Wood River Wolf Project expands – The Board of Blaine County Commissioners in central Idaho expressed their growing interest in expanding Defenders successful Wood River Wolf Project, especially in light of recent depredations in the area. Our wolf expert Suzanne Stone was on hand at the Commission’s meeting on Monday to describe the project’s successes over the first three years. Blaine County is now considering expanding the project to cover a much wider area and working with cattle ranchers as well as sheep producers to reduce conflict between wolves and livestock. The Commission is planning a demonstration for ranchers of nonlethal deterrents such as turbo-fladry, alarm systems and guard dogs at the county fairgrounds in July.
Bad deeds punished – A family in eastern Washington was indicted this week on charges of killing at least five endangered wolves in the state. Wildlife officials now believe there may only be two wolves left in the Lookout Pack, which had nine members as recently as 2008. The illegal poaching carries a sentence of up to a year in jail and a maximum $100,000 fine.
Oregon wolves take a hit – Sadly, Oregon wolves are suffering significant losses as well. Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife now puts the official tally at 17, down from 23 in April. Following reports of a few depredations, wildlife agents have killed two wolves, with permits issued to ranchers to take more if wolves are caught in the act of attacking livestock. Another wolf died while wildlife biologists were attempting to fit it with a radio collar, and another has gone MIA. The silver lining is that ODFW believes the Imnaha pack had pups this year, though they have yet to be seen.
Wolves wallowing in wildfire? – As the catastrophic Wallow wildfire burned through eastern Arizona this week, scorching more than 200,000 acres, an interagency group has taken steps to protect the endangered population of Mexican gray wolves. The field team set low-intensity fires to clean out brush ahead of the spreading conflagration, in hopes of reducing the intensity and overall impact. At least two wolf packs are believed to be denning in the line of the fire, which at this point is the second largest wildfire in state history.
Wolves in Seattle — If you happen to be in Seattle this summer, swing by the Burke Museum of Natural History to check out their new exhibit, “Wolves in North America.” (And if you can’t make it, read this excellent review). On the heels of an updated statewide wolf recovery plan, Defenders will be working hard to restore wolves to parts of their historic range, including the majestic Olympic Peninsula.
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