Wyoming Gray Wolf Recovery Status Report
From: USFWS Wyoming Wolf Recovery Project Leader, Jackson, WY
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming and the NRM
WYOMING WOLF REPORT - June 19, 2011 through July 30, 2011
Web Address – USFWS reports (past weekly and annual reports) can be viewed at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov . All weekly and annual reports are government property and can be used for any purpose. Please distribute as you see fit.
2010 Annual Report
The 2010 Interagency Annual Wolf (Canis lupus) Report for the NRM DPS will be available March 10, 2011 on-line at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov . The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks section of the annual wolf report will also available on-line on its websites at http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/wolf/default.html. The annual wolf report is composed of five Sections: 1) Montana; 2) Wyoming; 3) Idaho; 4) USFWS overview of dispersal, funding, litigation, and relevant publications; and 5) Tables and Figures of wolf population statistics and wolf depredations.
Information about Oregon wolves can be viewed at:
www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves
Information about Washington wolves can be viewed at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/
LITIGATION
On 7/26/11, oral arguments were presented to U.S. District Judge Donald Malloy. Four environmental groups challenged the constitutionality of the congressional rider [authored by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) and U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (Republican-Idaho)] which directed the USFWS to reissue its 2009 delisting rule. A decision from Judge Malloy is pending.
MONITORING
Through the end of July, at least 19 packs are confirmed or suspected to have produced pups in 2011 in Wyoming (outside Yellowstone National Park).
Table 1. Total wolf mortality in Wyoming (outside YNP) from 2003-2011.
| Cause of Mortality | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Depredation Control | 18 | 29 | 41 | 44 | 63 | 46 | 31 | 33 | 7 |
| Natural | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Under Investigation | 5 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Unknown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Other | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Total | 27 | 37 | 51 | 59 | 75 | 79 | 40 | 45 | 15 |
CONTROL
Wyoming:
During July, Wyoming Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves killed 6 cattle and 14 sheep. WS trapped and radiocollared 2 wolves; however, control actions are still ongoing to prevent additional depredations.
Confirmed wolf depredations and subsequent control actions from 2003-2011 are reported in Table 2.
Table 2. Confirmed livestock depredations and control actions in WY from 2003 - 2011.
| Depredations | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Cattle | 34 | 75 | 54 | 123 | 55 | 41 | 20 | 22 | 13 | |
| Sheep | 7 | 18 | 27 | 38 | 16 | 26 | 195 | 33 | 15 | |
| Dogs | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | |
| Goats | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Horses | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0* | |
| Wolves Controlled | 18 | 29 | 41 | 44 | 63 | 46 | 31 | 33 | 7 |
* A horse broke its leg and had to be euthanized after being chased by wolves in a pasture on private property
RESEARCH
Nothing to report at this time.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
Nothing to report at this time.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
In July, Ed Bangs (USFWS retired) participated in an educational webinar put on by the USFWS National Conservation Training Center and can be viewed at:
