quote:

Originally posted by Snapper:
Yellowstone National Park

[QUOTE] Survey finds young elk the preferred prey over bulls,

said Doug Smith, Yellowstone's lead wolf biologist. [QOUTE]

Thank you Captain Obvious!

And this guy got a degree..............?

quote:

Originally posted by Riodot:

quote:

Originally posted by Riodot:

quote:

Originally posted by Snapper:
Yellowstone National Park

[QUOTE] Survey finds young elk the preferred prey over bulls,

said Doug Smith, Yellowstone's lead wolf biologist.

Thank you Captain Obvious!

And this guy got a degree..............?

Coming from you TWICE - that's a hell of a statement. T

Obviously, you are still working on your's. Aye, rocketman?

Brent

Smith is a dumb ass, meet him in person and you will know the lies that spew from his liberal mouth! It is a shame, students from our local schools go to jellystone and have to listen to his BS about the wolf and bear and how much good their presence in the wilds is doing. I guess it is ok if you don't like to hunt.

Several common ideas in Kudu's post

Posted by Kudu 56

Wolf Numbers Continue to Grow
far

By MIKE STARK
Billings Gazette Tuesday, March 20, 2007

BILLINGS, Mont. -- There are now at least 1,300 wolves prowling Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, far more than anyone imagined when the species was reintroduced in the Northern Rockies 12 years ago.

The wolf population has, on average, grown by about 26 percent a year for the past decade. The latest estimates, which summarize counts completed at the end of 2006, show they aren't slowing down.

It's no surprise that wolves are thriving following reintroduction in 1995 and 1996 in Yellowstone National Park and in central Idaho. Wolves are skilled predators, fast breeders and able to live in different environments.

Bangs said he's surprised that the wolf population continues to grow so steadily. Eventually it will level off, he said, and will likely drop to lower numbers once state agencies take over management and are able to use hunting as a tool to control the population.

The number of elk, which are wolves' primary winter prey, has declined 50 percent in the area since 1995. A decreasing prey base and increasing wolf density is likely to mean a decline in wolf (GROWTH?) numbers over the next several years, biologists said.

Ultimately, the survival of wolves in the Northern Rockies won't be determined by conflicts with other wolves, Bangs said. "People will decide how many wolves there are and where they're going to live," Bangs said.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The faster the wolves finish off the rest of the Elk, Moose, Deer etc, in Yellowstone, the faster they will head East and help out with the deer problem. We should be in the clear in a few years.

Why did we stop the reintroduction of wolves to National Parks? There are other National Parks that could use these great creatures. Instead of shooting the excess wolves that get into trouble, we should be trapping them and relocating them with our Bighorn Sheep.

Question: Why didn't we buy local wolves from MN and release them in Yellowstone? Buy American!!!

quote:

Bangs said he's surprised that the wolf population continues to grow so steadily.

This piece of work has made the same statement publicly, in newspapers and on Tv, no less than a dozen times in the last 7 years! A real biological guru he is!

quote:

Originally posted by kudu56:
[QUOTE]Bangs said he's surprised that the wolf population continues to grow so steadily.

Sounds like they are surprised there aren't more wolves given the Biomass (Elk) available according to this report.

http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/03/20/news/wyoming/50-deaths.txt

Which is it?

You did read the part about the 50% reduction in elk didn't you!

Kudu56

I thought the wolves will stop eating Elk at the 50% reduction mark.

How long until Elk are the missing link in Yellowstone and we have to pay to re-introduce them?

There is actually talk of putting the Shiras moose on the threatened species list. Still huntable populations in most of the moose areas, but total numbers are way down. That would be excellent, elk and moose on the threatened species list! Then the next step is ESA! LOL!

Report: Wolves hit elk calves

JACKSON (AP) 3/28/07 -- Wolves are reducing cow-calf ratios in elk herds in parts of northwest Wyoming, according to a report by the state Game and Fish Department.

The report finds wolves are affecting cow-calf ratios in four of the eight elk herds where they are present.

But in half of the herds occupied by wolves, we saw a significantly greater rate of decline after wolves were established compared to herds without wolves. We can't attribute that increased rate of decline to any factor other than wolves."

Ah yes, like sands through an hour glass, the world turns! I talked with a W,G&F regional biologist Thursday, he said parts of Idaho are far worse than Wyoming
for cow to calf ratio's.


Feds plan another wolf concession


By WHITNEY ROYSTER
Star-Tribune environmental reporter Saturday, March 31, 2007

JACKSON -- One of the major stumbling blocks preventing removal of federal protection for wolves in Wyoming appears to be crumbling, as the federal government has agreed to review a policy allowing wolves to be killed if they are hurting wildlife.

Wyoming's inability to kill wolves to protect elk before delisting has been one of the primary unmet demands by Gov. Dave Freudenthal and other state officials in negotiations with federal officials regarding wolf management.

Mitch King, regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said Friday his agency is looking to amend its rules to allow states to kill wolves that are harming big game in the period between proposed and formal delisting. He hopes the changes will be drafted by May and open for public comment.

Ed Bangs, federal wolf recovery coordinator for the lower 48 states, said he hopes the amendment to the so-called "10(j) rule" will prompt Wyoming to develop an acceptable wolf management plan.

He said one of the goals of amending the rule is to "make it easier to get Wyoming on board" with delisting, and to recognize that other states have "legitimate concerns" about impacts to elk and other ungulates, dogs and livestock.

King said for Wyoming to be on board with the current delisting proposal -- out for public comment now -- a plan would have to be submitted by May.

But Wyoming Attorney General Pat Crank said the state won't and can't have a new wolf management plan by May.

"It's pretty ironic that after stonewalling us for three years, they're asking for something by May," Crank said.

He said the state is "charging ahead as hard as we can" with its lawsuit to force the federal government to accept Wyoming's 2003 wolf management plan. Approval of a state wolf plan is necessary for wolf delisting to proceed in Wyoming.

This year, the Legislature passed a bill that largely complies with revised federal requirements for wolf delisting. That includes an area in northwest Wyoming where wolves would be categorized as trophy game and subject to regulated hunting. Outside that zone, wolves would be classified as predators and could be shot on sight.

But that bill takes effect only if wolves are removed from Endangered Species Act protection by February 2008, and if the federal government amends the 10(j) rule to allow killing of wolves to protect wildlife. Currently, federal agents are authorized to kill wolves only if they're preying on livestock.

Crank said if the federal officials want to see a wolf management plan, they can read the new state statute and see what would happen. He said it is up to the federal government to meet some of the stipulations in the new plan to make sure the law doesn't "vanish."

In an opinion column in the Wyoming Livestock Roundup this month, Freudenthal wrote that the federal government has bent to Wyoming's state management plan by agreeing to the dual status of predator and trophy game, and has agreed that Wyoming can manage for seven breeding pairs of wolves outside Yellowstone National Park instead of 15.

"Two years ago, no one would have predicted that the Service would show this degree of flexibility on wolf management," Freudenthal wrote. "We hope that this willingness to cooperate opens the door for Wyoming and the federal government to reach a resolution that protects the wildlife and livestock interests of the state."

The current 10(j) language dictates that wolves can be killed only if they are determined to be the primary cause of elk population decline, instead of simply having only some impact.

King said the proposed amendment is not directly a result of issues with Wyoming, but rather, because the agency knows there are impacts to wildlife from increased wolf numbers.

"What we're trying to do is plan ahead for that and keep the continued expansion of wolf populations from having a significant adverse impact on the elk populations," King said.

Wyoming officials have been adamant about killing wolves that are harming big game populations in the interim period between proposed delisting and actual delisting, which they believe will be several years.

In the new law passed by lawmakers this year, the state would have the ability to kill wolves that are harming big game herds as long as there were 17 breeding pairs of wolves in the state in the period before delisting.

Under the eyed language for the amended 10(j) rule, Wyoming would have to have at least 20 breeding pairs statewide for the killing in the name of wildlife to be allowed.

King said the difference should not be a surprise to the state, as he has talked with officials here and biologists about what the "triggers" should be to assess wolf impacts on big game herds.

Freudenthal, however, indicated that it is the federal government that will have to change its stance to accept Wyoming's previously submitted plan.

The federal plan

The current federal delisting proposal -- open for public comment through May -- includes Montana and Idaho, and the majority of Wyoming outside the northwest corner.

Most of Wyoming's wolves would be classified as predators even under the current delisting plan, as the Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that populations outside northwest Wyoming are not critical to maintain desired wolf numbers. Critics maintain the wolf population will be at great risk if in most of the state the animals could be killed at any time, for any reason.

Once wolves are delisted, the states can manage wolves however they choose -- providing they each maintain a minimum of 10 breeding pairs. Federal officials have approved plans calling for maintaining 15 breeding pairs to provide "breathing room" in case something dramatic happens to some of the wolf populations.

Wyoming, now with an estimated 26 packs, has said it wants to manage for the minimum number of wolves.

Idaho and Montana have developed federally accepted wolf management plans, and are currently operating under the 10(j) rule, which gives them more flexibility to deal with problem wolves.

Impact on elk

A report released by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department this week concluded that wolves are hurting cow-calf ratios in four of the eight elk herds within home range of wolf packs.

Officials also attributed the decline in calf numbers to long-term drought and habitat, but said the decline sharpened after wolf reintroduction.

Game and Fish biologists have set a minimum ratio of 25 calves per 100 cows in order to maintain hunting opportunities and have said there is "little opportunity for hunting" when the ratio falls below 20 calves per 100 cows.

The four elk herds in Wyoming that have wolves present and are experiencing declines have dropped below 25 calves per 100 cows, and two of those herds have fewer than 20 calves per 100 cows, according to Game and Fish.

Meredith Taylor, with the Wyoming Outdoor Council, said Game and Fish is spinning data to show wolves are having a greater impact than they actually are. She said in the northern area of Yellowstone, studies have shown black and grizzly bears have a bigger impact on calf elk than wolves.

"It would be to the Game and Fish Department's benefit to honestly demonstrate the data provided in their own biologist's report and recommend statewide trophy game status for the gray wolf in order to proceed with delisting and eventually hunting wolves," Taylor said.

March 20, 2007

The wolf population has, on average, grown by about 26 percent a year for the past decade.

The latest estimates, which summarize counts completed at the end of 2006, show they aren't slowing down.