This report provides information about wolf conservation and management activities undertaken by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) from Jan.1 to Jan. 31, 2019
Statewide wolf capture, survey, and management
Wolf biologists conducted aerial wolf captures with a helicopter in northeast Washington this past month, where they were able to collar a wolf in the Stranger pack, one in the Carpenter Ridge pack, and one in the Goodman Meadows pack. Biologists also conducted two surveys with a small plane to survey packs and conduct counts in northeast Washington and one flight down to the central Cascades to count in the Loup Loup and Teanaway areas. These flights are utilized to count the number of wolves in the packs where at least one individual in the pack has a radio collar. The flights provide information for WDFW’s minimum wolf count estimates that will be tallied in the annual report due out in early April. A presentation will be given at the April Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting.
Wolf biologists also conducted winter track surveys in the Sherman, Dirty Shirt, Leadpoint, Togo, Salmo, and Lookout packs to get annual minimum counts. They also surveyed areas where recent reports from the public suggest there may be some wolf activity. These areas included the Chiliwist in Okanogan County, the Lake Wenatchee area in Chelan County, and the Tanuem and Stampede Pass areas in Kittitas County. These surveys are generally conducted by snowmobiling the road systems in the area to locate wolf tracks and following the wolf tracks on snowshoes to determine the number of individuals in each of the packs. By monitoring/tracking each area several times over the course of the winter, biologists get an estimate of the minimum number of individuals in the pack.
Any reports of remote camera images or videos, wolf tracks, or sightings from the public are helpful to assist in locating new wolf activity and potential new packs on the landscape. Please share your photos of wolves or wolf sign (use some way to measure the size of the track) by uploading them to the department’s wolf reporting webpage.
Proactive Deterrence Measures
Kittitas County
Permit grazing for cattle and sheep has ended for the season in the Teanaway Pack’s known territory.
- No wolf/livestock incidents were reported or suspected in January.
- A RAG (radio-activated guard) box is in place at a location on the eastern edge of the pack’s territory as a precaution to protect cattle on private land.
Depredation Investigations
On Jan. 5, 2019, three depredations by the OPT pack were confirmed in Ferry County. For full details, please see the Jan. 11 update.
Statewide Preparation for spring/summer 2019
Department staff members reviewed 2018 activities and compiled opportunities for improvements for 2019. A new WDFW Range Rider request for quotation (RFQ) and additional training opportunities for staff were some items identified.
Communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement
During January, department wildlife conflict staff held “Wolf 101” informational presentations for the Washington Association of Conservation Districts, Asotin and Garfield counties, the Columbia County Conservation District Annual Meeting, the Lincoln County Conservation District, and the Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District Annual Meeting. These presentations included information on wolf identification, statewide and local wolf counts, statewide wolf management objectives, nonlethal deterrent measures, and what to do if wolf depredation of livestock is suspected. Each meeting was attended by between 28-130 people.