Wolves in Mt. Baker area.

[Highcountry360]

 So there has been an ongoing issue with Elk coming down from the Mt. Baker area and getting in Farmers fields and tearing up their crops. There used to be a general hunt for these elk, 4941 Skagit elk unit now is been shut down. There was too many incidents with people hunting on private land and shooting near houses ect. So they shut it down and are now giving out damage control tags to these Farmers and Master Hunters as well, to Kill some cows. Now, you can't blame the Farmers for damaged crops or the Elk because, Hell that's some good eating in those corn fields! What I'm pissed at is a few of my friends and people I know in the hunting community have spotted a few wolves in the Mt. Baker area and instead of having a general elk season for people that actually need the meat in this bad economy, It seems wolves have been introduced to control the elk! Now any game official will deny this but I've seen to much proof to think otherwise! I have a feeling if there was a significant wolf population in the near future, if the elk are in populated areas aka Farmers fields, don't you think wolves would follow their prey where they go, near populated areas?! What are your thoughts on this? Am I over reacting, or is this for a lack of better words *censored*.

[Special T]

Wolves have been seen by me and others in the Skagit valley area. There is a pic on here somewhere of a pack of them on one of the feeder rivers. I don't think its far fetched that they came here on their own... The problem comes in that once upon a time there was a "Wolf Hybrid" breeder in the area that was known to let them loose. I personally do not think the wolves in the area and the hunting problem on the valley floor are connected.  The valley floor has problem with elk because the farmers can't afford to feed them, and there are many hobby farms that love them in their back yard. It is a real strange mix of anti hunters and elk control advocates that are mixed together making it a hard problem to solve.   

[Highcountry360]

 Point well taken, I have a feeling I know of this breeder you are talking about, although not there anymore, Sauk river area?

[Special T]

I do not know the specifics but yes that general area is what i heard. What should bother you is the indifference the WDFW seems to have with the possiblity of these "hybrids" cross breading/breading and screwing up the environment.

[bearpaw]

THe WDFW apparently had said they were hybrids at some point yet they allow them to stay out there and potentially breed and pollute the wild wolf genetics, very unresponsible. It should be a priority to confirm the genetic dna of those wolves.

[JackOfAllTrades]

There's been the occasional lone wolf seen from Ross Lake all the way into eastern 418/407 units since the 70's. No known pack that anyone can finger. But there's a lot of country back there without roads and such so, who knows. The elk herds pretty much stay west of and south of Baker lake. They have a loop or two traveled all the way up to Mt Baker highway and even cross it once in a while, all the way down to and across the Skagit river. I doubt very much that any presence of wolves has impacted this herd or determined the kill rate for hunters/impact to land owners. The season modifications have been to recover the herd after having been poached rather heavily by natives and whites in the 80's & 90's. They've gone overboard with the management of the area, but I don't see any basis to blame this on wolves as there have not been sightings or carcass discovery to elude to canines having impact on the Skagit elk herd.
 
-Steve

[h2ofowlr]

The local game department had pictures of wolves just north of Baker Lake earlier this year.  They know they are there.  They said they have seen migrators out of Canada for years.  There was also one shot by a local about 3 years back up towards Ross.  I think he told a few to many people and got charged for it.

I don't think they have built the population up to big at this point, but I asume they will thin out the animals further back.  I haven't heard of any local animals that have been taken out by them locally, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't happened.  That information is tightly controlled as if anyone gets the word out, it travels fast in the small towns.

[Special T]

THe WDFW apparently had said they were hybrids at some point yet they allow them to stay out there and potentially breed and pollute the wild wolf genetics, very unresponsible. It should be a priority to confirm the genetic dna of those wolves.

That is not quite accurate. BP . When the Bio was shown the photo from here(the pack on the gravel bar) He made a comment that implied they were hybrids. A fellow bow club member knows the bio and the comment was perhaps taken wrong. I think the truth of the matter is that with just a location, and pics of tracks and the animals in "close" proximity to a suspected hybrid re-leaser it was harder to say it was a wild wolf pack...

My biggest beef is that the WDFW would not employ the help of citizens gathering data with hair/ poop that can help prove hybrid status... There is NO way  for concerned citizens to volunteer and help the state confirm animals.

[Kola16]

THe WDFW apparently had said they were hybrids at some point yet they allow them to stay out there and potentially breed and pollute the wild wolf genetics, very unresponsible. It should be a priority to confirm the genetic dna of those wolves.

That is not quite accurate. BP . When the Bio was shown the photo from here(the pack on the gravel bar) He made a comment that implied they were hybrids. A fellow bow club member knows the bio and the comment was perhaps taken wrong. I think the truth of the matter is that with just a location, and pics of tracks and the animals in "close" proximity to a suspected hybrid re-leaser it was harder to say it was a wild wolf pack...

My biggest beef is that the WDFW would not employ the help of citizens gathering data with hair/ poop that can help prove hybrid status... There is NO way  for concerned citizens to volunteer and help the state confirm animals.

Someone on here called in a wolf sighting on here a while ago, and said that the bio told them that they were hybrids 

[Special T]

That is not an accurate statement. I was under the same assumption until i had a conversation with someone i trust.  I think the proper quote was that they "Could be Hybrids".  I origanlly assumed it was some bunny hugging bio that made the statement. While i still have a heavy skeptisim of many WDFW bios I think the comment is not unreasonable. The REAL problem is that NOTHING seems to have been done. Like others have said, you would think that Hybrids diluting the gene pool and causing problems would be a big motivation to do some thing.  PART of the reason why nothing seems to have been done is that the timber there is THICK so documentation is going to be VERY difficult. 

[Kola16]

Just what they said  They said that the bio said that there WERE hybrids. Again, I am just reading what they said wether accurate or not 

[Highcountry360]

 Thanks for the insight guys, this is always a hot topic with me.

[Birddogman]

Just talked with a Lumber security officer the other day while out hunting and he had some insight on wolves.  While out in Lymanwest of Baker lake on some active lumber roads he saw two full grown wolves resting on the road.  With such a dense population of Elk and deer in the area, it is no surprise that there are wolves around.

[Special T]

My brother works for a logging outfit. I have been told they have seen wolves, but i have tried to talk to them about it they know nothing about wolves... I think in the woods they have not said anything because they don't think the WDFW would do anything about it anyway...