Rancher Still had Cattle grazing November 9th

In Ban Grazing Allotments, Oppose Welfare Ranching, Protect The Wolves by Twowolves1 Comment

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We have our Eye on Donny Martorello!

Rancher Still had Cattle grazing November 9th

We are asking for Your Help, to Help Washingtons Wolves. Join Us today at https://continuetogive.com/protectthewolves USFS Refused to cite offending Ranchers in a return Phone call.

It is the Public’s responsibility to bring this matter to court. Join Us to do just that! The only Language that either the USFS or WDFW will comprehend at this point will be that that comes from a judge.

On Nov. 13, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind paused action seeking to lethally remove the two remaining wolves from a pack that repeatedly preyed on cattle while occupying the old Profanity Territory (OPT) in Ferry County.  However, the agency has not moved into a formal evaluation period.

On Sept. 12, Susewind authorized the initial incremental removal of OPT pack members after WDFW field staff confirmed that the pack had killed one calf and injured five others during the previous eight days on a U.S. Forest Service grazing allotment in the Kettle Range.

The Director’s action was consistent with both the state’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the department’s Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, which allows WDFW to use lethal means to reduce future livestock depredations if the department documents three depredations by a pack on livestock within 30 days, or four within ten months.

Previously, on Sept. 28, WDFW had suspended the use of lethal measures after removing two wolves (a juvenile wolf and an adult female) from the pack, and initiated an evaluation period to determine whether that action would change the pack’s behavior.

However, by Oct. 23, the department documented six more depredations by the pack during the evaluation period for a total of 16 depredations (13 injured and three killed livestock) by the pack in under two months. The additional depredations prompted Susewind to reauthorize the removal operation.

Using aircraft, WDFW staff attempted to remove the remaining two pack members (a collared adult male and an uncollared juvenile wolf) multiple times over a two-week period. Staff were unable to locate the uncollared wolf due to the dense forest canopy.

The proactive non-lethal deterrents deployed in the area are described in the wolf updates on Sept. 28, Oct. 19, and Oct. 26.  By Nov. 9, the producer had removed all but a few of the 198 pairs from the grazing allotment.

Director Susewind is assessing the situation before considering any further action.

Source: Gray Wolf Updates | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife