Wyoming wolf weekly. Oct. 6 – Oct. 10, 2008

Wyoming wolf news report, Oct 6-10, 2008-

Ed Bangs has produced another Wyoming wolf update today. Here it is.

Ralph Maughan
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WYOMING WOLF PROGRAM
WEEKLY REPORT

To: Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado
From: USFWS Wyoming Wolf Recovery Project Leader, Jackson, WY
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming and the NRM

WYOMING WOLF WEEKLY- October 6 through October 10, 2008

Web Address – USFWS reports (past weekly and annual reports) and Wyoming weekly 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. Information concerning wolf management in Wyoming from 3/28/08 through 7/18/08 can be found on the Wyoming Game and Fish (WGFD) web site at http://gf.state.wy.us . Beginning 9/15/08, the USFWS will publish weekly wolf reports for Wyoming. All weekly and annual reports are government property and can be used for any purpose. Please distribute as you see fit.

Wolf Litigation and Management: Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) were delisted on March 28, 2008. On July 18, 2008, the U.S. Federal District Court in Missoula, Montana, issued a preliminary injunction that immediately reinstated temporary Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in the NRM. All wolves in Wyoming are protected under the ESA as an experimental population and managed by the USFWS.

On September 22, 2008 the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to the Federal District Court in Missoula, Montana requesting that the February 27, 2008 NRM wolf delisting final rule be vacated and remanded back to the USFWS for further consideration and action. The Court can take whatever time it believes it needs to make that decision. The Court had reinstated the listed status to wolves on July 18, 2008 via a preliminary injunction that indicated the Court believed the USFWS was unlikely to prevail in its case. The FWS, in consultation with its State and other partners, concluded that the best and most timely way to resolve this issue was to get the final rule back in its hands to closely review the Court’s ruling, the final rule, the administrative record, any new information, and then consider whether modifications or some other action might be warranted.

Monitoring

On 10/11/08, a local coyote trapper caught a yearling female wolf in the Upper Green River drainage, and reported the incident to the WGFD warden in the area. Wildlife Services was able to place a radio collar on the wolf and release it unharmed. The USFWS appreciates the help and coordination between the trapper, WGFD, and Wildlife Services.

Yellowstone National Park (YNP) reports that intraspecific conflicts between wolf packs in August and September accounted for the deaths of 6 wolves from 5 different packs. The number of pups in YNP declined in 2008. At least 2 packs (possibly as many as 4 packs) have no surviving pups this fall. The cause for lower pup survival is unknown, but investigations are ongoing.

Control

Depredations: Livestock depredations have predictably declined this fall as cattle and sheep come off public grazing allotments. From January 1, 2008 through October 3, 2008, a total of >60 confirmed wolf depredations (34 cattle and 26 sheep) were recorded in Wyoming. Two additional cows and 1 calf were injured by wolves.

Research

Nothing to report at this time.

Law Enforcement and Related Activities

Nothing to report at this time.

Outreach and Education

On 10/08/08, Jimenez spoke to the Cheyenne Rotary Club about wolves and wolf management in Wyoming. Approx. 100 plus people attended. The talk was well received and the audience asked many thought provoking questions.

On 10/0/08, Doug Smith (YNP) gave a wolf lecture at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, Montana. On 10/15/08, he spoke at the Defenders of Wildlife Wolf Awareness Week Symposium in Boise, Idaho.

Further Information

To request an investigation of livestock injured or killed by wolves, please contact your nearest WGFD office or call 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

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