|
For more information on dangerous and problem wildlife, contact the WDFW Enforcement Program
360-902-2936
enforcement-web@dfw.wa.gov
|
| |
| SPECIES |
| |
| DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT |
| ON 05/27/2012 AT ABOUT 1220 PM, A SGT. RECEIVED A CELL PHONE CALL FROM THE RP. THE RP ADVISES THAT HE HAS LOCATED A COLT OF HIS WITH ASSORTED SCRATCHES AND PUNCTURES ABOUT VARIOUS PARTS OF ITS BODY. THE LOCATIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH ATTACK POINTS BY A PREDATOR, AND THE SCATTERED NATURE INDICATES TO HIM THAT THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO TAKE THE ANIMAL DOWN THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL EITHER DUE TO ESCAPE OR AN ADULT HORSE INTERRUPTING THE ATTACK. THE RP SENT ME PHOTOS BY E-MAIL AND I AGREE THAT THEY DO NOT LOOK LIKE MECHANICAL TYPE INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH FENCES OR POSTS, THE MOST LIKELY SOURCE OF METAL CAUSED SKIN TEARS ON THIS SITE. THE INJURIES ALSO DO NOT LOOK TO ME, LIKE KICK OR BITE INJURIES CAUSED BY OTHER HORSES. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS THE SIZE AND COLOR OF THIS ANIMAL; IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO A DEER OR AN ELK CALF.
THERE IS A LENGTHY, MULTI-YEAR HISTORY OF INJURED HORSES AND COLTS AT THIS RANCH, SOME CLEARLY TIED TO COUGAR INCIDENTS, OTHERS WHERE INJURIES CIRCUMSTANTIALLY, AND WITH THE HISTORY OF THE SITE WERE ATTRIBUTED TO COUGAR (OR BEAR?). MANY PERMITS HAVE BEEN RUN OVER RECENT YEARS TO KILL OFFENDING ANIMALS, BUT OFTEN THE LATE NATURE OF THE REPORTS, HAVING NO CLEAR "STARTING POINT" TO BEGIN ON THE 1500, OR SO ACRES OF THE RANCH, OR THE UNFAVORABLE WARM DRY TRACKING CONDITIONS AT THE TIME, MADE SUCCESS MARGINAL AT BEST.
BEFORE THIS EFFORT, AND ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO A CONCERTED EFFORT WAS MADE BY WDFW TO REMOVE COUGARS FROM THE IMMEDIATE AREA AFTER MULTIPLE INCIDENTS AND LOSSES TO HORSE OCCURRED HERE. I DIRECTLY PARTICIPATED IN THAT EFFORT. AFTER THAT EFFORT AND THE SUBSEQUENT REMOVALS BECAUSE OF IT, THERE WAS A HIATUS OF INJURY INCIDENTS THAT LASTED SEVERAL YEARS. NOW, THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED LIKE BEFORE THE REMOVALS, CONCURRENT WITH REDUCED HUNTING PRESSURE ON CATS. THIS IS CLEARLY ANECDOTAL, BUT IS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE ONGOING WITH THIS LANDOWNER IN REGARD TO INCIDENTS AND HISTORY AT THIS SITE.
I CALLED THE RP THE NEXT AM AFTER A CAREFUL REVIEW OF THE PHOTOS. THE RP STATES THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND NOR BEYOND THE PHOTOS AND THE COLT WAS ON THE RANGE WHEN IT OCCURRED. THAT MEANS NO SPECIFIC SITE OF OCCURRENCE ON THE 1500 ACRES HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. THE RP IS GOING TO CHECK HIS SITE AND OTHER HORSE OF ANY SIGNS THAT MAY HELP IN THE ASSESSMENT.
THE RP WANTS A HOUND PERMIT RUN UP ON THE SITE. THE RP WOULD ALSO LIKE A SIMILAR ACTION AS TO WHAT WAS DONE IN 2001-2 TO REMOVE COUGARS FROM HIS PROPERTY AND REDUCE THE THREAT TO HIS STOCK. THE RP WAS DISTRESSED THAT HE HAD PROBLEMS LAST LATE FALL, WITH ONE MISSING COLT, AND ANOTHER WITH INJURIES, AND FOUND OUT THAT EVEN AFTER WE HAD AN UNSUCCESSFUL HOUND PERMIT THERE, LATER WDFW ALLEGEDLY HAD CONTRACT HUNTERS BEHIND HIS PROPERTY THAT TREED AND DNA SAMPLED A SMALL COUGAR BEFORE RELEASING IT. HE WISHES IT HAD BEEN DESTROYED GIVEN THE ISSUES HE HAS ON THE SITE. HE FEELS THIS CAT IS OF A SIZE AND LOCATION THAT IT IS A POTENTIAL OFFENDER.
I TOLD THE RP I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK DIRECTION FROM MY CHAIN OF COMMAND ON HOW TO PROCEED BUT THAT AS THE LANDOWNER, HE CAN CERTAINLY DISPATCH AND COUGAR HE SEES THAT HE FEELS IS A THREAT TO HIS PROPERTY. THE RP WAS SATISFIED WITH THAT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN RECOGNITION THAT MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY AND IT MAY TAKE A FEW DAYS OF REVIEW TO DEVELOP A PLAN ON HOW TO PROCEED.
I WENT TO THE OFFICE AND HAD JUST COMPLETED THE ABOVE NARRATIVE WHEN MY PHONE RANG AGAIN. THE RP SAYS HE HAD A MARE AND A LIVE COLT ON THE RANGE YESTERDAY. NOW A MARE IS WANDERING AROUND WITH A FULL BAG OF MILK AND NOW COLT. THE RP IS REQUESTING A HOUND HUNTER WHILE HE LOOKS FOR THE COLT. I AM MAKING CALLS TO FIND ONE TO SEND TO ASSIST.
FOLLOW-UP CONTINUING. |
| |
| REPORT INFORMATION |
| Date/Time of Incident: June 26, 2012 |
| Date of Report: June 28, 2012 |
| Location: 1000 BLOCK OF TORODA CREEK ROAD |
| City: Wauconda |
| County: Okanogan |
| Game Management Unit: 204 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
