Post by: jager on January 10, 2012, 04:41:31 AM
Washington state wildlife officials said they’re willing to train Stevens County sheriff’s deputies on how to identify livestock that has been killed by wolves.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers will be the lead investigators but additional trained eyes at the scene can only help, said Bruce Bjork, the agency’s chief of enforcement.
“We’ll certainly take whatever assistance we can get from the county, whether that’s initial response when a call comes in to assistance at the scene,” he said. “We’re going to try to work as jointly as possible with the counties.”
Stevens County Sheriff Kendle Allen has proposed forming his own investigative team for livestock predation. He’s basing the concept on Wallowa County, Ore., where sheriff’s deputies investigate suspected wolf kills alongside state wildlife officials.
The Wallowa County sheriff’s department got involved because local ranchers distrusted Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife agents, Allen said.
In Wallowa County, “the sheriff is used like a second opinion, and that’s what we’re looking at here,” he said. “If we do have a suspected wolf kill, we’ll have deputies trained to go out and look at remains, the tracks and investigate it.”
Allen said a county investigation team would uphold “the rights of our local cattlemen and property owners … and if they have some type of restitution coming, make sure they have every chance of collecting it.”
Washington has had only one confirmed wolf killing of livestock – the 2007 death of a calf near Laurier, a community in northern Stevens County. But Northeast Washington is home to three known wolf packs – the largest concentration in the state.
At a recent Washington Cattlemen’s meeting in Colville, several ranchers said they had lost cattle on their Forest Service grazing allotments and suspected wolves as the culprits. Ranchers can be compensated for livestock killed by wolves. But under state law, the Department of Fish and Wildlife must first confirm a wolf kill.
An animal’s cause of death isn’t always obvious, which is why forensic training is necessary, said Nate Pamplin, assistant director for WDFW’s wildlife program.
Last August, wolves were suspected in the killing of a sheep on a Forest Service allotment within the home-range of Central Washington’s Teanaway pack. But an investigation later determined that the sheep was killed by a cougar before being scavenged by wolves.
“It really requires that an individual has experience looking at different carcasses and at different biological factors,” Pamplin said. “Is there hemorrhaging that would indicate the animal was killed by a predator? Or was it just bite marks on a dead carcass?”
Several dozen WDFW law enforcement officers and biologists have been trained to assess livestock carcasses. In March, they’ll get a refresher course from a former USDA Wildlife Services agent who’s a national expert on predation, Pamplin said.
In Stevens County, heavily forested grazing areas prevent ranchers from finding wolf kills, said Don Dashiell, a county commissioner and rancher. The only evidence that livestock owners might have is fewer cows. “You’re never able to find the carcasses and bones,” Dashiell said.
He’d like to see ranch records on livestock losses accepted as criteria for compensation.
State officials acknowledged that some livestock carcasses won’t be found, so they offered one of the West’s most liberal compensation packages, Pamplin said. On large ranches, livestock owners will receive twice the animal’s value for each confirmed wolf kill. Under state statute, cows and horses are valued at $1,500 each. Sheep are valued $200.
“We’re trying to account for the unknown factor, that maybe other (livestock) losses could be attributed to wolves,” Pamplin said.
Post by: DoubleJ on January 10, 2012, 06:51:00 AM
Post by: bearpaw on January 10, 2012, 06:52:15 AM
Stevens county is a prime example of what Washington is in for. Most of the county is checker boarded with private ranches and grazing occurs county wide. This simply is not good wolf country.
Post by: boneaddict on January 10, 2012, 06:55:10 AM
Post by: jackmaster on January 10, 2012, 07:02:59 AM
Post by: danderson on January 10, 2012, 07:08:35 AM
Post by: high country on January 10, 2012, 07:15:51 AM
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on January 10, 2012, 07:17:42 AM
It might be useful for a few of us to volunteer to help with that effort. I have already shown interest and will plan on hiking in to take a look whenever I can.
Post by: high country on January 10, 2012, 07:21:07 AM
Post by: bearpaw on January 10, 2012, 07:30:43 AM
In GMU 105 there have been wolves for several years since before that first confirmed kill in 2007. In 2010 there were 5 pups seen by many different people in numerous locations on the east side of 105. Now wolves are being spotted on a pretty regular basis all around 105. This summer a dump truck driver we know broke down up in the west side, he had at least 4 wolves close around him that were howling at him. Many other residents report seeing wolves. Numerous members on this forum have also reported seeing or hearing wolves in 105.
In GMU 111 we have been seeing wolf tracks for a couple years. There was a pack of at least 4 maybe 5 adult wolves all winter 2010/2011 on Smackout. This spring 2011 WDFW has confirmed there are two adult wolves with 3 pups on Smackout. Also this summer my neighbor had 5 adult wolves in his backyard trying to attack his german shepherds in their 6 ft high kennel. He fired shots in the air to chase them off. Another neighbor here on the south end of GMU 11 saw a pack of adult wolves later this last summer. I also had a report of a pack of wolves up north between Ione and Metaline. (that's GMU 111 but in pend orielle county)
GMU 121 has a pack of hybrids that was realeased in the north end of the unit on the Orin/Rice summit by a previous resident, when he moved out of the area he turned them all loose. On the south end of the county there are many reports of wolves and the hybrids do not wander far from their original home. It is beleived the wolves in southern 121 near Hunters/Springdale are wild wolves.
In GMU 117 a bull elk was killed in a logging road be a pack of at least 4 or 5 wolves a couple years ago. I have seen tracks in this unit myself for many years. This pack doesn't seem to grow much.
A rancher we know saw two wolves together in GMU 108. My son who has been around a lot of wolves in central Idaho saw a wolf in 108. It is very possible these wolves in 108 are some of the wolves in 111. But the wolves in 105 are across the Columbia River and the wolves in 117 and 121 are much farther south. I doubt any of those wolves are the same wolves as spotted in any other units.
Post by: bearpaw on January 10, 2012, 07:33:33 AM
Perhaps sitka blacktail will dress like a cow and get some video footage.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: LMAO
Post by: spookgus on January 10, 2012, 08:25:41 AM
"Yes Sir your livestock was eaten by wolves but your livestock was killed by a mountain lion, coyotes, stray bullets, contrails, lightning, etc."
Post by: Elkslayer on January 10, 2012, 08:54:20 AM
conservation northwest if funding a couple collars and will be sending volunteers into the woods to locate kill sites and determine what the wolves are eating. It's an outreach program to the ranchers to help them know if the wolves are working on the cattle herds.
It might be useful for a few of us to volunteer to help with that effort. I have already shown interest and will plan on hiking in to take a look whenever I can.
Is there any information on this? I would be interested in helping out as well.
Post by: bearpaw on January 10, 2012, 09:05:57 AM
How can the Sheriffs Dept be a second opinion to the Dept of Wildlife, when the Dept of Wildlife will train the Sheriffs on what to perceive as a wolf kill?
"Yes Sir your livestock was eaten by wolves but your livestock was killed by a mountain lion, coyotes, stray bullets, contrails, lightning, etc."
I would believe the local sherrif more than some of the wildllife folks. Let me say, there are also some people in wildlife who are completely honest and beleivable too. The problem is that too many Defender's people are working in WDFW and nobody trusts any of them. Some of the people on this forum know a few specific people that may fit into that category.
The sherriff deputies could be trained to investigate for tracks, scat, and any other sign. You can skin areas with bites and there are patterns to teeth you can look for and whether the bite marks show trauma (bleeding, bloodshot around the teeth marks). If an animal is already dead, there won't be trauma around the teeth marks. The method at which an animal is eaten explains a lot too. Wolves feed much differently than cougar do.
This is actually a good move for WDFW to get other agencies involved. Somehow we have to move this wolf issue into the next stages and start confirming wolves and any damage by wolves, this is a step in the right direction. :twocents:
Another thing, I beleive WDFW should be asking citizens for more help. :twocents:
WaCoyote is suggesting a good thing......
Post by: Special T on January 10, 2012, 10:01:58 AM
If i were the one with a wolf spreading adjenda I would offer up this little piece of "cooperation" where there is the most noise. the last think I would want is to have neighboring counties get out in front of this. How would i be able to hide numbers until its too late?
If i lived in the Okanogan, as i know many member on here do, I would push VERY hard for thier sherrifs to get the same training. :twocents:
Post by: spookgus on January 10, 2012, 10:43:37 AM
It seems interesting that Washington has only confirmed livestock predation by wolves once(2007) according to this article. The wolf issue and many other issues are making me just a little bit cynical.
Post by: CAMPMEAT on January 10, 2012, 10:44:44 AM
Post by: high country on January 10, 2012, 07:46:25 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on January 11, 2012, 07:18:14 AM
I have a better idea yet, let landowners shoot any wolves that show up on their ground. Soon enough the wolves will figure out where is friendly and where is not.
That should be going on anyway
Post by: h2ofowlr on January 11, 2012, 07:27:23 AM
I thought it was only 4 or 5. :chuckle: NOT really funny I know.
The game dept. doesn't have enough staff to track all the wolves. Only when they get multiple shots / hair DNA samples etc. do they reluctantly determine there is a pack there. I think they are reporting false info by not reporting 100% accurate info. They may claim it's the truth, but they are only giving you part of the truth. If you flat out tell the hunting public, there are a 100+ wolves in Washington. After all the damage that is being done in Idaha, Montana and Wyoming, the smarter half might just try to fix stupid and cull those numbers. If you start with corrupt individuals and officials and a bad plan. Then they have the money, elbow rubbing and back door tactics and the contacts to make it law, shouldn't those individuals be held accountable for the misdeeds they cause to the greater public as a whole?
Post by: villageidiot on January 11, 2012, 08:48:30 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on January 11, 2012, 05:46:06 PM
The feds and the state may step up but way late, years if not decades.
Sorry for the repetition, but here it is again, they are here and not going away. We have no choice but to deal with them.
Post by: Killmore on January 12, 2012, 08:36:31 AM