Grazing Allotments opened early this year

It appears that no longer waiting until after June 1st for Putting calves out is a requirement. Opening early has placed small calves in the forests already. Not to mention allowing more time for the cattle to eat all of our Wildlifes food for the winter. If they continue to not manage cattle properly, they are endangering not only their cattle, but our wildlife. Our Wildlife need our Research in COURT ASAP.

Update on Washington Wolves
Latest reports on key wolf activities, conservation efforts, and management actions
May 24, 2018
WDFW confirms wolves caused calf’s death in northern Ferry County
WDFW officials have confirmed that one or more wolves caused the death of a calf whose
carcass was discovered May 20 in a federal grazing allotment in northern Ferry County, within
the Togo wolf pack range.
A woodcutter working in the area said he approached a gate that separates U.S. Forest Service
land from private property, where he heard a cow bawling and saw a black wolf running from the
area where the calf was found. The woodcutter reported the incident to the producer, who had
seen the calf alive earlier in the day and who then found the carcass and reported the incident
to WDFW.
A WDFW official arrived later on May 20 and conducted an investigation with help from a wildlife
specialist employed by Stevens and Ferry counties.
The investigators found that the calf had bite lacerations and puncture wounds to both rear
quarters, upper rear legs, neck and sternum, consistent with predation by a wolf. Hemorrhaging
was visible near the bite wounds and was also found in the left front armpit, where no
lacerations or punctures were visible. Evidence indicated the calf was alive during the
depredation event.
Based on all available evidence, WDFW classified the event as a confirmed wolf depredation by
one or more members of the Togo pack. The incident represents the third confirmed
depredation involving the Togo pack in the past seven months.
In this case, the producer deployed one proactive deterrence measure – checking on his cattle
daily. The WDFW wolf-livestock interaction protocol identifies the expectation of at least two
proactive deterrence measures.
Department staff and the producer discussed additional deterrent strategies (including the use
of fladry and Foxlights) but agreed the use of range riders would be the most effective additional
deterrent, given that the cow-calf operation takes place in an unfenced allotment in rugged
terrain. Later on May 20, the producer deployed a range rider and made plans to rotate several
riders from the Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative and WDFW to provide ongoing
daily or near-daily coverage.
The presence of the Togo pack was confirmed during the WDFW annual wolf population survey
in late 2017, following a series of events in October and November that coincided with multiple
wolf sightings by local residents.
On Oct. 27, 2017, a livestock producer shot and killed a wolf that was in the act of attacking his
livestock in northern Ferry County. In early November, WDFW confirmed two additional reports
of wolf depredations on livestock in the same area. The information gained from those
investigations suggested the presence of a new wolf pack. Additional details appear in WDFW’s