Wildlife Services kills two of the Whitehawk Pack

Wildlife Services kills two of the Whitehawk Pack

July 1, 2001

I strongly suspected they were going to kill two of the Whitehawk Pack, despite all the commotion over the last two weeks. So I went to Yellowstone where I knew wolves were appreciated, and I had the best wolf experience of my life (story to follow). Too many reports of dead wolves kind of takes the enjoyment of doing wolf news.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area was created in 1972 instead of a Sawtooth National Park. Quite a few people thought that was an acceptable compromise because recreation, scenery, and wildlife would be number one. Unlike a national park, hunting would be allowed, however, and livestock grazing and some timbering would be allowed to continue if it didn't detract from the primary purposes of the SNRA,
Unfortunately grazing seems to be number one, and recreation, including hunting, fits in around the sheep and cattle. Last fall they even had a special elk hunt to reduce the number of elk because ranchers thought the elk were taking grass from the cattle. There would be more elk to hunt, not to mention other wildlife, if the cattle and sheep didn't occupy the prime areas from June to October. I am convinced it should have been a Sawtooth National Park.
As a footnote: these are the 16th and 17th wolves shot in Custer County, Idaho because of livestock.
Here is the story as USFWS reports it. I only want to add that the film crew mentioned consists of one cameraperson and an assistant. Yes, they want to get some footage of Idaho wolves, and of a dead wolf being hauled off. If they don't directly interfere with a wolf shooting or trapping (such as springing the traps), my judgment is they have a right to be on public land filming.

"The Whitehawk pack control action/saga near Stanley, Idaho continues. Despite all the controversy and rhetoric less than 10 sheep (1 attack) and one calf have been killed and no depredations have occurred in nearly 3 weeks. Efforts ended to capture a couple of adult pack members and relocate them. Relocation efforts stopped when local "wolf-activists" and a film crew began following WS specialists as they tried to trap and relocate wolves, rending trapping efforts fruitless. Traps were pulled on the 24th.
At least 2 of the radioed adult pack members attacked a lamb on the 23rd, just as the sheep were being driven outside an electric fence to graze. The lamb escaped after the wolves were driven off by herders. The packs other radioed adult were nearby. The pack killed 5 additional sheep the night of the 28th. On the 29th male wolves 101 and 40 were killed by WS. The pack now consists of 2 adults and 9 pups. WS has been requested by the Service to get a radio on the alpha female or a pup if possible. This control action is being closely monitored by both strong wolf proponents and opponents, is highly publicized, and remains very contentious."
From GRAY WOLF RECOVERY WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORT Status of Gray Wolf Recovery, Week of 6/23-6/29, 2001. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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