Grass growers burned by agents
They’re growing more than critters on Washington’s state wildlife lands this spring.
A marijuana operation with more than 12,000 plants was discovered recently by state and federal wildlife agents in the 80,000-acre Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in south Grant and Adams counties.
The drug case was turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, but wildlife officers are investigating public-lands abuse and fish and wildlife poaching by two men who were living off the land.
“We located a buried plastic irrigation line running over a half mile from a local canal system to the growing operation,” said Chris Anderson, state wildlife enforcement captain. “We also found many dead birds, rabbit carcasses and fishing poles, indicating they had been supplementing their camp’s food supply with illegal game.”
Staff reports
PREDATORS
Wolves in news
Wolves have killed 15 domestic buck sheep and injured 14 others on private land in the East Fork of the Blacktail, south of Dillon, Montana officials reported last week as they authorized USDA Wildlife Services to kill three of the pack’s five adult wolves.
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said the Freezeout Pack likely killed two ewes, as well. The wolves killed six sheep on the same property in early May.
•A Kalispell man hunting black bear shot and killed a wolf northwest of Whitefish two weeks ago.
Zachary Harms was walking along the road with his rifle, thinking he may have seen a black bear when one wolf ran up the hillside. The other ran down the road towards Harms. The wolf closed to approximately 10 feet and Harms fired, hitting the female wolf in the front of the head.
The hunter contacted the sheriff’s office to report he had killed a wolf. State game wardens investigated, and determined the shooting was in self-defense and allowable under state law.
Associated Press
HUNTING
Master hunters get briefing
A meeting for Washington’s certified master hunters is set for Saturday in Spokane to discuss the new Master Hunter program and upcoming hunts in northeastern Washington.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the master hunter advisory group will convene from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council Headquarters, 6116 North Market Street.
Rich Landers
BOATING
Teacher’s course
What: Free safety instructor training for experienced Washington boaters.
When: June 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Apply by June 17.
Where: Spokane Community College Auditorium, 1810 N. Greene St.
Background: Boating instructors are in demand. Boat operators ages 12 to 20 years old are required to carry a boater education card starting this year when operating a motorboat of 15 hp or greater on Washington’s waters. Requirement will be phased in to older age groups through 2014.
Info: For the instructor course, (360) 586-6592 or e-mail boating@parks.wa.gov. For Mandatory Boating Safety Program, (360) 902-8844 or go online, www.parks.wa.gov/ boating