Wolf status report 6/19/09
by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
June 23, 2009
Wyoming Gray Wolf Recovery Status Report
From: USFWS Wyoming Wolf Recovery Project Leader, Jackson, WY
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming and the NRM
WYOMING WOLF WEEKLY- June 15 through June 19, 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 and Idaho Department of Fish and Game websites. 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
On June 2, a lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court in Missoula (9th Circuit) by a coalition of 13 environmental and animals rights groups. Another separate lawsuit challenging the USFWS delisting criteria was filed shortly after in the 9th Circuit by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. While the two groups have their own attorneys, both those cases have now been consolidated in the Missoula District Court under Judge Molloy. Their complaint alleges the NRM wolf population is not recovered and that the delisting violates the federal Endangered Species Act for many legal reasons, including delisting can not occur without an adequate Wyoming regulatory framework in place, which is not currently the case. A request for a preliminary injunction has not been filed at this time. In addition, the State of Wyoming filed a lawsuit in the 10th Circuit (Cheyenne Wyoming) challenging USFWS’s rejection of Wyoming’s regulatory framework and the Wyoming state wolf management plan. Park County, Wyoming is expected it file its case on Friday June 19, also arguing Wyoming should have been delisted. A lawsuit and a request for an injunction were filed by environmental and animals rights groups over the USFWS decision to delist wolves in the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment on Thursday June 18.
Monitoring
Despite the very wet spring, the USFWS trapping crew is continuing to attempt to capture and radio collar wolves on the west slope of the Teton Range and in the Gros Ventre River drainage.
Control
On 6/17/09, Wyoming W.S. confirmed 5 sheep (1 ewe and 4 lambs) were killed by wolves in the Big Horn Mountains near the area where >2 wolves have killed 14 ewes and 17 lambs. Trapping efforts have been hampered by rainy weather, but control efforts are ongoing to remove the wolves.
Research
Trapping efforts to radio collar wolves in the Sunlight Basin area for a University of Wyoming graduate project have been limited due to rain, but efforts will continue to place GPS collars in 2 wolf packs.
Law Enforcement and Related Activities
Nothing to report at this time.
Outreach and Education
Nothing to report at this time.
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
|
