From KCRA Channel 3:
SIERRA COUNTY, Calif. —Agriculture and cattle ranching have flourished across Sierra Valley since the mid-1800s, but the once-thriving business is now facing a growing threat from gray wolves.
These wolves, once extinct in California, have returned as part of a federally and state-protected endangered species recovery effort, with 10 confirmed wolf packs across the state. Their recent arrival in Sierra County has become increasingly problematic for ranchers.
From Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind has authorized incremental lethal removal of wolves from the Sherman wolf pack territory in Ferry County, in response to repeated livestock depredations, in an effort to change the pack’s behavior.
Click here for the full story.
From Colorado Politics:
Day three of the legislature’s special session ended with the Senate working late into the night to begin debate on the House tax bills sent over earlier in the day after representatives wrapped up voting on those measures, along with measures on health insurance and the ballot measure dealing with the state’s free meals program.
The House’s work Saturday night included debate on Senate Bill 5, which would prohibit Colorado Parks and Wildlife from using general fund dollars to acquire more wolves in the current fiscal year.
From The Spokesman Review:
Seventeen Yellowstone National Park wolves were killed in 2024, and among them was the fabled one-eyed female, 907F – the fifth -oldest wolf recorded in the park at 11.7 years old.
She was killed by the Rescue Creek pack three days before Christmas, according to the Yellowstone Wolf, Cougar and Elk Project annual report. Due to her longevity, it’s likely that an individual in the pack that killed her was a close or distant relative.
From Explore Big Sky:
The Wyoming man who deliberately ran down a wolf with his snowmobile in 2024 didn’t face any consequences, unless you count a $250 fine for “possessing a live animal.” But as the terrible story and graphic photos of the wolf’s suffering spread across the nation, public reaction could be summed up as “horrified.”
Still, the Wyoming state Legislature failed to make illegal what Cody Roberts did.
From Flathead Beacon:
The Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday blended recommendations from state wildlife managers with a legislative mandate to manage wolves at a “lower yet sustainable” population level. A majority of public comment opposed measures to reduce the statewide wolf population.
From 9News:
DENVER — New billboards across Colorado are promoting a message aimed at two groups often at odds: ranchers and wolves. The signs spotlight the “Born to be Wild” license plate, which raises money for nonlethal conflict mitigation between wolves and livestock. “We’re sending the message that wolves and ranching can co-exist in Colorado,” said Courtney Vail with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project.
From WisPolitics:
The Department of Natural Resources’ hotly debated wolf management plan is one of the 27 proposed rules Gov. Tony Evers’ administration is pushing to implement without going through JCRAR.
The wolf management plan, approved by the Natural Resources Board in 2023, lays out guidelines for regulating the wolf population in Wisconsin, including how a wolf hunt would be conducted if gray wolves are removed from the endangered species list.
Republicans in the Legislature have criticized it for failing to include a numeric statewide population goal.
From Santa Fe New Mexican:
Wildlife advocates are raising alarms about a female Mexican gray wolf in a New Mexico pack that was lethally shot from an aircraft last week under a federal kill order.
However, her pack — known as the Dillon Mountain Pack — was linked to a series of livestock attacks.
From 9News:
A bill proposes transferring $250K to help Coloradans pay for health insurance instead of more wolves. In a compromise, Colorado can still acquire more wolves.
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