Northern Rockies wolf update
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
January 6, 2012
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports the following update on wolves in the Northern Rockies:
Idaho: As of December 30, 173 wolves were harvested by hunters and 24 wolves were taken by trappers. Hunting season is scheduled to close in 2 wolf zones (Beaverhead and Island Park) on December 31. The remaining wolf hunting zones are scheduled to close on March 31, with the exception of 2 zones (Lolo and Selway) closing on June 30. Trapping season (5 wolf zones) is scheduled to close on March 31.
Montana: As of December 30, 120 wolves were harvested. The wolf hunting season was extended to February 15 or until the quota is met, whichever comes first.
Oregon: The Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan was adopted in 2005 and updated in 2010. At least 5 packs exist in the eastern portion of the state within the NRM DPS and >2 wolves have dispersed west outside of the DPS.
Washington: The Washington Fish and Game Commission approved a final wolf conservation and management plan in December 2011. At least 3 packs exist in the eastern portion of the state in the NRM DPS and >2 packs exist in the federally listed western portion of the state.
Utah: No wolf packs were documented in Utah in 2011.
Wyoming (outside Yellowstone National Park)
In 2011, Wyoming had > 37 packs including > 23 breeding pairs in Wyoming (outside YNP).
Livestock conflicts in Wyoming:
In 2011, wolves killed > 66 livestock (36 cattle and 30 sheep) in Wyoming. Two packs [Green River (15 cattle) and Dog Creek (17 sheep) and 1 wolf in the Big Horn Mountains (10 sheep) were responsible for 42 depredations (64% of the total number of depredations). Fifteen packs (41% of WY packs in 2011) were involved in > 1 depredation; 8 packs (22%) were involved in > 2 depredations; and 6 packs (16%) were involved in > 3 depredations in 2011.
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