Wyoming Gray Wolf Recovery Status Report
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming and the NRM
WYOMING WOLF REPORT – December 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.
2011 Annual Report
The 2011 Interagency Annual Wolf (Canis lupus) Report for the NRM DPS will be available in early March 2012 on-line at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov . The annual wolf report is composed of five Sections: 1) Montana; 2) Wyoming; 3) Idaho; 4) USFWS overview of funding, litigation, contact information, and relevant publications; and 5) Tables and Figures of wolf population statistics and wolf depredations.
Information about wolves in other NRM states
Idaho at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/wolves/.
Montana at: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/wolf/default.html.
Oregon at: www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves
Washington at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/
Proposed Delisting in Wyoming
A 5-member panel of scientists completed a peer review of the USFWS proposed delisting rule and the WGFD Wolf Management Plan. This assessment will be posted online at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/.
The Service is seeking scientific information and comments from the public about the proposal including the post-delisting monitoring and management framework. Written comments regarding the proposal may be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. [FWS–R6–ES–2011–0039]. U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. [FWS–R6–ES–2011–0039]; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. Comments must be received within 100 days, on or before January 13, 2012. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process. The Service is not able to accept email or fax comments. All comments and information, including on the assessment, received during the comment period will be considered during the preparation of a final determination. Accordingly, the final decision may differ from this proposal.
For further information, contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region Office, Ecological Services Division, 134 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80228; telephone 303–236–7400. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.
MONITORING
Information about wolves in the NRM DPS (Idaho, eastern Oregon, Montana, north central Utah, eastern Washington, and Wyoming) will be published in the 2011 NRM Interagency Annual Wolf Report which will be available in early March 2012. Ongoing updates for these states include:
Idaho: As of December 30, 173 wolves were harvested by hunters and 24 wolves were taken by trappers. Hunting season is scheduled to close in 2 wolf zones (Beaverhead and Island Park) on December 31. The remaining wolf hunting zones are scheduled to close on March 31, with the exception of 2 zones (Lolo and Selway) closing on June 30. Trapping season (5 wolf zones) is scheduled to close on March 31.
Montana: As of December 30, 120 wolves were harvested. The wolf hunting season was extended to February 15 or until the quota is met, whichever comes first.
Oregon: The Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan was adopted in 2005 and updated in 2010. At least 5 packs exist in the eastern portion of the state within the NRM DPS and >2 wolves have dispersed west outside of the DPS.
Washington: The Washington Fish and Game Commission approved a final wolf conservation and management plan in December 2011. At least 3 packs exist in the eastern portion of the state in the NRM DPS and >2 packs exist in the federally listed western portion of the state.
Utah: No wolf packs were documented in Utah in 2011.
Wyoming (outside YNP)
In 2011, Wyoming had > 37 packs including > 23 breeding pairs in Wyoming (outside YNP) (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Minimum number of wolf packs and breeding pairs: 1999-2011
Figure 2. Wolf population growth in WY: 2000 - 2010.
Table 1. Total wolf mortality in Wyoming (outside YNP) from 2003-2011.
| Cause of Mortality | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Total |
| Depredation Control | 18 | 29 | 41 | 44 | 63 | 46 | 31 | 40 | 34 | 346 |
| Natural | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 19 |
| Under Investigation | 5 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 42 |
| Unknown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 28 |
| Other | 0 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 39 |
| Total | 27 | 36 | 51 | 59 | 75 | 79 | 40 | 58 | 49 | 474 |
LIVESTOCK CONFLICTS and DEPREDATION CONTROL
WYOMING: In 2011, wolves killed > 66 livestock (36 cattle and 30 sheep) in Wyoming (Table 2). Two packs [Green River (15 cattle) and Dog Creek (17 sheep) and 1 wolf in the Big Horn Mountains (10 sheep) were responsible for 42 depredations (64% of the total number of depredations). Fifteen packs (41% of WY packs in 2011) were involved in > 1 depredation; 8 packs (22%) were involved in > 2 depredations; and 6 packs (16%) were involved in > 3 depredations in 2011.
Table 2: Confirmed livestock depredations and control actions in Wyoming from 2003 through October 21, 2011.
Year |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Total |
Wyoming |
||||||||||
Cattle |
34 |
75 |
54 |
123 |
55 |
41 |
20 |
26 |
36 |
464 |
Sheep |
7 |
18 |
27 |
38 |
16 |
26 |
195 |
33 |
30 |
390 |
Other |
2 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1* |
15 |
Dogs |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
1* |
14 |
Wolves killed |
18 |
29 |
41 |
44 |
63 |
46 |
31 |
40 |
34 |
346 |
* A horse broke its leg and had to be euthanized after being chased by wolves in a pasture on private property. Six additional horses, 3 calves, and 1 dog were injured in 2011.
Table 3. Confirmed livestock depredations and control actions in Montana (Jan 2003-Dec 12, 2011) and Idaho (Jan 2003-Nov 30, 2011). |
||||||||||
Year |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Total |
Montana |
||||||||||
Cattle |
24 |
36 |
23 |
32 |
75 |
77 |
97 |
87 |
86 |
537 |
Sheep |
86 |
91 |
33 |
4 |
27 |
111 |
202 |
84 |
14 |
652 |
Other |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
6 |
11 |
1 |
55 |
Dogs |
1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
27 |
Wolves killed |
34 |
40 |
35 |
53 |
73 |
110 |
145 |
141 |
58 |
689 |
Idaho |
||||||||||
Cattle |
7 |
19 |
29 |
41 |
57 |
104 |
76 |
75 |
70 |
476 |
Sheep |
130 |
176 |
166 |
237 |
211 |
215 |
295 |
148 |
93 |
1,661 |
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
Dogs |
3 |
4 |
12 |
4 |
10 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
6 |
67 |
Wolves killed |
7 |
17 |
27 |
42 |
50 |
108 |
93 |
80 |
62 |
486 |
FURTHER INFORMATION
To request an investigation of livestock injured or killed by wolves in Wyoming, please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services at (307)261-5336.
For additional information, please contact:
Mike Jimenez at (307)330-5631 or (307)733-7096 or mike_jimenez@fws.gov
Scott Becker (Cody) (307)527-8916 or (307)699-3411 or scott_becker@fws.gov
