From the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:
OLYMPIA – The recovery of Washington’s wolf population continued in 2018 as numbers of individual wolves, packs, and successful breeding pairs reached their highest levels since wolves were virtually eliminated from the state in the 1930s.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today published its annual year-end report, which shows the state has a minimum of 126 individual wolves, 27 packs, and 15 successful breeding pairs – male and female adults who have raised at least two pups that survived through the end of the year. A year ago, those numbers were 122, 22, and 14, respectively.
Click here for the full story.
Translocated wolves faring well on Isle Royale, according to GPS data
Earlier this afternoon, we received an update from Isle Royale National Park on how the wolves recently moved there are doing.
Here’s what we know:
• The seven wolves moved to Isle Royale on the weekend of March 23 are all moving around and apparently doing well – each is showing large movements around the island.
This photo was taken by Ashley McLaren of the OMNRF
• A female wolf that was moved to the island last fall appears to be traveling with 007, the first Michipicoten male that was moved in February.
• The breeding male from Michipicoten (009), moved March 1, is spending the bulk of his time on the west end of the island. Prior to the March 23 translocation, he was primarily on the east end of the island.
• The black wolf known as 016, moved from the Canadian mainland on March 23, has circumnavigated the island in his first week there.
We will continue to share these updates with you when possible.
Wolf Center to award Summit Brewery owner ‘Leader of the Pack’ award at Roseville gala
From the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota:
Mark Stutrud, owner of Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul, will be honored April 11 with a “Leader of the Pack” award by the International Wolf Center.
The award is given to those with a pioneering spirit leading the pack in the Twin Cities. He was nominated by a member of the committee planning the “Howl at the Moon Gala” at Midland Hills Country Club in St. Paul, a fundraising event where Stutrud will receive the award.
Click here for the full story.
Wolf pack living west of Cascade Mountains for first time in decades
From the Seattle Times:
Western Washington has its first wolf pack in decades, an indication that wolf recovery is on track and a sign that the canines are expanding their range in a healthier ecosystem, wildlife officials say.
Click here for the full story.
Washington’s wolf population increases for 10th straight year
From the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:
OLYMPIA – The recovery of Washington’s wolf population continued in 2018 as numbers of individual wolves, packs, and successful breeding pairs reached their highest levels since wolves were virtually eliminated from the state in the 1930s.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today published its annual year-end report, which shows the state has a minimum of 126 individual wolves, 27 packs, and 15 successful breeding pairs – male and female adults who have raised at least two pups that survived through the end of the year. A year ago, those numbers were 122, 22, and 14, respectively.
Click here for the full story.
Italy rejects demands for a wolf cull as numbers increase in the Alps and Apennines
From the Telegraph:
Demands by Italian farmers for the country’s burgeoning wolf population to be culled have been rejected by the government, with a newly launched management plan insisting that man and beast can co-exist.
After months of debate, the coalition has come up with a wolf management plan which firmly rejects the shooting, poisoning or trapping of wolves.
Click here for the full story.
Washington state committee backs money for nonlethal wolf control
From The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington:
OLYMPIA – The state could spend nearly $1 million over the next two years on nonlethal ways to keep wolves from killing livestock in northeast Washington.
A proposal with support from ranchers and some wildlife advocates has already passed the House, and received approval from a key Senate committee Tuesday. It would direct the Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop different management plans for wolves in different regions of the state, with more support to control wolves in the part of the state where they are rapidly multiplying.
Click here for the full story.
Washington bill concedes uneven wolf recovery
From the Capital Press:
OLYMPIA — Wolves in northeast Washington could be managed differently than in other parts of the state under a bill endorsed Tuesday by the Senate agriculture committee.
If passed by the Legislature, House Bill 2097 would be an unprecedented acknowledgment by lawmakers that wolves have affected life in one corner of the state, even though statewide recovery has lagged.
Click here for the full story.
Wolf killing outside of Yellowstone impacts tourism operators
From KRTV.com in Great Falls, Montana:
COOKE CITY – Near Yellowstone National Park, residents of a small town where a collared park wolf was shot by a local resident say visitors don’t understand their community.
The road ends in Cooke City during the winter months as the Beartooth and Chief Joseph passes to the east are closed during the snow season. The town of fewer than 200 people just outside the remote northeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park depends on snowmobilers and a few winter wildlife watchers to keep its winter economy going.
Click here for the full story.
There was actually a study to determine if red wolves are wolves. The answer could have doomed them.
From the Washington Post:
Over the federal government’s 30-year effort to revive endangered red wolves in North Carolina, there have been many attempts by opponents to get rid of them. But to argue that the wolves engaged in so much sex with coyotes that the two species somehow became one? That was a novel approach.
Click here for the full story.
Report: Mexican gray wolf is a subspecies, keeps endangered status
From CronkiteNews in Arizona:
WASHINGTON – The endangered Mexican gray wolf is still endangered – for now.
The National Academy of Sciences said Thursday that a six-month study determined the Mexican gray wolf is a separate subspecies from other gray wolves, which recently lost their endangered species status.
Click here for the full story.