Wolf Report: Hunting Plans Discussed

Wolf managers are working on wolf hunting plans as well as investigating conflicts between livestock and wolves. Idaho Department of Fish and Game wolf managers met Monday, April 23, with a working group comprising seven representatives from hunting, outfitter, livestock and environmental groups to discuss development and comment on the state's wolf hunting plan. Fish and Game officials are working on plans for proposed hunting seasons on wolves pending their removal from the endangered species list. Actual delisting could be a year or more away. Any wolf hunting seasons would first have to be approved by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the wolf recovered in the northern Rocky Mountains and has started the process to remove the wolf from the endangered species list. Later that week, on April 27, officials from U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services and wolf biologist Michael Lucid of Idaho Fish and Game met with federal officials from the Boise and Sawtooth national forests to discuss wolf activity and areas where livestock and wolves may interact. Meanwhile, on April 25, Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves had killed a calf on private land near Ellis. A rancher had reported seeing three black wolves running away from his cattle. Wolf depredations had been confirmed on his property within the last 13 months. Control efforts have begun to remove the wolves. Earlier in April, U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services killed an adult gray male wolf on the same private land where officials had confirmed on April 15 that wolves had killed a ewe and two lambs on private land in Partridge Creek south of Riggins. Efforts are still underway to remove one more wolf and to capture, collar and release another one. The carcass was turned over to Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Also on April 17, Wildlife Services investigated a complaint that a wolf, or wolves, had killed a newborn foal and injured a mare at a private ranch near White Bird. They found evidence of wolf presence at the scene, but they found no carcass to examine. Any sign of a possible attack or struggle that might have occurred had been washed away by heavy rainfall. The mare had injuries consistent with fence wounds, and Wildlife Services could not confirm the depredation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's weekly wolf reports as well as annual reports can be viewed at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov/.