Wolf News Roundup 2/22/2017
by Cat Urbigkit
February 22, 2017
Depredation in Nepal
New research indicates that livestock accounted for 27% of snow leopard diets, and 24% of Himalayan wolf diets, but that livestock was consumed less frequently than their proportional availability. Snow leopards preferred horses and goats, avoided yaks, and used sheep as available. Livestock occurred more frequently in scats of adult male snow leopards.
The paper is entitled "Snow leopard and Himalayan wolf: Food habits and prey selection in the Central Himalayas, Nepal" and was recently published in the journal PLOS one.
Oregon wolves
A proposal to allow public hunters to kill "problem wolves" – instead of having state agency employees do the task –is drawing controversy in Oregon. Instead of proposing a hunting and/or trapping season, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has proposed. The controlled take proposal would utilize special permits for the lethal removal of wolves involved in damage situations. Environmental groups oppose the proposal as a wolf hunt in disguise, while state wildlife officials said utilizing hunters and trappers would save the wildlife department both time and money.
To learn more, check out the Register-Guard article linked below.
Washington wolves
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and University of Washington are teaming up to study how eight years of wolf population growth in the northeastern part of the state is affecting deer and elk, as well as mountain lions. The study will take place in a multiple-use area where hunting, logging and livestock grazing also occur.
To learn more, check out the article linked below.
Mexican wolves
On Feb. 14, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee, reintroduced the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan Act. The bill would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to collaborate with states, county governments, and local stakeholders to sustain viable wild wolf populations without adversely impacting livestock, wild game, or recreation.
Specifically, this legislation would require the USFWS to draft an updated recovery plan for the Mexican gray wolf in Arizona and New Mexico. The plan would need to contain automatic triggers to ensure appropriate action is taken.
If the agency’s director does not comply with this new recovery plan, state wildlife authorities would be empowered to supplement or assume management of the Mexican gray wolf in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. Upon attainment of the minimum wolf population target, the bill would mandate automatic delisting, returning management of the Mexican gray olf to the states.
"The federal government’s outdated management of Mexican gray wolf populations is harming ranchers and our state’s rural communities," said Flake. "This bill will ease the burdens on rural Arizonans by enhancing local stakeholder participation and state involvement in the recovery process."
The population of Mexican wolves in the wild has risen to 113 animals in New Mexico and Arizona, according to a recent count.
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