From Canadian Geographic:
Caribou populations in Alberta and British Columbia have been dwindling since 1991, but a new study has found a way to start bringing them back.
For years, conservationists have been experimenting with different ways of increasing caribou populations. Then, by comparing different methods that have been tried in isolation, scientists can analyze specific caribou populations to determine which strategies are most effective.
Unfortunately for wolves, the report suggests that the only effective way of increasing caribou populations was by killing predatory wolves, presenting conservationists with a catch-22.
Click here for the full story.
Arizona Game and Fish celebrates 100th Mexican wolf pup fostered into the wild
From Arizona’s Family:
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Wildlife biologists are celebrating a huge milestone in the Southwest!
Arizona Game and Fish, alongside New Mexico and U.S. wildlife services, fostered the 100th Mexican wolf pup into the wild. The pup and two siblings were fostered from Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico into a wild den in Arizona on April 25.
This marks the ninth year of Mexican wolf fostering in the nation. Fostering is a method used by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team to increase genetic diversity in the wild Mexican wolf population.
Click here for the full story.
WILDLIFE Wildlife Wednesday: does Canada need to cull wolves to save ‘baby reindeer’?
From Canadian Geographic:
Caribou populations in Alberta and British Columbia have been dwindling since 1991, but a new study has found a way to start bringing them back.
For years, conservationists have been experimenting with different ways of increasing caribou populations. Then, by comparing different methods that have been tried in isolation, scientists can analyze specific caribou populations to determine which strategies are most effective.
Unfortunately for wolves, the report suggests that the only effective way of increasing caribou populations was by killing predatory wolves, presenting conservationists with a catch-22.
Click here for the full story.
Wisconsin judge dismisses lawsuit challenging state’s new wolf management plan
From WQOW News 18:
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A lawsuit filed by animal welfare advocates seeking to invalidate Wisconsin’s new wolf management plan was dismissed by a judge on Monday.
Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke threw out the case that accused Wisconsin wildlife officials of violating the state’s open meetings law and disregarding comments from wolf researchers and supporters, reflecting how contentious the debate over wolf management has become in the state.
Click here for the full story.
Exploring the world of wolves at the International Wolf Center
From WDIO:
Interpretive Center Director Krista Woerheide says, “It’s sort of this symbol of the wilderness. You don’t see them super often, you know they’re out there. And I love that part of it.”
Woerheide says the center gets visitors from around the world. And they all leave learning more about wolves.
“a lot of people have this misconception that they’re howling at the moon,” she says, “Probably not, they are howling to talk to each other. So they might be howling to wolves in their pack or they might be howling to wolves out side of their pack. But either way they are just talking.”
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Gray wolf report outlines management and conservation efforts, highlights a decrease in conflicts and an increase in population
From Wyoming Game and Fish Department:
Wyoming’s gray wolf population continues to achieve all management goals, according to the 2023 Wyoming Gray Wolf Monitoring and Management annual report by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and partnering agencies.
Wyoming is maintaining wolf numbers at healthy levels, and 2023 marked the 22nd consecutive year wolf numbers in Wyoming have exceeded the criteria outlined for recovery of the species. The newly-published document details an increase in the gray wolf population and a noted decrease in livestock depredation — with the lowest number of verified livestock conflicts since 2010.
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Stunning ‘lone wolf’ spotted in Minnesota is a rare sight. Here’s why
From Yahoo News:
Researchers who study wolves in northern Minnesota often capture videos of the creatures as they walk past trail cameras.
And while it’s always exciting to see wildlife in their natural habitat, there’s something extra special about a wolf that was recently spotted on camera.
This wolf had black fur — a rare sight for the area.
Click here for the full story.
Wisconsin judge dismisses lawsuit challenging state’s new wolf management plan
From WBAY:
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A lawsuit filed by animal welfare advocates seeking to invalidate Wisconsin’s new wolf management plan was dismissed by a judge on Monday.
Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke threw out the case that accused Wisconsin wildlife officials of violating the state’s open meetings law and disregarding comments from wolf researchers and supporters, reflecting how contentious the debate over wolf management has become in the state.
Click here for the full story.
Two Mexican gray wolves are released in southern Arizona’s Sky Islands. Why that matters
From AZ Central:
Two endangered Mexican gray wolves were released in the Peloncillo Mountains of southern Arizona as wildlife managers try to expand the range of the predators.
The two wolves, officially known as F1828 and M2774, would become the first pack to roam Arizona’s Sky Islands in decades and the southernmost wolf pack in the U.S.
Click here for the full story.
Wisconsin lawmaker wants to remove gray wolf from endangered species list
From Spectrum News 1:
WASHINGTON — The gray wolf has caught the eye of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The House voted 209 to 205 this week to remove the animal from the endangered species list. All but four Republicans supported the bill, and all but four Democrats opposed it. One of the co-sponsors, Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, said the Endangered Species Act worked in enabling the species to survive, and now thrive.
“It’s time to let the states manage wolf population,” he said.
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New wild litter of Red Wolf pups confirmed in Alligator River Refuge
From The Outer Banks Voice:
On April 18, the Red Wolf Recovery Program confirmed the birth of a wild litter of Red Wolf pups in the Milltail area of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. While this is the third year in a row for a litter in that area, it was far from a given that it would occur this year after the tragic loss of 2323 (the previous breeding male in the Milltail family group) in September 2023.
In a bold attempt to create a new breeding pair, an acclimation pen was quickly constructed in October 2023 within the home range of the resident wild adult female Red Wolf (2225) who birthed the previous two litters. A male Red Wolf (2191), born at Wolf Haven International in Tenino, Washington as part of the Red Wolf SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program, was then placed in it. His release from the pen in late January 2024 was purposefully timed with the breeding season and he and 2225 soon appeared to become a pair.
Click here for the full story.