Confirmed wolf depredation by Sherman wolf pack
WDFW officials have confirmed that one or more wolves were responsible for the death of a calf whose carcass was discovered on July 12 in a grazing allotment of Ferry County. The report was made by a WDFW contract range rider who found a recently deceased calf while monitoring livestock in the area.
The Department officials who conducted the investigation that day indicated that a combination of evidence at the scene (including wolf tracks, scat, possible gray canid hair, and signs of a struggle), injuries on the carcass that occurred while the calf was still alive (hemorrhaging on right rear leg associated with bite wounds on leg and tail, and broken humerus bone), wolf collar location data, and another depredation investigation completed within 200 yards of this carcass on June 13, 2017 clearly indicate a wolf depredation. Wolf GPS collar data also showed that a Sherman Pack wolf was at the scene during the estimated time that the calf was attacked (July 10-12). Based on all available factors, the event was classified as a confirmed wolf depredation by one or more members of the Sherman Pack. The depredation occurred on Bureau of Land Management grazing lands. It is the second confirmed depredation involving the Sherman Pack, the first occurred on June 12, 2017.
The livestock producer grazes both private and public lands in the area. The producer’s calves were born outside of occupied wolf range and were trucked into the area for the summer grazing season. The producer turned the cattle out onto private land on May 24.
The producer uses five WDFW contract range riders to increase the level of human presence around the cattle throughout their grazing allotments and other producers in the area. The range riders started patrolling the area on May 9, before the cattle were turned out to check for carnivore activity and to proactively increase regular human presence. They have continued to patrol the area with cattle on a near-daily basis, and communicate frequently with the producer. Any changes in cattle behavior or carnivore activity has been shared with WDFW. The range riders also monitor the activity of GPS collared wolves in the area. There are no known wolf dens or rendezvous sites in the area. The range riders will continue to patrol the area and surrounding areas.
Wolf Pack Updates
Goodman Meadows Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult male wolf in January, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site. Since then, the wolf dispersed to the Bonners Ferry area in Idaho and was legally harvested.
Smackout Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult female wolf in January, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site.
An adult male wolf dispersed from the Smackout pack territory to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem area in December 2016.
Dirty Shirt Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult male wolf in January, 2017 and an adult female wolf in February, 2017. Both wolves were fitted with radio collars and released on site. The male wolf dispersed to the Salmo pack territory in April 2017. That animal subsequently was removed in British Columbia to protect Caribou and the female dispersed to an area north of the Smackout pack territory in May 2017.
A mortality of a wolf from the Dirty Shirt pack is currently under investigation.
Carpenter Ridge Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult male wolf in May, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site.
Sherman Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult female wolf in January, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site. This wolf died from a vehicle collision near Sherman Pass in March, 2017.
Strawberry Pack: Colville Confederate Tribal biologists captured an adult male wolf in February, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site.
Tucannon pack: WDFW biologists captured a female wolf in July, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site.
Loup Loup Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult female wolf in February, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site. The wolf dispersed to the Veron area in British Columbia, Canada in April 2017.
A mortality of a wolf from the Loup Loup pack is currently under investigation.
Teanaway Pack: WDFW biologists captured an adult female wolf in February, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site.
Other known wolf activity areas
In Skagit County, WDFW and USFWS biologists captured an adult male wolf in June, 2017. The wolf was fitted with a radio collar and released on site. It’s unknown at this time if the wolf is part of a pack or a solitary animal.
In July, 2017, WDFW received a report of an injured wolf in northern Stevens County. Department staff that responded to the scene and discovered a mortally injured wolf, resulting from a vehicle collision. Department staff humanely euthanized the animal on the scene. The male wolf was previously captured and ear tagged by Department staff in 2014 in the Huckleberry pack territory.
Proactive deterrence measures
Wolf packs in Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties
On February 23, 2017, the local Wildlife Conflict Specialist met with Colville National Forest (CNF) staff to discuss areas of recent high wolf use areas and the deployment of proactive deterrence measures. The local Wildlife Conflict Specialist also presented information about wolf numbers, high wolf use areas, the newly released Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, and summer plans for proactive deterrent measures at all three Spring Grazing Meetings for the CNF. Areas of known den sites were also communicated to ranchers that graze livestock in the area.
From January through June of 2017, the local Wildlife Conflict Specialist met a number of times individually and in small groups with local government officials, grazing permit holders on the Colville National Forest, representatives from local area cattle groups, and other local livestock producers to discuss wolf activities, deterrence measures, WDFW contracted range rider programs, and the availability of WDFW Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements for Livestock.
In early June, the local Wildlife Conflict Specialist coordinated with local range riders under contract with WDFW in the Carpenter Ridge, Dirty Shirt, Profanity Peak, Sherman, Smackout, and Wedge wolf pack areas to initiate proactive human presence. WDFW has contracted with four local range riders that deploy a total of eight range riders (one contracted range rider has subcontractors) to cover Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties. The Department has re-opened the Request for Proposals to potentially contract with additional range riders on federal grazing allotments.
WDFW staff administered 15 Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements for Livestock through June 2017. with 10 starting July 1, 2017. Deterrent measures being deployed at this time are specific to each producer, the type of livestock, and the location of livestock. Most producers using deterrents are utilizing range riders on large grazing locations on both public and private lands. Other deterrents being used throughout public and private grazing areas include:
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Sanitation.
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Installation of predator-proof fencing around a bone yard.
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Use of the WDFW Compost Facility.
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Contacting WDFW when livestock carcasses are discovered so that they can be removed or protected from wolves.
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Removing or treating non-ambulatory (sick or injured) livestock from unsafe pastures in areas where wolves are present (when feasible).
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Using traditional calving or lambing areas that are away from areas occupied by wolves.
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Using protective fencing or fladry around calving or lambing areas when deemed necessary by WDFW when there is known wolf activity in the vicinity of a producer’s calving or lambing areas.
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Using lambing sheds during and immediately after lambing.
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Turning-out cattle onto forested/upland grazing allotments when calving is finished.
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Turning-out cattle onto forested/upland grazing pastures or allotments once calves are larger.
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Delaying the turnout of livestock onto forested/upland grazing pastures or allotments until wild ungulates are born.
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Using herders with dogs at night to protect sheep.
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Using guarding animals (dogs, llamas, donkeys, etc.) to alert herders and protect livestock.
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Managing or avoiding (when possible) grazing livestock near the core areas (dens, rendezvous sites) of wolf territories to minimize wolf-livestock interactions.
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Using range riders to increase the frequency of human presence to check livestock in areas with wolves or when wolves are in the vicinity of livestock pastures.
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Increasing the frequency of human presence checking livestock in areas with wolves or when wolves are in the vicinity of livestock pastures.
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Installing fox lights temporarily.
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Hazing wolves with non-lethal munitions encountered to frighten them away from livestock,
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Coordinating with WDFW to expand hazing once a depredation event occurs.
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Using predator-resistant or electric fencing as a permanent barrier to keep wolves away.
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Using predator-resistant or electric fencing as a temporary barrier to confine sheep or goats and keep wolves away.
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Using fladry or turbo-fladry around livestock temporarily.
Wolf packs in Asotin, Garfield, Columbia , and Walla Walla counties
Tucannon and Touchet wolf packs: There are 16 Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements throughout the Blue Mountains and 7 are within these pack territories. All 16 agreements include range riders.
Five producers have grazing allotments in the Umatilla National Forest in Washington. The local Wildlife Conflict Staff contacted producers who may have livestock in areas occupied by wolves starting in June, when the grazing allotments begin. Grazing plans are being developed or modified to require preventative measures for wolf conflict avoidance.
Wolf packs in Okanogan County
Lookout wolf pack: Conflict Staff met with livestock producers and managers during the spring cooperative resource management (CRM) meeting to discuss wolf activity and proactive deterrence measures. Conflict staff also coordinated with USFS regarding grazing rotations and wolf activity. Outreach efforts will continue as WDFW staff learns more about this pack’s activity and status.
The U.S. Forest Service requires sanitation for all producers who graze livestock on the Methow Valley Ranger District. Under the federal guidelines, producers must agree that: “Livestock carcasses found on areas of the allotments where they would attract wolves to a potential conflict situation with other livestock, (such as a salting ground, water source, or holding corral) must be removed, buried or otherwise disposed of such that the carcass will not attract wolves.”
WDFW has two contract range riders to cover three wolf packs within Okanogan County; Lookout, Loup Loup, and Beaver Creek packs. Those two range riders spend the majority of their time monitoring livestock in Loup Loup and Beaver Creek pack areas, but are available for the Lookout pack area if needed. The focus of range rider efforts is based on known wolf activity and the number of livestock. Currently there are no Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements with livestock producers in the area.
Loup Loup wolf pack: Local Wildlife Conflict staff met with livestock producers during the spring CRM meeting to discuss wolf activity and proactive deterrence measures. Individual meetings were also conducted for interested producers who did not have CRM meetings. Outreach efforts will continue as WDFW staff learns more about this pack’s activity and status.
A WDFW contracted range rider is assigned to ride the territory and works cooperatively with interested producers to monitor livestock. However, the contracted range rider may monitor livestock in a different wolf pack territory if there is an emerging need. The importance of, and options for, sanitation was discussed with livestock producers and range riders. The contracted range rider and four producers have formal WDFW data sharing agreements. Currently there are no Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements with livestock producers in the area.
The U.S. Forest Service requires sanitation for all producers who graze livestock on the Methow Valley Ranger District. Under Forest Service guidelines, producers agree to sanitation as stated, “Livestock carcasses found on areas of the allotments where they would attract wolves to a potential conflict situation with other livestock, (such as a salting ground, water source, or holding corral) must be removed, buried or otherwise disposed of such that the carcass will not attract wolves.”
This pack occasionally uses WDFW lands with grazing leases. Conflict staff coordinates closely with wildlife area managers regarding known wolf activity. WDFW staff met with livestock producers during spring cooperative resource management meetings. Producers have been notified there could be wolf activity on WDFW lands at any time.
Beaver Creek wolf pack: A WDFW contracted range rider is assigned to ride the estimated Beaver Creek pack territory and works cooperatively with producers to monitor livestock and contacts the local Wildlife Conflict Specialist regularly. The contracted range rider may monitor livestock in a different wolf pack territory if there is an emerging need. The importance of, and options for, sanitation is discussed with livestock producers and range rider.
Wolf packs in Kittitas County
Teanaway pack: Cattle were turned out in the east Teanaway area in mid-June. Two (1/2 time each) range riders and the local Wildlife Conflict Specialist are monitoring the breeding male and female to find the general location of the den and try to keep cattle from within a half mile of that location until a new rendezvous site is selected. Deer fawning and elk calving is underway based on observations in the pack territory.
Cattle were turned out in late May in the west Teanaway area. This area is the furthest from the suspected/traditional den area and south, closer to Cle Elum. The producer was contacted and practices sanitation and also has a range rider.
Domestic sheep were turned out in late June in the Teanaway pack area. The local Wildlife Conflict Specialist and producer discussed the deployment of the range riders, guard dogs, herder, and the grazing schedule.
Domestic sheep were also turned out in the Naneum area. Although there are is no known wolf pack in the area, the local Wildlife Conflict Specialist and producer discussed deployment of the guard dogs, herder, and the grazing schedule.
Outreach and Information
WDFW wolf presentations and outreach
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January 6, 2017 Rearden High School presentation about wolf conflict in Washington.
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February 18, 2017 Presentation about recreating and living with Large Carnivores in Washington.
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March 9, 2017 Colville National Forest personnel meeting presentation about 2016 and 2017 wolf conflict items.
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March 24, 2017 Curlew Highs School presentation about wolf biology and management in Washington.
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April 10, 2017 Colville National Forest presentation in Kettle Falls for Forest Service grazing permit holder’s on wolf conflict including the 2016 wolf annual report, the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, 2017 contract range rider offerings, and proactive deterrent measures.
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April 13, 2017 Colville National Forest presentation in Newport for Forest Service grazing permit holder’s on wolf conflict including the 2016 wolf annual report, the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, 2017 contract range rider offerings, and proactive deterrent measures.
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April 14, 2017 Colville National Forest presentation in Republic for Forest Service grazing permit holder’s on wolf conflict including the 2016 wolf annual report, the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, 2017 contract range rider offerings, and proactive deterrent measures.
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On May 4, 2017, presentation to an elementary school in Tacoma Washington on wolf conservation and management.
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May 6, 2017 Spokane Public Library presentation about wolves Pre K-6th grade.
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May 10, 2017 Spokane Public Library presentation about wolves Pre K-6th grade.
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May 11, 2017 Spokane Public Library presentation about wolves Pre K-6th grade.
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May 12, 2017 Spokane Public Library presentation about wolves Pre K-6th grade.
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May 17, 2017 Spokane Public Library presentation about wolves Pre K-6th grade.
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May 18, 2017 Spokane Public Library presentation about wolves Pre K-6th grade.
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May 19, 2017 Low-Stress Livestock Handling Training presentation about WDFW wolf conflict program offerings.
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June 6, 2017 Selkirk High School presentation about wolf conflict in Washington.
Weekly staff activity reports
Wolf related WDFW work activities can be found in Wildlife Program weekly activity reports.