Aggressive Wolf Killed near Winston, Recovery Efforts in Question

Sierra County Sentinel ^ | 12/21/11 | Etta Pettijohn

[girlangler]

The recent killing of an aggressive Mexican gray wolf by federal agents at a ranch near Winston could lead to a reassessment of the already struggling recovery effort for that species.

The wolf was reportedly shot by agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services division on Dec. 14, after it paced across the porch and gazed through the window of John and Crystal Diamond’s Beaverhead Ranch home. The Diamond residence is located in Catron County, although near enough to Sierra County to be in the Winston mailing area.

The wolf was killed just weeks after the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted 3-1 to end its support for continued releases of wolves in that state until the federal government completes critical planning measures, although it retained financial and infrastructure support of the endangered animals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which oversees the recovery effort, isn’t expected to complete these measures for three or four years, including updating of the nearly 30-year-old recovery plan, environmental studies and potential revisions to the project’s management rules. Wolf populations were projected to reach 100 by 2006, but have fluctuated between 42 and 52. Earlier this year, the New Mexico Game and Fish Commission voted to suspend its fiscal and personnel support of the recovery program.

Wire-based news reports across New Mexico and Arizona, where the wolf recovery is underway, neglected to mention the wolf was on the porch of the residence and acting in a dangerous manner in close relation to humans. Instead, reports mirrored the statements of wolf-advocacy and environmental group, Center for Biological Diversity, stating the female wolf was attracted to dogs on the property. The wolf was known to have mated with a domestic dog last year and produced a litter of five hybrid pups, of which all but one were euthanized by FWS.

Federal agents attempted unsuccessfully to tranquilize the animal for removal, but after repeated attempts resorted to lethal measures. According to Crystal Diamond, she arrived home with her two young children when a neighbor alerted her to the wolf’s presence.

In a statement issued through the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, Mrs. Diamond said the animal came onto the porch and at one point was staring into the window. She called wildlife officials and her husband, John, who was away from the ranch at that time, and the wolf continued the aggressive behavior until help arrived. FWS officials said tracks showed the wolf staying at a close distance from the residence even after it left the porch.

Tom Buckley, FWS spokesman, said “Concerns for public safety became an issue after (the wolf) continued to be present on ranch property so the Service gave the order to proceed with lethal removal.”

After news of the wolf’s shooting, Michael Robinson, spokesman for the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), attributed the death of the animal to a failure of the FWS to increase the wolf population, causing the female to seek domestic animals for breeding. The news release from the CBD does not mention the wolf was in close proximity to humans and acting aggressively. It is well known among professional wildlife managers that wild animals—whether wolves, bears or most other wildlife—may become dangerous once they lose the fear of humans.

“This lonesome wolf did not have to die,” read a CBD news with the headline: Feds Shoot Lonely Mexican Gray Wolf Attracted to Dogs: Tragedy Linked to Federal Refusal to Release Wolves to Wild.

“If there were enough potential mates for her to choose from, this social creature wouldn’t have desperately sought the company of domestic dogs,” the release continued, without mention of the animal’s threatening behavior at the Diamond residence. “To ensure another wolf doesn’t pay the same price, the Obama administration must release more wolves into the wild.”

[girlangler]

ping

[girlangler]

I didn’t forget you, just posted too fast. Hope you and family have a Blessed Christmas.

[Larry Lucido]

Aggressive Wolf Killed near Winston, Recovery Efforts in Question

I'm guessing the killed wolf won't recover.

[Eska]

I've had yealing pups walk up my lane in late August, sit down nx to my porch and look at my sled dogs on their chains. My son called that same pup in a couple times while waiting on school bus with sqealer.

Had wolves get into my garbage cans at 3 am last November. They came back 2 nights later and then I set up game camera; they never returned.

[jimnm]

The CBD folks live in an alternate universe.

[jazusamo]

Good article.

The Center for Biological Diversity people are just plain nuts. They say this wolf having lost the fear of man is the fault of the FWS, that's really a stretch.

The desert doesn't seem to be near as conducive to supporting a wolf population as do the northern climes, maybe the CBD should give this insanity up.

[txhurl]

Wonder what they’re doing with the spared puppy.

[calex59]

“If there were enough potential mates for her to choose from, this social creature wouldn’t have desperately sought the company of domestic dogs,” the release continued, without mention of the animal’s threatening behavior at the Diamond residence. “To ensure another wolf doesn’t pay the same price, the Obama administration must release more wolves into the wild.”

A perfect example of liberals convoluted logic. It isn't that wolves are dangerous it is the fact they can't mate, what a**hats.

[jazusamo]

Wonder what they’re doing with the spared puppy.

Using it to bait a Mexican Jaguar?

Just kidding. :-)

[JRandomFreeper]

This lonesome wolf did not have to die,

Har... Wolf was working point and got what point gets. Obviously, all the others took the hint.

/johnny

[george76]

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[Tucker39]

She was apparently looking for another dog to mate with. Those Alpha Male wolves must not be all they’re cracked up to be!

[Loyal Sedition]

Tons of money and hundreds of thousands of hours of labor were required to eradicate the damned wolves in the first place.

Now these idiots want to undo all that good work.

The only thing wolves in the continental U.S. are good for is making fur coats, but you have to harvest them in the winter.

[girlangler]

Merry Christmas to you george. Good to be corresponding with you again.

[txhurl]

There was a guy found a 200lb jaguar posted about a month ago.

Big animal, was it in NM?

[girlangler]

Excuse me, I should have spelled that Center for Biological Absurdity (LOL).

[jazusamo]

I didn’t read about that one, missed it some how.

A couple years or so ago there was a big todo in AZ (I believe) about Fish and Wildlife baiting a Jaguar, can’t remember the details.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Yeah, it’s called urban apartment dwelling. Wild animals don’t cause them any problems.

[Jack Hydrazine]

If you want to get to rid of wolves without getting blamed just take three Irish Wolfhounds,



which were bred to kill wolves, on a day hike or a backpacking trip in the area where wolves are known to tread. Track the wolf prints so when you run into them with your dogs the problem gets taken care of...naturally. Be sure to keep a firearm and a six inch hunting knife as backup.

When the remains are found all the authorities or enviro-nuts will be able to determine is that some other animal attacked and killed it. If you get blamed all you have to say is that you were out hiking when the wolves tried to attack you and your dogs protected you. What are they going to do? Arrest your dogs?

This is way better than S3!

This is a great family dog but the downside is that they only live about seven years.