Conservation Status of the Gray Wolf in the United States

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Re: Conservation Status of the Gray Wolf in the United States

Post by Noctis_ » Fri Feb 08, 2019 5:24 pm

An update on gray wolf conservation and management in Washington. Most recently, a wolf incident was reported 4 days ago:
On the evening of Feb. 4, WDFW staff were informed that a ranch employee checking on cattle killed a wolf in northeastern Adams County in a “caught-in-the-act” scenario. The ranch employee noticed cattle running, then saw three wolves chasing the cattle. When the employee yelled at the wolves, two retreated. The remaining wolf paused, then continued to pursue a cow. The ranch employee shot and killed the wolf from approximately 120 yards away.

Department staff were on scene within two hours and WDFW law enforcement performed an on-site investigation. Based on the preliminary findings, WDFW law enforcement indicated that the shooting was lawful and consistent with state regulations. In areas of Washington where wolves are not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, WAC 220-440-080 states the owner of domestic animals (or an immediate family member, agent, or employee) may kill one gray wolf without a permit issued by the WDFW director if the wolf is attacking their domestic animals. The incident occurred outside any known pack territories, and the wolf killed was an unmarked, adult female. The breeding status of the female is unknown.

WDFW conflict staff are working with the livestock producer to mitigate future conflict. Staff are also investigating wolf activity in the vicinity to determine if there is a new wolf pack in the area.
And about a month ago, the OPT (Old Profanity Territory) pack was implicated in an attack on cattle that left one cow and two calf carcasses:
On Jan. 4, WDFW staff were informed of dead livestock by the Stevens-Ferry County Wildlife Specialist on a U.S. Forest Service grazing allotment in Ferry County. The livestock producer and ranch staff were actively looking for a few cow-calf pairs remaining on the allotment along the Kettle Crest. The carcasses were discovered through investigation of wolf location information provided to the livestock producer by the County Wildlife Specialist. The carcasses were within the OPT pack territory. The producer who owns the depredated livestock is the same producer that experienced wolf depredations by the OPT pack in 2018. The carcasses were discovered northwest of the allotment where the 2018 depredations occurred.

On Jan. 3, the producer searched the area of the reported wolf location information and discovered one live cow and two calf carcasses. The live cow was removed from the area by the producer and was reported to have no injuries. Due to the remote location of the carcasses and lack of daylight, WDFW staff could not reach the area to investigate the dead livestock until Jan. 5. During the investigation of the carcasses initially reported, department staff found and conducted an investigation on an additional cow carcass discovered in close proximity to the others. In total, staff investigated and confirmed three wolf depredations. The three carcasses (two calves and one cow) were within 850 meters of one another.

Investigation of the first calf revealed partial consumption of the internal organs and back half of the carcass. External examination of the hide indicated bite lacerations and puncture wounds on the right and left hindquarter. Lacerations and puncture wounds were present on the inner and outer portion of both legs. Skinning the carcass on the left and right hindquarters revealed hemorrhaging of the muscle tissue.

The remains of the second calf included the vertebral column and two front legs attached to a piece of hide. All of the soft tissue except the remaining hide had been consumed or removed, and the ribs and one of the long bones had been chewed and broken. There was evidence on the hide of significant hemorrhaging in the left armpit of the calf.

The investigation of the cow carcass revealed significant wounds and consumption of the soft tissues of the head and puncture wounds above the hock on the left rear leg. Skinning the leg revealed significant hemorrhaging and tissue damage immediately underlying those wounds.

The damage to all three of the carcasses investigated was indicative of wolf depredation and wolf tracks were documented at each site. In addition, GPS data from the radio-collared wolf in the OPT pack showed he was in the immediate vicinity during the time of the incidents. The data were also consistent with the age of tracks found at the site during the investigation. The locations and sign further suggest that the wolves involved in the depredations remained in the immediate vicinity for about a week.

No proactive wolf deterrents were in place because some of the producer’s cattle remained on the allotment outside the grazing season and the department assumed they had been removed. The vast majority of the livestock had been removed almost two months earlier. Deep snow (24-40 inches), avalanche conditions, and the distance from vehicles (more than 10 miles away) prevented WDFW staff or the livestock producer from removing the carcasses or deploying other responsive deterrents. No other livestock were detected in the area.

Previously, the OPT pack was implicated in a total of 16 depredations (13 injured and three killed livestock) in under two months. The additional depredations bring the total to 19 depredations (13 injured and six killed livestock) since Sept. 4, 2018.

On Nov. 13, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind paused action seeking to lethally remove the two remaining wolves from the OPT pack that repeatedly preyed on cattle in Ferry County. WDFW staff previously attempted to remove the remaining two wolves in the pack multiple times over a two-week period, but were unable to locate the uncollared pack member due to the dense forest canopy.

Director Susewind is now reassessing this situation and considering next steps.
Both of these reports, as well as other monthly wolf reports, can be found here: https://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_w ... ?year=2019

OPT, or Old Profanity Territory, denotes a pack currently living in the former Profanity Peak pack's territory. Being "implicated in a total of 16 depredations... in under two months" and a "total [of] 19 depredations... since Sept. 4, 2018" doesn't make this pack's future seem all that bright. However, considering "no proactive wolf deterrents were in place because [the 3 cattle killed] remained on the allotment outside the grazing season and the department assumed they had been removed", I'd say the fault for this incident lies with the ranchers.
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Re: Conservation Status of the Gray Wolf in the United States

Post by Kryptowolfy » Fri Mar 22, 2019 11:00 am

Thank you for sharing this info! I had recently heard that wolf's were going to be taken off the endangered list because they were making a comeback. That's super exciting and I hope that people don't start hunting them back into endangerment soon.

A funny story I heard about the wolves: they were recently flown out to Canada to deal with the moose population. Although unrealistic, I can imagine air dropping into the zones and starting to snipe the moose population.

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Re: Conservation Status of the Gray Wolf in the United States

Post by Koa » Fri Mar 22, 2019 2:26 pm

Kryptowolfy wrote:
Fri Mar 22, 2019 11:00 am
Thank you for sharing this info! I had recently heard that wolf's were going to be taken off the endangered list because they were making a comeback. That's super exciting and I hope that people don't start hunting them back into endangerment soon.

A funny story I heard about the wolves: they were recently flown out to Canada to deal with the moose population. Although unrealistic, I can imagine air dropping into the zones and starting to snipe the moose population.
People don't give credit for wolves being resilient. I don't think they will be hunted into "endangerment," and even if that ends up being that case, I think they'll be able to recover, just as they have today.

I think you meant to say that Canadian wolves were flown into Isle Royale in Michigan to help with the moose population. Canada has 60,000 wolves alone so I don't think it would be the opposite.

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Re: Conservation Status of the Gray Wolf in the United States

Post by Kryptowolfy » Fri Mar 22, 2019 3:33 pm

Koa wrote:
Fri Mar 22, 2019 2:26 pm
Kryptowolfy wrote:
Fri Mar 22, 2019 11:00 am
Thank you for sharing this info! I had recently heard that wolf's were going to be taken off the endangered list because they were making a comeback. That's super exciting and I hope that people don't start hunting them back into endangerment soon.

A funny story I heard about the wolves: they were recently flown out to Canada to deal with the moose population. Although unrealistic, I can imagine air dropping into the zones and starting to snipe the moose population.
People don't give credit for wolves being resilient. I don't think they will be hunted into "endangerment," and even if that ends up being that case, I think they'll be able to recover, just as they have today.

I think you meant to say that Canadian wolves were flown into Isle Royale in Michigan to help with the moose population. Canada has 60,000 wolves alone so I don't think it would be the opposite.
Oh! I was misinformed then. I was told they were flown to Canada from Minnesota. Serves me right for not having actually looked at articles and going by word-of-mouth. Thank you for the clarification!

I agree. Wolves are extremely cunning creatures that will always find a way to survive and thrive.

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Re: Conservation Status of the Gray Wolf in the United States

Post by Koa » Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:19 am

Updated thread to reflect 01/04/21 delisting. I haven't checked this year's numbers (as they were updated last year on the thread).

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