Where Is The Imnaha Alpha Male?

Imnaha alpha male 2009 ….Is he dead?

He’s been gone for over three weeks and no sign of  him, his radio collar silent. Is he the victim of ramped up wolf hysteria in Wallowa County, Oregon?  I hope he’s found quickly but it sounds like the Imnaha pack alpha male may have been a victim of  SSS (Shoot, Shovel, Stutup). 

 From My Central Oregon:

The wolf was outfitted in February with a GPS collar that is capable of tracking his whereabouts. Morgan says it’s not uncommon for a radio collar to fail, but another possibility is that the wolf is dead.

After seven wolf kill permits were issued to ranchers over five cow depredations AND Wildlife Services was given two wolf  kill permits which have been extended twice, what did ODFW think was going to happen?

You have lots of people running around with guns. There is whipped up wolf  hysteria, even an effort in the legislature to initiate a state of wolf emergency in Oregon over FOURTEEN WOLVES, is anyone surprised one of the Imnaha alphas may have been targeted?

But wait, we were told by ODFW, that won’t happen, the kill permit only allows ranchers to shoot a wolf caught in the act. I’m sorry but I live in the Northern Rockies and I know how it works. We have a wolf hater’s website talking about killing wolves with Xylitol so it’s not too far a leap to think someone targeted the alpha male, knowing that could destroy the pack.  This will make life a whole lot harder for Sophie (B-300) and her pups, the pups would about two months old now. The Imnaha pack is the ONLY breeding pair in Oregon.

I hope they find the Imnaha alpha male and find him soon. This is not only worrrisome but  if it’s proven he was killed illegally, it’s criminal.

I thought Oregon would be happy to have their wolves back after a sixty year absence but it’s the same old story. A few ranchers are holding the wolf population hostage and they get away with it because fish and game agencies go right along with it.  Does ODFW get upset when ranchers lose calves to weather, disease, reproduction or theft? I don’t see any explosive headlines about those losses. But let a wolf look at livestock cross-eyed and the situation is blown completely out of proportion.  

Oregon’s reputation has taken a hit. If the alpha male is dead, people will remember this for a long, long  time.

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Missing alpha male wolf concerns ODFW

June 19, 2010    02:27 pm

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says the alpha male is missing from Oregon’s only confirmed breeding pair of wolves.

Russ Morgan, the ODFW’s wolf coordinator, told The Observer newspaper of La Grande that the animal has been missing for about three weeks.

The wolf was outfitted in February with a GPS collar that is capable of tracking his whereabouts. Morgan says it’s not uncommon for a radio collar to fail, but another possibility is that the wolf is dead.

The Oregon Wolf Plan says four breeding pairs must be established in Eastern Oregon before the animal can be de-listed as an endangered species.v

http://www.mycentraloregon.com/news/state/ap/1235072/Missing-alpha-male-wolf-concerns-ODFW.html

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Photo: Courtesy ODFW

Posted in: Oregon wolves, gray wolf, wolves in the crossfire

Tags: Imnaha alpha male, Wildlife Services, Oregon wolves, wolves in the crossfire, gray wolf