USFWS Wolf news Oct. 5- 9

Here is a smattering of official wolf news, mostly Wyoming, from Ed Bangs-

WYOMING WOLF PROGRAM
WEEKLY REPORT

To: Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado
From: USFWS Wyoming Wolf Recovery Project Leader, Jackson, WY
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming and the NRM
WYOMING WOLF WEEKLY- Oct 5 through Oct 9, 2009

Web Address – USFWS reports (past weekly and annual reports) can be viewed at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov . Weekly reports for Montana and Idaho are produced by those States and can be viewed on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website (http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/wolf/default.html) and Idaho Department of Fish and Game website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/wolves All weekly and annual reports are government property and can be used for any purpose. Please distribute as you see fit.

Annual Reports
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery 2008 Annual Report is available at: http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov .

Delisting Litigation Status
A hearing of the preliminary injunction request was held in Federal Court in Missoula, MT on August 31. Oral arguments were heard from the plaintiffs, U.S. Department of Interior, Montana, and Idaho. On September 8, the Federal Court denied the preliminary injunction motion filed by Defenders of Wildlife and others to stop the 2009 regulated gray wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana. However, in issuing his order, the judge indicated that his preliminary review of the overall delisting case raised questions about Service’s approach of conferring ESA protections to a “significant portion of the range” of a species, as opposed to designating the entire species as a threatened or endangered species. The Service will carefully evaluate the court’s order and confer with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice to determine any appropriate next steps.

Monitoring

Idaho: Wolf hunting season is open in parts of Idaho with a statewide quota of 220 wolves. The IDFG website that summarizes wolf hunting in Idaho can be viewed at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/wolf/quota.cfm

Montana: Wolf hunting season opened in parts of Montana on September 15 with a total quota of 75 wolves. FWP’s website that tracks wolf hunting in Montana can be viewed at fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/wolfStatus.html

Control
On 10/3/09, WY Wildlife Services confirmed a calf killed by wolves in the Upper Green River drainage. The USFWS requested Wildlife Services to remove 3 wolves form the Green River Pack.

On 10/6/09, ongoing control actions were completed in the Big Horn Mountains when WY Wildlife Services killed a radio-collared adult male wolf. It had been collared in 2007 in the Mill Creek pack and apparently dispersed that July. Despite searches for missing collars it was not re-discovered until killed in the Big Horn Mt. control action. The wolf had recently killed sheep in the immediate vicinity. This wolf, along with another adult male wolf, had been responsible for killing >98 sheep in the Big Horn Mountains since June 2009. The black wolf was seen by a sheep herder who promptly reported the location to Wildlife Services.

On the 9th, Jimenez met with some sheep producers in west-central Wyoming that are trying various breeds large sheep guard dogs that might be able to successfully fight-off wolves. The producers run sheep in areas where wolf packs are unlikely to persist but where lone wolves and pairs often attempt to recolonize. In this situation lone dogs maybe an effective deterrent to wolf depredation.

Research
Nothing to report at this time.

Law Enforcement and Related Activities
Nothing to report at this time.

Outreach and Education

Washington: A three-month public comment period on a draft Washington state wolf conservation and management plan has begun, and will include a dozen public meetings held by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The meetings will take place from Oct. 20 through Nov. 10 at locations around the state.
The DEIS and draft wolf plan are available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/management/gray_wolf/. Desk copies of the DEIS will be available at WDFW regional offices and public libraries by Oct. 9. Those unable to view or download the DEIS on the website can request paper or compact disc copies by calling (360) 902-2515. Comments can be submitted through Jan. 8 electronically at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/management/gray_wolf/mgmt_plan.html , by FAX to (360) 902-2946, or by U.S. Mail to: WDFW SEPA Desk, 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

Further Information
To request an investigation of livestock injured or killed by wolves, please contact the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Services at (307)261-5336.

For additional information, please contact:
Ed Bangs (406)449-5225 x204 or Ed_Bangs@FWS.GOV
Mike Jimenez (307)733-7096 or (307)330-5631 or Mike_Jimenez@FWS.GOV

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