples.

[400out]

Now do they get to hunt them! Or is it the same as bald eagles? Sure would be nice if they claimed it was part of their heritage and ceremonial attire. I know it was cuz they shot two socks in the movie! Oh wait that was the army 

[bearpaw]

I am pretty sure they would need to come up with a wolf plan and get it approved by the USFWS before they could hunt them.

[buckfvr]

I am pretty sure they would need to come up with a wolf plan and get it approved by the USFWS before they could hunt them.

Yep, that would be the politically correct way of doing it if thats how you went about your business.....I dont think the natives scare as easy as we do......

[GrainfedMuley]

I hunt just accross the river from the very most southern part of the reservation. Just last year I started a thread about wolves in Lincoln County. I have talked to some locals around the area and they have seen wolves on the south side of the river. A lady that my family has known her famliy for generations, that I talked to,  has seen them in her backyard.

[jackmaster]

get on with your bad self spokane tribe, whack all them sons a beeyatchs, piss on the wolf plan, sounds like you guys got the best plan possible already, keep sendin in those DNA samples   

[boneaddict]

I've talked to several guys that are packing just for such sightings.  Most of them are Covilles commuting over Blue Creek, but I doubt they care.

[Special T]

I guess tribal members and the Citizens of WY are cut from the same cloth... The both tell the Feds to pack sand!

[boneaddict]

It seems like Wyoming had the right idea from the beginning.   LOVE IT.   I'll be the first to admit I thought they were crazy.   I'm glad it worked out for them.  They took a stand. 

[Special T]

So how would this work in reality? Would a tribe collar like 4 wolves, say they are a breeding pair, then shoot anything without a collar?

[BuckNAze]

Tribes are soverign nations, we are allowed to make our own games laws as long as the species isn't federally protected, if they make a hunting season for them then they will be allowed to hunt them. Same goes for us across the river. Although our tribe works along side with the state ultimately we can make our own decisions if we want to hunt wolves or not. Our management plan is for one breeding pair, as long as one breeding pair for the "North Half".

[Special T]

Thankyou for commenting BuckNAze. So if you are required to have 1 BP per area, how are you able to limit it to 1 BP? I would guess this is a where the rubber meets the road kind of question...
Lets just take this as a hypothetical. Tribe opens a season up on wolves. How does it keep from "Over harvesting" wolves so that there can be a perpetual season on them? Since the feds seem to require a ridiculous amount of proof that there are wolves present it would seem like some kind of Florescent orange collar, ear tag something would be the "Documented" pack and everything else would be open season. Just a thought. 

[luvtohnt]

Wolves are not federally protected in the easter 1/3 of Washington, so are they legal for the Colville's to hunt?

Brandon

[Special T]

So what does that mean Luvtohnt? Everything E of Hwy 97 is open for tribal members?