From CowboyStateDaily:
Nearly a year after the torture and death of a wolf in Daniel, Wyoming, drew worldwide scorn as running predators down with snowmobiles remains legal in the state. Wyoming needs to “close the door” on the practice of using vehicles as weapons against wolves and other predatory animals, said Rep. Mike Schmid, R-La Barge. He’s been vocal about banning predator “whacking” or “mashing” with vehicles, as it’s commonly called.
He sponsored House Bill 331, which would have banned whacking. But that bill died in a House committee. He still hopes that a ban on predator whacking can be amended into House Bill 275, which he co-sponsored.
Click here for the full story.
Government greenlights nationwide hunt to cut apex predator population in half: ‘We are concerned’ [Sweden]
From TheCoolDown.com:
With lax regulations and an annual hunting quota, the animals are just barely getting by. The Swedish government has put in motion a plan to halve the country’s population of endangered wolves, outraging conservationists.
What happened? As Mongabay detailed, the Swedish government permitted a hunt in January that allowed for the killing of 30 endangered wolves. According to the Guardian, there were 375 recorded individuals before the hunt. Despite records that the population dropped around 20% in 2022-23, the government announced the intention to reduce numbers further.
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Scientists want to release 160 wolves in Scotland to help UK hit net zero target
From The-Independent.com:
Scientists have suggested reintroducing dozens of wolves into the Scottish Highlands in order to help the UK reach its climate targets.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have suggested that the reintroduction of grey wolves to the Cairngorms, as well as the south-west, north-west and central Highlands, could help reduce the issue of red deer eating tree saplings, which stops natural woodland regeneration.
Click here for the full story.
Local law enforcement can’t use dogs to find bad bears, wolves, cougars under new bill [Washington]
From. MyNorthwest.com:
A new bill before the Washington State Legislature has sparked intense debate among lawmakers, wildlife advocates and local law enforcement. Senate Bill 5482 seeks to end the use of dogs by local law enforcement to track problematic wildlife — such as bears, cougars and wolves — unless they receive explicit permission from the state.
While some see it as a critical step toward more responsible wildlife management, others argue it could undermine local authorities’ ability to address immediate safety concerns.
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Alaskans have grounds to sue over predator-control killing of bears, court rules
From AlaskaBeacon.com:
Alaskans who enjoy watching bears and other wildlife have legitimate grounds to sue the state over predator-control programs that may put those same animals at risk, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled on Friday.
The ruling reinstating a lawsuit, dismissed earlier by a Superior Court judge, that challenged a state program that is killing bears and wolves to try to boost a faltering Western Alaska caribou herd.
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Colorado “Mystery Wolf” Might Be From Wyoming
From CowboyStateDaily.com:
Fifteen wolves from Canada, have been spreading out across northwest Colorado after being released last month. There’s also reportedly another mystery wolf running around, although nobody is sure where it came from. It might be from Wyoming.
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Uncollared wolf kills cow on Jackson County ranch, marking first wolf depredation of the year [Colorado]
Fro KRDO.com:
JACKSON COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials said a wolf depredation incident is under investigation after an uncollared wolf killed a cow on a ranch in Jackson County.
On Feb. 5, CPW received a report of a possible depredation in Jackson County and sent an officer to investigate, who found that the cow had injuries consistent with wolf depredation. CPW said the origin of the wolf involved in the depredation isn’t yet known.
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Your dog is not trying to dominate you
From SaanichNews.com:
The concept of an alpha wolf/dog has been debunked the dominance training model needs to be eliminated. I often get calls from dog guardians who believe their dog is attempting to dominate them or establish themselves as the “alpha” in the household. They describe behaviours such as not letting people on the bed, sofa or into vehicles. They assume these actions stem from a desire for control.
The concept of the alpha dog is a misinterpretation rooted in outdated wolf research.
Click here for the full story.
Experts weigh in after frightening animal sighting in small town: ‘Travel in groups’ [Canada]
From TheCoolDown.com
Multiple sightings of a wolf in Canada’s Northwest Territories city of Yellowknife were eventually confirmed by Renewable Resource Officer Julian Sabourin, who offered the small community advice on how to stay safe when these animals are near.
Several Yellowknife residents spotted and filmed the small wolf, which caused quite a stir online. Sabourin stated that they live in a remote area, so residents need to be prepared, especially around this time of year when wildlife often wanders into the cities searching for food.
Click here for the full story.
Wyoming Must ‘Close The Door’ On Running Over Wolves With Snowmobiles, Schmid Says
From CowboyStateDaily:
Nearly a year after the torture and death of a wolf in Daniel, Wyoming, drew worldwide scorn as running predators down with snowmobiles remains legal in the state. Wyoming needs to “close the door” on the practice of using vehicles as weapons against wolves and other predatory animals, said Rep. Mike Schmid, R-La Barge. He’s been vocal about banning predator “whacking” or “mashing” with vehicles, as it’s commonly called.
He sponsored House Bill 331, which would have banned whacking. But that bill died in a House committee. He still hopes that a ban on predator whacking can be amended into House Bill 275, which he co-sponsored.
Click here for the full story.
Reintroducing wolves to Highlands could help native woodlands, says study
From The Guardian:
Reintroducing wolves in the Scottish Highlands could lead to an expansion of native woodland, which could take in and store 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, researchers have suggested.
A study led by researchers at the University of Leeds said that reintroducing the species into the Cairngorms, as well as the south-west, north-west and central Highlands could help curb the problem of red deer eating tree saplings, which stops natural woodland regeneration.
Click here for the full story.