Outfitter talks of wolf impact
Pollard on elk behavior
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
June 7, 2007
Terry Pollard of Bald Mountain Outfitters in Pinedale, Wyoming, sent along the following observation:
"During the 2005 hunting season, we had approximately 10-12 wolves near our Blucher Base Camp (near Little Sandy). They had a significantly negative impact on our hunting and on the elk herds in that area - not so much population wise - but observed behavior changes in the elk. The wolves got into the cattle and sheep in that area and [federal wildlife personnel] evidently wacked that pack."
"Things we back to normal in 2006 and we didn't see or hear any wolves, nor did we see any sign (in 2005 we sighted wolves nearly daily, heard them daily and saw tracks and sign continually)."
"We sighted two wolves in 2004 near Barnes Lake in our Blacks Lake Base Camp area. We haven't seen nor heard any since. My assumption is that the area from Pine Creek through at least Boulder Creek is simply too rough for the wolves? I think that the elk can escape the packs in those rough areas."
"To the Bald Mountains,
Terry Pollard
Bald Mountain Outfitters"
(Pinedale, Wyoming)
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