October 2011
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Record mortality in 2010 took its toll- Population goes from 602 to 593. Fifty-five grizzly died or were killed by people in 2010, a record. That pace is off slightly in 2011 (35 so far). A large number of grizzly food sources have disappeared in recent years, most notably whitebark pine seeds and cutthroat trout.…
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The Report shows depredations down and even with wolf hunt mortality less than 2010- Of course the mortality figures will build to greater than 2010. September Wolf Report
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It should be obvious that while wolves will be absolutely protected in GTNP, the Park is so small it is almost meaningless- All of Grand Teton’s wolf packs spend some, usually most of their time outside the Park, so Grand Teton’s concerns are much more likely to be valid than DOI’s, which is treating wolves…
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Finally a sensible court decision on personal responsibility and native wildlife- Most folks remember Utah only fatal bear attack back in 2007. It was in the Wasatch Mountains east of Provo. The family has sued both the federal courts and the state. The federal judge ruled the Forest Service was 65% responsible for the attack,…
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From 770 to 158 complaints in one year- This shows the role that natural food availability plays in making bears into “bad” bears. As the story below indicates the changes was food availability. It is a short shory, but very much worth reporting because bears causing damage is an easier story to write and seems…
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A tiny nematode spread by biting flies piles on top of habitat decline and predation- Most know that the moose of NW Wyoming are in serious decline. This has not been the first time because early explorers and settlers reported almost no moose. Nevertheless, in the early 1900s the moose population became established and grew…
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Quota of three wolves is filled- Montana wolf hunters have killed the small quota of just 3 wolves immediately north of Yellowstone Park, so the wolf hunt there is now closed. It is subunit 313-316 of wolf management unit 390. The quota next to the Park was set low because it is bad public relations…
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This has to be one of the most egregious incidents of wildlife destruction I’ve heard of in recent times. A farmer has admitted to destroying an entire colony of pelican nests. 2,400 eggs and chicks were destroyed by a farmer who complained that the colony was destroying his crops. Pelicans are protected under the Migratory…