Headline News

The Gray Wolf has once again been removed from the US Endangered Species List in the Great Lake States and also Montana and Idaho on May 4, 2009.  The Wolf was nearly hunted to extinction in the US a mere 35 years ago.  Protection was put in place for the Gray Wolf in 1974.  Hunting will once again be an option for most US States.  The States of Montana and Idaho already have a season on Wolves planned for this fall.  The Great Lake States have discussed a hunting season on the Wolf but there have been no official plans made at this time.  Salazar’s decision to proceed with the Bush Administrations 11th hour decision to delist the Wolf was in his opinion based on “science”.  In the Northern Rocky States, Wyoming was excluded from the delisting because of their management plan which included a predator zone where Wolves could be shot on site, at any time and for any reason.  A coalition of Wildlife conservation groups intend to challenge the delisting and seek reinstated protection for the Gray Wolf in a court of law.

Alaska

One of three off leash dogs running with joggers from the Fort Richardson Army Base was attacked by a Wolf this past Sunday.  The joggers were able to yell at the Wolf and it did let the dog go.  The joggers said they never felt threatened by the Wolf.  It was focused on the dog that Fish & Wildlife says the Wolf think of as easy prey.  Officials have closed the trail and posted warning signs.  There are no plans to kill the Wolves.  People are warned to keep their dogs leashed. source article and video

Colorado

Here is an update on the death of 341F, dubbed the travelling Wolf. Authorities say she did not die of natural causes. A criminal investigation is ongoing and, so far, no human suspect has been apprehended.

Illinois

Six critically endangered red wolf pups were born at Lincoln Park Zoo on April 24. Today (May 1) four of those youngsters are headed to North Carolina where they will be released into the wild as part of the Red Wolf Recovery Program. The pups will be inserted into dens of adult wild wolves that will serve as foster parents. These pups are the first wolves from Lincoln Park Zoo to be released to the wild. "  See article and video.

Oregon

A young male Wolf was recently trapped, collared and released.  He was accused of the first documented livestock depredation since Wolves have moved into eastern Oregon around 1999.  The Wolf is said to be a healthy 87lb, 2 year old male by the biologist who examined him from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife see photo.  Oregon officials have no plans to kill Wolves accused of depredations at this time.  The collar this Wolf was fit with will not only allow Oregon officials to be aware of his location but is also fitted with a sensor that will set off an alarm when he approaches livestock which will hopefully scare him away.  Photos courtesy of the ODFW.



Wisconsin

An animal spotted dead in a ditch in Dodge County is thought to be a Wolf.  Adrian Wydeven says Wolves are not common in this area though he feels certain that this animal is 100% Wolf. It is probably a dispersed wolf from Northern Wisconsin or the Upper Peninsula. He cited two cases where wolves from Wisconsin were found out of state. In 2001, a wolf tagged in Northern Wisconsin was found in central Missouri, and in 2003, a wolf tagged in central Wisconsin was found in Eastern Indiana. Wydeven said those cases are unique because most wolves are not tagged. "The nearest pack (of wolves) that we know of is in Adams County," Wydeven said. Wydeven said the animal will be physically assessed, a necropsy will be performed and the DNR may do some genetic testing.

Wyoming

A small pack of Wolves thought to be remnants of the Hayden Pack has taken up residence near the Yellowstone National Park’s Headquarters.  There is said to be 3 black males and one gray female.  The Wolves have been extremely visible to residents of the area and are thought to be habituated to humans.  Doug Smith, the Park’s Wolf Biologist thinks the female is denning with pups and has set up an off-limits zone in the area.

Wyoming... submitted a letter of intent to legally challenge the U.S. Department of Interior's decision to leave the gray wolf in Wyoming on the endangered species list but to delist wolves in Montana and Idaho.  Salzburg said the state's lawsuit, to be filed in Wyoming federal court, questions whether the federal government's objections to the state's dual classification system is based solely on science or is based on "political and public relations" concerns.

A loose coalition of agriculture, conservation, sportsman, outfitter and other interests becomes the latest to announce its intent to file a lawsuit challenging the federal government's final rule for removing wolves from the endangered species list.  The groups are challenging the agency's decision last week to leave the gray wolf in Wyoming on the endangered-species list but to delist wolves in Montana and Idaho.

Ontario

Bradley J. Robbins, 34, of Gilmour, was fined $2,500 for pursuing and killing the wolf. He is also prohibited from engaging in any activity related to the hunting, chasing, pursuing or killing of wolves or coyotes for five years. The court heard that on March 5, 2009, a conservation officer received a complaint from a member of the public stating that a man had run over and killed a wolf with his snowmobile on Limerick Lake. An investigation by the officer led him to Robbins’ residence.  Robbins admitted that he veered off the snowmobile trail on Limerick Lake and ran a wolf over.  When he looked back, he found he had only wounded the animal, so he turned his snowmobile around and struck the animal again, killing it.  To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours.  You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS

Slovenia

Slovenian authorities Friday said they will cull 70 brown bears and 10 wolves this year to maintain a balanced wildlife population, but the hunting quota was markedly less than in the past. Slovenia's bear population is thought to be about 430 while the number of wolves is estimated at between 70 and 100, according to the environment ministry.