Once There Was A Wolf Pack….

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It fills my heart with sorrow when I think of the wolves and wolf packs that are gunned down by Wildlife Services for agribusiness every year. They write their reports to back up the killing of wolves and their families. Emotionless words like confirmed kills, probable kills, strongly suspected kills or “probable depredation confirmed”, mask the meaning of what is really happening. Wolves are being slaughtered for the livestock industry and it’s all paid for with tax payer dollars.

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From the Sept.11-24, 2010 Montnaa FWP Wolf Report:

“On 9/9, WS confirmed a calf was injured by wolves in the Bitterroot Valley east of Stevensville (10j area).  The calf was likely injured several days prior but took some time to round-up.

The Welcome Creek pack denned near this herd of cattle and wolves have been active in that area throughout the summer.(what does that even mean? It just says wolves, what wolves?) In June a bunch (a bunch?) of cattle were run through a fence and a cow and calf were run into an old barn and died as a result. Wolves were strongly suspected at the time. (Where’s the proof? What did the cow and calf die from? Where are the rest of the facts?)FWP stepped up monitoring efforts afterwards and set up a volunteer range rider to also help increase monitoring.  Seven calves have been reported missing in the past month. (Were these calves ever recovered? Why were wolves suspected of their disappearance?)

The Welcome Creek pack numbers 7-9 adults and has a litter of 7 pups.  FWP has authorized Wildlife Services to remove up to 5 members of the pack, preferentially removing a combination of pups and adults.“

It seems the Welcome Creek Pack, who according to the report, wasn’t actually caught killing livestock but happened to den in the vicinity of cows, was selected as the villains. The report states a calf was injured by wolves on 9/9 but it doesn’t identify a wolf pack. Then wolves were suspected of running a “bunch of cows” through a fence and a cow and calf ran into a barn and died. It doesn’t say what they died from. It also doesn’t prove those wolves had anything to do with it, only that “wolves were strongly suspected at the time.”

It states wolves were active during  the summer, but active doing what and what packs were involved?  Seven calves supposedly disappeared but no wolf packs were connected to the disappearance. Did wolves just drag off calf carcasses somewhere without a trace?   In the end the Welcome Creek Pack paid the ultimate price, five members slated for death, “preferentially removing a combination of pups and adults.”

Isn’t that “stone cold”? I ask again, who kills PUPPIES? Who traps and kills wolves, coyotes and other wildlife for a living?

(*Blue italics mine)

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That’s just one example, read through the reports yourself to see what I’m talking about.

I ask you this, who’s watching WS? What supervision does Wildlife Services face? Who goes behind them and questions their judgement? Who determines wolf kills? Do ranchers have a vested interest in having wolves kill livestock instead of say a coyote or mountain lion?  They aren’t paid for those kills. All we have are the ranchers, landowners, private citizens and Wildlife Services’ side of the story. Where is the oversight? Think about it.

There are 3 million cattle in Montana. Most of the losses are from non-predation like weather (over 10,000 calves died in winter storms one year), disease, reproduction, theft, even altitude sickness in some states. Wolves were responsible for just 97 cow losses in the entire Northern Rockies in 2009. That’s Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Out of millions and millions of cows. Does that sound like a wolf crisis to you? It would be laughable if the hysteria and myths weren’t so deadly for wolves.

Here are some of the wolves that met their untimely deaths at the hands of Wildlife Services (formerly Animal Damage Control) in 2010. These are shadow wolf hunts that are being carried out with your tax dollars. And yet the states want to kill even more wolves. They want  state-sponsored wolf hunts. Is this what wolf recovery was all about? To kill wolves, their pack-mates, their babies, their brothers, their sisters, their mothers, their fathers? Is this what the American people want.? If not stand up and make your voices heard loud and clear in 2011.

STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF WOLVES.

Tell your Politicians, the Interior Secretary, the President, Fish and Game agencies, write letters to the editor, get this story out of the Northern Rockies. Tell everyone you know!! Raise a ruckus. We  have to outshout these people. They may be a tiny minority but they’re loud and well-funded.

STAND FOR WOLVES IN 2011.

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Montana Wolf Mortality WS 2010

(I’m only reporting wolves killed)

12/31 & 1/5 Horse Prairie Pack…2 wolves killed by WS

1/8 Miner Lakes Pack…2 wolves killed by WS

1/20 Bender Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

Dry Forks Pack…2 wolves killed by Mt. WS

Feb..Fish Trap Pack….3 wolves killed by WS

2/17 Camas Prairie Pack….1 gray male wolf killed by WS

3/5 Silcox Pack…..1 female wolf pup killed by WS

3/8… 1 wolf killed by WS

3/13 Camas Pack…2 gray female wolves killed by MT WS

3/18 Ninemile Pack….1 wolf killed by WS

3/23 Superior Pack…3 wolves killed by WS

3/23 Ninemile Pack…1 uncollared black wolf (more than likely a yearling) killed by WS via aerial gunning (helicopter)

4/5 Horse Prairie Pack …1 wolf killed by WS

4/7 Dry Forks Pack…1 -2 wolves shot by WS but not recovered.

4/20 Superior Pack…1 uncollared black wolf killed, 1 uncollared gray wolf killed by WS

4/21 Superior Pack …alpha male (father) of the pack killed by WS (entire pack removed)

4/21 Horse Prairie Pack…1 collared female wolf killed by WS

4/21 Camas Prairie Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

4/22 Camas Prairie Pack…1 collared male wolf killed by WS

4/22 Fishtrap Pack…1 collared wolf, NW221F, was killed by WS

5/6…1 wolf trapped and killed WS

5/7 Ninemile Pack…2-year-old collared male wolf killed by WS

5/11 Trapper Peak Pack…1 black male wolf trapped and killed by WS

5/17 Trail Creek Pack…1 wolf trapped and killed by WS

5/18 Bender Pack…2 wolves killed by WS

5/18 Elevation Mtn. Pack….the collared alpha female (mother) and uncollared gray male were shot by aerial gunning (helicopter)WS

5/19 Bender Pack…1 collared wolf killed by WS

5/19 Trail Creek Pack…1 wolf killed via aerial gunning (helicopter) by WS

5/20 Selow Pack?….1 black adult male wolf killed by WS

5/21…4 wolves killed in two separate actions by WS

5/26 Selow Pack?…2 gray male wolves killed by WS

6/1 Cedar Creek Pack…1 collared gray male wolf killed by WS

6/2 Trapper Peak Pack…1 gray yearling female wolf was trapped and killed by WS

6/2 Selow Pack…1 collared male wolf killed by WS

6/7 Trapper Peak Pack….1 yearling wolf killed by WS

6/18 Selow Pack…1 black adult female wolf killed by WS (believed to be last member of pack)

6/25 Silcox Pack…1 female wolf killed by WS

6/27 Silcox Pack…1 male wolf killed by WS

6/28 & 6/29 Table Mountain Pack…3 wolves killed by WS

6/30 Miner Lakes Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

7/9 Horn Mountain Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

7/10…2 wolves killed by WS

7/15 Canyon Creek?…1 wolf killed by WS

7/29 Horse Creek Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

8/6 Horse Creek Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

8/17 Horse Creek Pack….2 wolves killed by WS (not sure if they were from this pack, report confusing)

9/2 Montitor Mountain Pack?…MT FWP authorizes the removal of 3 wolves

9/4 Monitor Mountain Pack…2 wolves killed by WS

9/5 Monitor Mountain Pack…2 wolves killed by WS

9/10 Horse Creek Pack…2 wolves killed by WS (believed one adult and 2 pups remain in the pack. Wildlife Services is looking to wipe out the rest of the pack or “full pack removal”

9/10 Murphy Lake Pack….1 wolf killed north of Whitefish, Mt by WS

9/10 Horse Creek Pack…1 black adult male wolf killed by WS

9/12 Ovando Mountain Pack…3 wolves killed by WS

9/16 Horn Mountain Pack…WS given permission to kill the entire pack of 9 wolves or more

9/16 Horn Mountain Pack…1 wolf killed from the pack by WS

9/21 Horse Creek Pack…1 gray female radio collared wolf & 1 gray wolf killed by WS

9/23 & 9/24 Horn Mountain Pack…4 wolves killed from the pack by WS.

Wildlife Services looking to remove the remaining 5 members of the pack

9/27 Welcome Creek Pack…1 adult male wolf killed by WS

9/29 Welcome Creek Pack…1 adult male wolf killed by WS

9/3o Horn Mtn. Pack…5 wolves killed by WS (entire pack is now dead)

10/5 Irvine Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

10/7 & 10/8 Murphy Lake Pack..3 wolves killed by WS

10/8 Irvine Pack…1 wolf killed by WS

10/15…3 black wolves killed by WS

New Pack (unnamed?)…WS has been authorized by FWP to kill breeding pair (mother and father) and their 3 pups

10/15…1 adult wolf killed by WS

10/15…1 wolf killed near Hall by WS

10/21…1 wolf killed by WS

10/25 Welcome Creek Pack…2 adult male wolves were killed by WS

11/11…1 wolf shot under 10(j) Big Hole Valley (under investigation by USFWS)

11/24 Mill Creek Pack…1 black wolf pup killed by WS

12/21…1 wolf killed in Ulm area by WS

12/21 Baker Mountain Pack…2 wolves killed by WS

Except for one mention of a range rider and a few instances of using fladry, pro-active animal husbandry is sorely lacking from this picture. When are the ranchers going to step up and protect their investment instead of running to the federally funded Wildlife Services for “predator control?”. Who say’s they have the taxpayer-funded right to have predators removed? What business doesn’t have risk? Why should the taxpayers fund their “tiny” risks from wolves? Please ask these questions of your Senators and Representatives. Tell them you don’t want your tax dollars funding WS, so they can kill wolves and other wildlife.  Don’t let the anti-wolf crowd direct the conversation. Ask these common sense questions about this wasteful, expensive, deadly program of killing wolves for agribusiness.

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Law Enforcement/(Wolves dying from other causes in 2010)

(IE: motor vehicle accidents, “state defense of property”, (10j), suspicious deaths being investigated, et. al)

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1/9 DeBorgia Pack? …1 gray female wolf pup hit by a car and killed on 1-90 near St. Regis

1/10…1 dead wolf found, North Fork of the Flathead, investigation by MT FWP

1/15 Saphire Pack…1 collared gray female disperser wolf shot by livestock owner.

1/21…Satire or Wolf Creek Pack?…1 wolf hit and killed by vehicle on Wolf Creek Road.

1/30…1 yearling wolf killed in a snare that had been placed for coyotes, in Wolf Creek Area.

2/9…1 wolf pup hit and killed by a vehicle on Hwy 287

3/27…1 wolf found dead south of Butte. Death under investigation

4/18…1 wolf shot by private citizen on private land in Madison Valley, warning issued, no follow-up by FWP

4/18…1 wolf  shot by private citizen near Lennep, FWP investigating

4/27…1 wolf killed by ranch manager, south of Butte

4/27  Trapper Creek Pack..1 yearling wolf found dead by FWP. It’s collar was found on 4/28. It was determined by FWP the wolf had  been illegally killed.

4/29…1 two year old gray male wolf was shot by landowner, north of Missoula

5/11 Elevation Mountain Pack…1 female black yearling wolf shot by rancher

5/11…report of possible wolf who was killed on private land in Carter County. After investigation it was determined it was not a wolf but of domestic dog origin. The animal was also wearing an orange fluorescent pet collar.

5/11 Elevation Mountain Pack…1 black yearling female wolf was shot by rancher, near Helmsville.

5/18 Mitchell Mountain Pack…wolf hit and killed by vehicle north of Wolf Creek.

May 2010…Person plead guilty in federal court in Missoula for shooting and killing a wolf illegally, violating the Endangered Species Act. (This incident was also mentioned in the Feb 27 to March 5th wolf report. I’m assuming it’s the same case?)

5/18 Mitchell Mountain Pack…1 collared gray female wolf (last remaining member of this pack) shot by landowner

5/25 Cilly Pack…1 breeding female (mother) wolf was hit and killed by a vehicle on the Swan Highway. She was lactating, which means it left her pups motherless.

6/22 …1 adult gray wolf was hit and killed by a vehicle  on 1-90 between  St. Regis and Superior.

7/27…1 adult wolf was hit and killed by a vehicle on 1-90 near Lookout Pass.

8/19 Cougar 2 Pack?…1 yearling wolf hit and killed by a vehicle on Hwy 191 near Daly Creek

9/9 Silver Lake Pack…. 3 wolf pups were found dead at the pack’s rendezvous site. Investigation ongoing.

September 2010…Cache Creek Pack…2 wolf pups found dead were autopsied, they had not been shot and no cause of death determined. Investigation ongoing.

9/12…1 black wolf pup found dead by FWP west of Clyde Park, Mt. Cause of death under investigation.

9/12…1 black wolf pup was found dead by FWP, Brackett Creek Area, Bangtail Mtns. The death is under investigation

9/17 Ksanka Pack…1 gray wolf pup was euthanized by FWP near Eureka. The pup was emaciated and in poor condition. The death is under investigation.

10/8…1 wolf killed by ranch manager in the Big Hole

10/11…1 wolf  shot and killed by landowner in Miller Creek.

10/24…1 wolf killed by livestock producer

10/30…1 wolf killed by hunter. Under investigation by USFWS.

11/3…1 wolf found dead, west of Missoula. Turned over to USFWS for investigation.

11/11…1 wolf shot in the Big Hole Valley under (10j). Under investigation by USFWS.

11/17…1 wolf found dead near Olney. Death under investigation.

11/17…1 wolf found dead in the Coal Creek area, North Fork of the Flathead. Under investigation.

So many little pups found dead under suspicious circumstances? Were their parents and packmates killed in the hunt or by WS? Was their nobody to protect them, feed them, give them love and care? Did they stave to death?  Were any poisoned? What happened to those pups?

*Information obtained from Montana FWP 2010 weekly wolf reports.

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Americas Secret War on Wildlife

A Federal Agency Keeps The West Safe For Cows By Killing Coyotes, Wolves, Bears…..and Pet Dogs

http://www.predatordefense.org/docs/m44_article_Mens_Journal_waronwildlife_Jan2008.pdf

Safe For Cows

 […] Montague Stevens saw only the surface of the land he hunted over. His active days afield coincided with the advent of erosion in the cow country, but he did not see it. The better to keep up with his hounds, he practiced riding his horse across the cavernous arroyos which were then invading the fertile valleys, but he did not recognize the invasion as something new in history, nor did he perceive its cause: the terrific overgrazing practiced by the early cowmen. Small wonder, then, that less intelligent men still fail to perceive that something more important than bears is departing from the western range. New Mexico’s grizzlies succumbed visibly to trap, gun, and poisoned bait, but New Mexico’s fertile valleys slipped down the Rio Grande in the night. Neither will return.

The University of New Mexico has done well to preserve this saga of how the state was made safe for cows. How the state is to be made safe from cows is a saga yet to be written…

Aldo Leopold, “Review of “Meet Mr. Grizzly”, Journal of Forestry, March 1944.”

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Top Photo: Courtesy kewlwallpapers.com

Bottom Photo: Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Posted in: Wolf Wars, Montana wolves

Tags: Wildlife Services, killing wolves for agribusiness, wolf slaughter, killing wolf pups, killing wolf families