Wed., Jan. 4, 2012
WILDLIFE -- The annual year-end survey of the Washington’s five confirmed wolf packs has documented three successful breeding pairs and a total of at least 27 wolves, the state Fish and Wildlife Department says in a media release posted today. Click here for details on...
Wed., Jan. 4, 2012
WILDLIFE -- Many of the wolves in northeastern Washington moved in naturally from Idaho. But the Gem State is a dangerous place for the wolves to return. A radio-collared wolf from the Diamond Pack in east-central Pend Oreille County was killed Dec. 20 by a...
Wed., Dec. 21, 2011
WILDLIFE -- The Obama administration today declared more than 4,000 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have recovered from widespread extermination and will be removed from the endangered species list. After devoting four decades and tens of millions of dollars to saving the gray wolf,...
Wed., Dec. 21, 2011
PREDATORS -- Idaho is using trappers and helicopter gunners to try to get wolf numbers down. In Montana, with wolf-harvest goals looking as though they could go unmet, a hunting group is offering a legal version of a bounty as an incentive to get hunters...
Thu., Dec. 15, 2011
PREDATORS -- Last week, Idaho Fish and Game officials announced they will be using aerial gunning from helicopters to help reduce the number of wolves along the Idaho -Montana border in an effort to give a hurting elk herd some breathing room to recover. The...
Mon., Dec. 12, 2011
PREDATORS -- Idaho Fish and Game Department plans to use helicopter gunners and government trappers to kill wolves roaming the Lolo Zone, a remote, rugged area in the north-central part of the state once populated by some of Idaho's biggest elk herds. Trapping efforts will...
Fri., Dec. 9, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- After four years of development, public review and controversy, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Saturday unanimously adopted a plan that will guide state conservation and management of gray wolves in the state. The citizen commission approved the Gray Wolf Conservation and...
Fri., Dec. 9, 2011
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has budgeted more than $800,000 to manage wolves in the state during the next two years. That's less than half of what Idaho and Montana are spending with federal support that's likely to evaporate in the next couple...
Wed., Dec. 7, 2011
PREDATORS -- Hunters and trappers are making a little progress in reducing the number of wolves in Idaho, with North Idaho hunters doing better than they did during the last wolf season in 2009-2010. Here's this week's update from Jim Hayden, Idaho Fish and Game...
Mon., Dec. 5, 2011
PREDATORS -- While the sheep will always face predators, falling victim to a wolf hasn't been a looming concern for livestock growers in Blaine County, Idaho, where a Defenders of Wildlife project is showing encouraging results. Four years ago, Defenders began monitoring how many sheep...
Sat., Dec. 3, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Here are more detailed accounts of today's meeting in which the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted an amended Gray Wolf Management and Conservation Plan four years in the making: From the Associated Press. From Northwest Sportsman Magazine.
Thu., Dec. 1, 2011
WILDLIFE -- A male black wolf shot by a southeastern Montana rancher Sunday had traveled hundreds of miles from its former home range in Wyoming, officials say. The 2-1/2-year old wolf was far from home — 300 in a direct line and many more on...
Wed., Nov. 30, 2011
PREDATORS -- A quote to consider regarding the status of wolf control in Montana: "Most hunters say 'I'm just not going to put aside my deer and elk season for wolves.' So it will be interesting to see if anybody shows up and if they'll...
Tue., Nov. 29, 2011
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- After four years of development, extensive public review -- and lingering controversy -- the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider adopting a plan for managing wolves as they re-establish breeding packs on the east side of the state. The commission, currently...
Tue., Nov. 29, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Despite considerable controversy over the proposed Washington Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, it's likely to be approved this weekend by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Read my previous blog post for links and details. The major point of contention is the...
Tue., Nov. 29, 2011
PREDATORS -- A southwestern Montana sportsman’s group is hoping to encourage wolf hunting in the Bitterroot Valley by holding a drawing for a rifle from among the names of those who successfully bag a wolf in December. Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association President Tony...
Wed., Nov. 16, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that conservation groups have a good chance of overturning a state order to kill wolves blamed for attacking livestock, and issued a stay that will remain in force until the lawsuit is settled, according to...
Tue., Nov. 15, 2011
PREDATORS -- Idaho's wolf trapping season starts today to boost the take of wolves in areas where hunting hasn't been able to fulfill the quotas set by the state. Meanwhile in Montana, where the general rifle season hunting past the half-way mark, the public and...
Mon., Nov. 14, 2011
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS -- A woman scouting for deer during Washington's early deer hunt details her tense encounter with two wolves that apparently were defending their deer kill near Lake Chelan in this blog post by Andy Walgamott of Northwest Sportsman. No shots fired. I admire...
Sun., Nov. 13, 2011
WILDLIFE – Three hunting groups are supporting the state of Oregon in a lawsuit trying to overturn state authority to shoot wolves that attack livestock, the Associated Press reports. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Oregon Hunters Association, and the Oregon chapter of the North...
Tue., Nov. 8, 2011
PREDATORS -- Hunters and their guns have not been particularly effective in controlling wolf numbers in Idaho in the two seasons that have been held over the past three years. This month, wildlife managers will turn to trappers to do the job. The first wolf...
Thu., Nov. 3, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- The first wolf confirmed in western Oregon in 65 years has been roaming Douglas County for a week as wildlife official track its exploration in the high Cascades by satellite. The 2-year-old collared male, dubbed OR-7, has been staying mostly in the...
Thu., Nov. 3, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES – Washington’s proposed Wolf Conservation and Management Plan will be presented and discussed during the state Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting today, starting at 9 a.m. at the Ramada Spokane Airport, 8909 W. Airport Dr. Public comment will be taken during the afternoon...
Mon., Oct. 31, 2011
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Oregon's newest confirmed wolf pack is roaming the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and Wilderness along the Snake River bordering Idaho. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife used hunter reports and remote cameras to help them document at leat five wolves in...
Mon., Oct. 31, 2011
HUNTING -- Hunters are taking a few more wolves this season than in the first season of wolf hunting in the Idaho Panhandle. Wildlife managers say that trend along with this year's new tool in wolf management -- trapping -- should help get the wolf...
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
