Wyoming wolf update
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
July 12, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports:
"We continue to manage wolf population growth and wolf distribution to minimize chronic loss of livestock from wolves and promote wolf conservation by maintaining the Wyoming wolf population (outside YNP) well above recovery objectives.
"Control actions in Wyoming during the week of June 21-25 were incorrectly reported by the local news media. As of 7/9/10, a total of only one entire wolf pack (Dempsey Basin Pack) has been removed. This pack consisted of a pair of wolves and their 6 pups that recently formed NW of Kemmerer.
"On 7/5/10, WGFD investigated a possible black bear depredation of sheep on a USFS public grazing allotment in the Dog Creek drainage, south of Jackson, WY and concluded that 4 sheep had been killed by a wolf (wolves). Wyoming Wildlife Services is investigating the incident.
"On 7/7/10, Wyoming Wildlife Services confirmed that an adult cow was killed by wolves on private land in the Sunlight Basin, west of Cody, WY. Three additional dead cows were found in the same pasture and died from causes other than predators (possibly Larkspur poisoning). The rancher moved his cattle to a different pasture to avoid wolves and to resolve problems with Larkspur. We will continue to monitor the wolves in this area closely.
"On 7/7/10, WGFD was asked to investigate (for purposes of state-funded livestock depredation compensation) 1 dead calf, 1 severely injured calf that was not expected to survive, and 1 injured calf that may survive. The depredations occurred in the Upper Green River drainage on a USFS public grazing allotment. Wyoming Wildlife Services is investigating the depredations."
In addition, FWS reports that at least 14 packs have denned this spring in Wyoming (outside YNP), including: Absaroka, Beartooth, Buffalo, Chagrin River, East Fork, Elk Fork Creek, Green River, Hoodoo, Huckleberry, Pacific Creek, Phantom Springs, Pinnacle Peak, Sunlight, and Owl Creek.
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