[timberghost]

The wolves are going to need our help when the Ungulate population is wiped out. We will need a feeding station for them. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/yellowstone-elk-numbers-decline-park-190000284.html

[Ski]

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife February 2, 2024 The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced on Feb. 2, 2024 a not-warranted finding (https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-02/service-announces-gray-wolf-finding-and-national-recovery-plan) for two petitions to list gray wolves under the federal Endangered Species Act in the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western United States. The federal legal status of gray wolves does not change as a result of this finding. The USFWS also announced it will undertake a process to develop a first-ever nationwide gray wolf recovery plan by Dec. 12, 2025 as well as initiate a new effort to create and foster a national dialogue around how communities can live with gray wolves. WDFW plans to engage in these processes. This decision means that the gray wolf's listing status under the federal Endangered Species Act will remain the same in Washington. Wolves are federally delisted in Washington east of Highway 97 from the British Columbia border south to Monse, Highway 17 from Monse south to Mesa, and Highway 395 from Mesa south to the Oregon border (the eastern one-third of the state) and are federally listed west of these highways (the western two-thirds of the state). Today's announcement by the USFWS does not affect the state listing status of wolves. Wolves are currently listed as state-endangered statewide in Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is currently reviewing the state status of wolves. WDFW released the Draft Periodic Status Review (PSR) (https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02427) for the Gray Wolf in May 2023 and plans to release the Final PSR in February 2024. The Fish and Wildlife Commission will have a briefing and public hearing on the PSR in March, followed by a decision in April. WDFW remains committed to the recovery and long-term sustainability of Washington's gray wolf population. WDFW will continue to work closely with partners, stakeholders, and communities, as we have over the past decade, to recover, conserve, and manage Washington wolves. WDFW and its partners are focused on reducing conflict between wolves and livestock, emphasizing proactive nonlethal conflict deterrence, and achieving statewide recovery objectives. Since the first WDFW wolf survey in 2008, the state's wolf population has grown by an average of 23 percent per year. The state's minimum year-end wolf population increased for the 14th year in a row in 2022. WDFW and tribes counted 216 wolves (five percent increase) in 37 packs in Washington in 2022. Of these packs, 26 were successful breeding pairs. Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Annual Reports (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/gray-wolf/publications) and other information about Washington's wolves can be found on WDFW's website. Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-855-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov. -WDFW-

[timberghost]

WDFW and its partners are focused on reducing conflict between wolves and livestock, emphasizing proactive nonlethal conflict deterrence, and achieving statewide recovery objectives. What about conflicts between wolves and people's pets?

[Ski]

Why would their pets matter? They're not indigenous animals.

[Sky Hiker]

Probably referencing the fact of them killing peoples pets like the recent dog kill in the Methow

[treeswarper]

[Bronco]

[Sky Hiker]

Yea it was up Texas cr I believe. If you go to the map on this website and check Wolf it will show the location. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/dangerous-wildlife/reports

[timberghost]

The unique part is that with the ungulates population at an all time low in Wa and the wolves are force to find food in other sources. Just like they are now in Yellowstone where they are feeding on bison since the elk population went below 5000. When a wolves natural fear of man (which existed from being hunted) is lost they are more apt to feed closer to humans.

[Sculpin]

[Sky Hiker]

We know wolves don't survive on elk alone, ungulates populations include deer, moose, sheep, goats and elk. You would find that more deer are taken by wolves then elk in Wa state. Elk pop in Wa 45,000 to 50,000 est., deer 270,000 to 330,000 est.. Deer population is distributed across the whole state, Elk are not. Some packs feed on elk and some don't depending on their territory. 29% below the objective. The state varies its objective from year to year with a lot based on current population to make it's self look good.

[Ski]

^ The Roosevelt Elk population in the Mt. St. Helens area historically had the largest population (of elk) in Washington State. The primary reason for the population decline in the St. Helens area is (as noted above) lack of foraging habitat. Not enough open space at upper elevations as there always was historically (due to either fire or timber harvesting.) Curiously the quote above doesn't mention the Olympic Peninsula, which hosts the second-largest population of elk in Washington State.

[Sculpin]

[brineal]

[timberghost]

Its good to hear you feel that way