From Elkhorn Media Group:
BAKER AND WALLOWA COUNTIES – Following recent depredations, ODFW have authorized the lethal removal of two wolves from the Keating Pack located in Baker County and have issued the following release:
“ODFW has authorized lethal removal of up to two wolves from the chronically depredating Keating Pack in Baker County. A producer requested lethal removal after four confirmed depredation events in the AKWA in October, including three separate events confirmed on Oct. 15. The authorization allows removal by USDA Wildlife Services and the producer or their agent through a limited duration permit on private land pastures where their livestock are present. The authorization is valid until Dec. 31, 2023, while livestock are present or until two wolves are removed, whichever comes first. The producer impacted by recent wolf depredations has been using guardian animals (dogs and donkeys), fencing, regular human presence, and fox lights to reduce conflict. The Keating Pack is currently estimated to include at least 6 wolves (including at least 3 juveniles). All Wolf Plan rules regarding lethal removal are in effect for this authorization and permit, including that ODFW did not identify any wolf attractants on the property. Another update about the authorization will be posted if the two wolves are removed, after Dec. 31 if less than two wolves are removed, or the authorization is extended.”
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Wildlife symposium returns
From Jackson Hole News and Guide:
One of Jackson’s oldest multidisciplinary summits, where conservation meets the local ecosystem, returns to full in-person programming for the first time since 2019.
The Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative’s Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium will present projects, panels, data and novel mindsets to combat pressing environmental questions while finding the answers in a unified environment.
The symposium’s free keynote address on Thursday night features Ignacio Jiménez, an internationally recognized conservationist and author of “Effective Conservation: Parks, Rewilding, and Local Development.” Jiménez will discuss effective conservation action and pull from experience from around the globe.
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US zoo saving endangered red wolf, one dental checkup at a time
From Reuters:
EATONVILLE, Washington, Oct 25 (Reuters) – The endangered red wolf, the lone wolf species native only to the United States, is slowly coming back thanks to a breeding and reintroduction program that also takes special care of the wolves’ teeth.
The Tacoma-based Point Defiance Zoo is conducting dental exams and teeth-cleaning in its managed care program. Broken teeth “would prevent them from eating meat very well,” said Karen Wolf, the zoo’s head veterinarian.
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Wisconsin DNR Board votes to approve wolf management plan without numerical population goal
From Wisconsin Examiner:
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board voted unanimously Wednesday to implement a new wolf management plan, approving the Department of Natural Resources’ decision not to include a numerical population goal over the objections of Republican lawmakers and pro-hunting groups.
The board is now entirely made up of appointees of Gov. Tony Evers, including four new members, who were appointed to the body last week by Evers when Republicans in the state Senate voted to fire his previous appointees, partially because of their stated support for the DNR plan.
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Yellowstone wolves react to first big snow; park issues advisory
From For The Win:
Yellowstone National Park on Wednesday cautioned tourists to postpone travel to and inside the park because of a “significant winter storm” that created hazardous driving conditions.
At the same time, researcher Taylor Rabe was afield in the park studying the Lupine Creek wolf pack.
“Yellowstone’s Northern range had its first very big snow today, and it was not kind to us,” Rabe, who conducts research for the Yellowstone Wolf Project, stated via Instagram. “Shutting down most of the park roads at one point or another this morning, the snow continues to fall. Winter is here.”
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‘Ghost wolf’ supporters set to howl about development near East Beachv
From The Daily News:
Devotees of the island’s “ghost wolves” say they’ll pack a city council meeting Thursday in protest of a housing development planned for land that’s home to some of those genetically unique and scientifically important canids.
At issue is rare coyotes carrying genetic echoes of red wolves and might hold the key to saving the near-extinct species, researchers have said.
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How a Salisbury zoo is helping save the red wolf population in North Carolina
From WNCT9:
SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A small zoo in Salisbury is currently fighting an uphill battle: trying to save the state’s red wolf population.
Rowan County is currently accepting bids for Rowan Wild’s new red wolf building, which will double the size of the current structure and add an additional side yard.
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Want to manage wolves in the West? How you do that depends on where you’re standing
From Wyoming Public Media:
The Little Snake River crosses the Wyoming-Colorado border at least a dozen times on its westward journey. The river valley is agricultural, with goats, sheep and cattle grazing next to tiny school houses and churches.
“We don’t notice that there’s a border between Wyoming and Colorado here. We’re neighbors up and down this border,” said Bob Davis, a local rancher and Wyoming state lawmaker.
No matter what state you’re in, Davis said stock growers need to be prepared to handle predators, including gray wolves. His son recently bought some 190-pound dogs to protect a herd of sheep.
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ODFW Authorizes lethal removal of Keating Pack Wolves, confirms 2 further depredations
From Elkhorn Media Group:
BAKER AND WALLOWA COUNTIES – Following recent depredations, ODFW have authorized the lethal removal of two wolves from the Keating Pack located in Baker County and have issued the following release:
“ODFW has authorized lethal removal of up to two wolves from the chronically depredating Keating Pack in Baker County. A producer requested lethal removal after four confirmed depredation events in the AKWA in October, including three separate events confirmed on Oct. 15. The authorization allows removal by USDA Wildlife Services and the producer or their agent through a limited duration permit on private land pastures where their livestock are present. The authorization is valid until Dec. 31, 2023, while livestock are present or until two wolves are removed, whichever comes first. The producer impacted by recent wolf depredations has been using guardian animals (dogs and donkeys), fencing, regular human presence, and fox lights to reduce conflict. The Keating Pack is currently estimated to include at least 6 wolves (including at least 3 juveniles). All Wolf Plan rules regarding lethal removal are in effect for this authorization and permit, including that ODFW did not identify any wolf attractants on the property. Another update about the authorization will be posted if the two wolves are removed, after Dec. 31 if less than two wolves are removed, or the authorization is extended.”
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FWP accepting public comment on wolf conservation plan
From NBC Montana:
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are seeking public comment on the 2023 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
The plan will incorporate 20 years of wolf-related research for long-term management and conservation of wolves across Montana.
The deadline to comment is Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. and you can submit a comment here.
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Wolf report highlights growing numbers and continued cattle kills
From Payson Roundup:
The nearly 20-year effort to return Mexican gray wolves to the wild has struggled, thanks to fierce debates, lawsuits, poaching, genetic bottlenecks and high death rates among the reintroduced wolves, often due to hunters, federal trappers, poachers, cars and other human causes.
However, the year-end census in 2022 put the wolf numbers at 242, up 23% over the same time in 2021, including 105 in Arizona’s White Mountains and another 137 in neighboring New Mexico. The 59 established packs included 19 in Arizona and 40 in New Mexico.
Living anywhere near humans definitely remains hard on wolves.
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