Wolf News Roundup 4/18/2017
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
April 17, 2017
Yellowstone Wolf Killed
The National Park Service reports that on April 11, hikers discovered a severely injured wolf inside Yellowstone National Park near Gardiner, Montana. Park staff investigated the situation and concluded the wolf was in shock and dying from the injuries. "Staff on scene agreed the animal could not be saved due to the severity of its injuries. The decision was made to kill the animal and investigate the cause of the initial trauma," said P.J. White, Chief of the Wildlife and Aquatic Resources Branch. At this time, the nature of the initial injuries is unknown. An investigation into the cause of the injuries has begun which will include a necropsy.
Park staff identified the wolf as the white female of the Canyon Pack, one of three known white wolves in the park. This wolf lived to 12 years, twice the age of an average wolf in the park and had a broad range that extended from Hayden Valley to the Firehole River area to the northern portion of the park. For these reasons, the wolf was one of the most recognizable and sought after by visitors to view and photograph.
Montana
The Associated Press reports that Montana wildlife officials are proposing a harvest of up to four wolves in the wolf hunt areas north of Yellowstone National Park. For more information, see the links below.
Oregon
Nineteen Democratic lawmakers in Oregon have signed a letter requesting that Oregon wildlife officials reject the possibility of wolf hunting. The letter responds to a proposal that would allow the public hunting of problem wolves already deemed subject to lethal control eastern Oregon. According to media reports, 14 of the 19 legislators signing the letter are from the metro area of Portland – an area not impacted by wolves.
Oregon’s wolf population is up slightly from last year, but the number of wolf attacks on livestock increased significantly, according to press accounts. Monitoring the state’s wolves has proven difficult, with a number of radio-collars failing.
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