Posted on 09/03/2011 9:42:33 PM PDT by george76
Wolf sightings in the Blue Mountains are becoming more frequent this summer, but wildlife officials for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have yet to document firm evidence of a pack forming in the southeastern corner of the state.
Paul Wik, district biologist for the department at Clarkston, said the canyons and timbered ridges southeast of Dayton have been a hot spot for wolf reports this year. Some hunters have even captured images of wolves with trail cameras, he said.
"It's definitely no secret they are here," Wik said. "The only question to us is what their status is."
...
It is believed there are five wolf packs in Washington. Wolves in all of Washington are protected by the Washington Endangered Species Act and those in the western two-thirds of the state are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.
(Excerpt) Read more at standard.net ...
It’s a matter of time before they are fully involved in wolf management
...then increase their budget, hire more staff, and
....and admonish Little Red Riding Hood.
Ping for the Outdoors/Rural/wildlife list
Oh, some believe there is more than that. Smoke a pack a day.
I was about 12 before I saw my first Bald Eagle in Washington. This was about 1970. Today, my son is about that same age and he has seen dozens and dozens of them. We can go out on any given day on an Eagle watch and find one easily.
My wife reports multiple calls to her police dept with mountain lions coming into yards to carry off small pets. (Pocatello/Chubbuck area of southeast Idaho)
I’ve seen Bald Eagles hunting along the Snake River near Blackfoot, ID. Many more in Yellowstone National Park.
“... mountain lions coming into yards to carry off small pets”
That is just frightening to me. If they are that bold to come into a person’s yard... how long will it be that a child is taken? (mountain lions just scare the heck out of me)
Hell, I'd be more concerned that they will get me!!!
“I’d be more concerned that they will get me”
I read stories about them on FR and to be honest... they are something I wouldn’t want to tangle with. I think the most frightening part of it is that they can stalk or hide (blend in and wait to pounce). Plus, they are big and I couldn’t outrun them. It is probably a good thing that I don’t live in an area with that problem... I would probably be the nutty neighbor who carried a gun to retrieve their mail. LOL!
There’s no upside to the reintroduction of wolves in the Northwest or the lower 48 for that matter. More funds from Fish & Game money used for their management. Less game available for hunters. More livestock and pet depredation and although small an additional danger to humans.
The lack of wolves for the last 80 or so years has caused no problems whatsoever, they should leave well enough alone.
That's false right there - The grey wolf doesn't belong in WA, MT, ID, WY. It has never been here - And the Timber Wolf, while endangered, never left here, so reintroduction is a misnomer... But you are right about the 'no upside' thing.
You’re point is well taken and I agree, I just don’t go into that part of it every time I post on this. The Canadian grey wolf is a larger and more dangerous animal than the American Timber Wolf.
I have a second home in Pennsylvania and just about three months ago I was told by someone I believe that some hunters had positively seen a mountain lion two years ago in an area roughly 10 miles from my house.
Given the cougar’s ability to travel long distances, I have taken to holstering my .357 magnum when I take my dog for walks up there (I’m in Virginia right now).
But as you point out, they can hide and blend into the forest and wait for you (even, as I have read, up in a tree above your path). In which case, if they’re around, I stand little chance.
Oh well, I’m old and have had a good life.
“I’m old and have had a good life”.
Nonsense, OldPossum! You are still very young at heart. You keep carrying that .357 and you stay safe! It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were in Virginia or Pennsylvania. I would be glancing around for those big paw prints but you know what... there are a lot of predators (4 legged and 2 legged) around us all the time. IMHO, the .357 is sort of your “equalizer” and you should have it on all your walks!
In SW rural OR I see mountain lion tracks on my property every couple of years, heard them scream twice.
Uncanny sound.
Bears are a dime a dozen. Wolves, haven’t heard of any around here (yet).
Not to pry but what do they sound like when they scream? Is it usually at night or any time of the day? I bet it is the type of sound that makes your blood run cold.
I’d read that mountian lions, unlike other large cats, scream, that it sounds like a woman screaming. Once it was at evening twilight, once in the early night.
It was unearthly, not like any scream of a human, really. Almost like the scream or call of a hawk but of course much louder, with more depth. It was very frightening.
You probably reacted way better than I would have, Little Jeremiah! I would have locked myself inside the house and wouldn’t go outside till NOON the next day (and then armed like Rambo). The only GOOD thing... you are aware that they are near you. I would think that awareness is much better than assuming that they aren’t anywhere near you...
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