Montana's inaugural wolf-hunting season closes; it's deemed a success

Montana's inaugural wolf-hunting season came to an end this week and has been deemed a success by state wildlife officials.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks called for the season to close half an hour after sunset on Monday after receiving word that the statewide quota of 75 was nearly reached.

"We hit 72 of the 75 wolf quota with two weeks left before the season was originally planned to close on Nov. 29," FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim told the Billings Gazette.

A total of 15,600 wolf hunting licenses were sold, generating $325,859 for the state license fund.

"It was a successful season. We learned a bunch, and we'll learn more as we evaluate it," Aasheim said. "We know where wolves where taken by county. We know sex. We know age. We'll know the days hunted. It's a pretty sound information base."

One thing that will be studied further is the sustainability of the hunt.

Wolf hunting continues in Montana and Idaho, with each state reaching quotas and closing another zone

Wolf hunting continues in both Idaho and Montana, with each state announcing the closure of a second zone on Monday after reaching quotas.

Idaho Fish and Game has announced the closure of the McCall-Weiser zone in west-central Idaho, where the limit of 15 wolves has been reached. This is the second area closed in the state, with the Upper Snake zone meeting its quota of five earlier this month.

Thus far, 98 of the statewide quota of 220 wolves have been reported killed in Idaho.

In northwest Montana, the North Fork sub-unit, a small area located in what is called Wolf Management Unit 1, reached its limit of two wolves and will close to further hunting today at sunset. The rest of Unit 1 remains open, with 14 wolves left in the total zone quota of 41.

This is the second zone to end its wolf hunting season in Montana. WMU 3, which includes the northern border of Yellowstone National Park, quickly met its quota of 12 within a month of the hunt's opening Sept. 15.

Wolf hunt closed in one Idaho zone after quota is reached

 

Idaho Fish and Game has announced the first area to be closed to wolf hunting, after the quota of five animals was reached in the Upper Snake zone in the eastern portion of the state.

The closed area borders Yellowstone National Park and Wyoming, where wolves are still protected by the Endangered Species Act.

All other portions of Idaho remain open to wolf hunting, with a total of 87 of the 220 statewide quota killed thus far.

Two other zones are nearing their limits. The McCall-Weiser unit has 14 of the 15 animal quota reported, and the Palouse-Hells Canyon zone, with a limit of five, has two predators taken.

The Southern Idaho unit, which is the largest, has yet to report any wolves shot toward the quota of five.

The season runs through Dec. 31 or March 31 depending on zone, or until each zone quota is met.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A wolf watches biologists in Yellowstone National Park after being captured and fitted with a radio collar. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Fisherman fined for trying to disentangle gear from whale

A Massachusetts fisherman has been fined for freeing a whale that had become entangled in his fishing gear.

In a plea deal, Chatham resident Robert Eldridge was fined $500 after pleading guilty in Federal court to violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. He had faced up to $100,000 in fines and a year in prison. 

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston, Eldridge was operating a commercial fishing boat last year and had set gill nets in an area where humpback whales were present, and one promptly got entangled.

Upon learning of the trapped cetacean, Eldridge attempted to free it himself rather than calling the toll-free Marine Animal Disentanglement Hotline -- the number for which he had posted on his boat -- to bring in licensed marine mammal rescue workers.

Unable to disentangle the whale, he eventually cut the gear from the boat, leaving about 30-feet of line on the marine mammal.

In addition to the fine, Eldridge also provided a written statement that can be distributed to other anglers, which acknowledged his actions and in part read:

"I am making this statement in order to alert all persons who fish or enjoy being in the waters off Massachusetts that we must be, at all times vigilant in protecting of the marine mammal species with whom we share the waters."

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A humpback whale breaches in this file photo. Credit: Associated Press

Idaho wolf hunt quota set; tags go on sale Monday

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has set a quota of 220 wolves for the inaugural wolf hunting season, scheduled to begin next month.

Tags will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at Idaho Fish and Game offices, online and at private outdoor retailers. The cost is $11.75 for state residents and $186 for non-residents. All hunters must also possess an Idaho hunting license, which costs $12.75 for residents, $154.75 for non-residents.

The commission rejected a more aggressive option, which called for a quota of 430 wolves -- 49% of the state's wolf population.

Idaho joins Montana as one of the first Lower 48 states to legally participate in gray wolf hunts. Last month, the neighboring state set a quota of 75 wolves, with hunting season also scheduled to begin in September.

The plan continues to draw protests, though. Several lawsuits by environmental groups regarding the predators' removal from protection under the Endangered Species Act are pending, and could block the upcoming hunt.

Stranded chinook salmon get some helping hands

Thanks to a team effort, chinook salmon stranded in warming waters during their spring-run spawning migration were able to continue their journey Tuesday.

The fish were trapped in Butte Creek near Chico in a pool of water that was warmer than the surrounding area. This thermal block caused the salmon to dive to the bottom in search of cooler waters and halted their forward movement.

Department of Fish and Game and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration staffers stepped in, successfully capturing and transporting 26 salmon upriver. 

"Without human intervention to capture and move these fish, we would have seen a high mortality rate,"  DFG fishery manager Joe Johnson said in a release.

Biologists also implanted the chinook with radio transmitters prior to release.

"The radio transmitters will enable us to track where the salmon go and determine what the results ultimately are for this type of rescue," said Johnson.

Chinook salmon are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Though changes in habitat and water management have helped the Central Valley chinook population rebound somewhat, recent surveys indicate a lower number returning to the region than in years past. Because of this, salmon fishing is off-limits in most of the area.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: An NOAA biologist releases one of the Butte Creek spring-run chinook salmon with an implanted radio tracking device. Credit: Harry Morse / DFG

Grizzly bears in Yellowstone not experiencing the best of times

There's a troubling trend within Yellowstone National Park: Too many grizzly bears are dying or being killed by hunters, and the animals are being forced to expand range in search of food.

You may recall that Yellowstone's 600 grizzlies were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Last year, 71 grizzlies died. Of those, 48 were shot by hunters, including at least 20 that were killed by hunters acting in self-defense.

Biologists say the Yellowstone grizzly population remains strong, but they're concerned because beetles in the high country are killing whitebark pine trees, which drop seeds that bears use as a dietary staple. Plus, there are concerns global warming will lead to even fewer whitebark pines.

With a traditional food source harder to come by, some believe, the bears will become grumpier, and danger to humans will increase. "The prospect is that every year is going to be a bad food year because of what's happening to whitebark," Doug Honnold, an attorney for Earthjustice, told the Associated Press.

Earthjustice has sued the federal government in an attempt to have Yellowstone's grizzlies placed back on the endangered species list.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A grizzly at Yellowstone National Park. Credit: James Peaco / Associated Press

Gray wolf delisting plan shot down by hunters

The plan to remove the federal protection of gray wolves in some Northern Rockies states has raised the hackles of a group of hunters and ranchers.

Their ire, however, is not because hunting may be allowed, but because the state they reside in is not included in the plan.

The Wolf Coalition, a Wyoming-based group of hunters, farmers and livestock ranchers, is planning to file a lawsuit against the federal government based on the decision to keep packs in the state protected under the Endangered Species Act.

"We ought to be able to take them off the list and allow the state to manage this species as they do other wildlife," said Harriet Hageman, the group's attorney.

Wild ferrets gaining a foothold in Arizona

The black-footed ferret population reintroduced to the wild in Arizona seems to be settling in nicely.

Recent counts by volunteers and Arizona Game and Fish Department personnel turned up 33 ferrets, with 24 of those  wild-born and never previously trapped. 

While this doesn't sound like much to get enthused about, it is when you consider that at one time the worldwide population for this animal was only 18, and that they were twice believed extinct.

"I'm excited about the numbers," said Jeff Pebworth, a Game and Fish Department wildlife program manager. "You think about this one spotlighting effort and compare it to where the ferrets once were and you can't help but be pleased."

Spotlighting is a procedure involving the use of high-powered lights to locate and identify the ferrets, as the nocturnal animals emerald-green eyes reflect in the night.

The next survey will be in October, and volunteers are welcome and appreciated.

"Volunteers have played a critical role in the reintroduction process since Day 1," Pebworth said. "Without their dedication, I'm not sure we'd have as good an understanding of where we stand in this reintroduction effort."

One of North America's most endangered mammals, it sounds as if black-footed ferrets are making themselves at home on the range.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department

Endangered right whale population may have grown

Marine biologists are cautiously optimistic that the North Atlantic right whale population has increased for the second consecutive season.

Aerial and on-the-water surveys sighted almost 200 of the endangered mammals, including 39 mothers with calves. This is an increase from the 150 noted during last year's survey.

Conducted by conservation partners including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,  Wildlife Trust and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the results are a hopeful indication of continued population growth for the whales.

Each winter, the whales migrate to waters off the coast of Florida and Georgia, where the females give birth.

Unfortunately, this season also set another record, with the number of right whales documented as being entangled in commercial fishing gear up to an all-time high of five. Only four of those whales were successfully freed from the potentially life-threatening lines.

There are only about 400 North Atlantic right whales in existence. Entanglement in commercial fishing gear and ship collisions are the most common human causes of serious injury and death for these animals.

Here's hoping that the numbers don't lie and that conservation efforts are helping this magnificent creature come back from the brink of extinction.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / NOAA

Gray wolf delisting a step closer to reality; Idaho hunting season scheduled

The decision to remove some gray wolf populations from protection under the Endangered Species Act is a step closer to actually happening.

The federal rule to delist packs in some Northern Rockies and Western Great Lakes states was published in the Federal Register last week and is scheduled to become effective May 2.

This will mean that wolf management will become a job for state and tribal wildlife agencies instead of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Idaho Fish and Game commissioners have already adopted dates for the wolf hunting season in the state and will set quotas once delisting takes effect.

"We have to move on and manage them similar to other big-game animals," Idaho Fish and Game Director Cal Groen said. " This is good news for wolves, elk, rural communities and hunters. I believe this action will help defuse the animosity and anger associated with wolves when we can manage wolves in concert with our other big game species."

The Fish and Wildlife Service will monitor the delisted wolf populations for a minimum of five years to ensure that they continue to sustain their recovery.  At the end of that time, it will be decided if relisting, continued monitoring or ending service monitoring is appropriate.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Tracy Brooks/USFWS

California condor found shot; second one in three weeks

*Updated with additional reward being offered

A California condor was found to have been shot and is the second condor in less than a month to be discovered with lead shotgun pellets lodged in its body.

The juvenile female was trapped by biologists from the Ventana Wildlife Society, who three weeks ago discovered an adult male condor with 15 shotgun pellets in its wings and torso.

"We were alarmed when one condor was found shot," said Ventana Wildlife Society Director Kelly Sorenson. "Now with two birds in such a short time, we are deeply concerned."

Although both birds are still alive, it remains unclear whether either will be able to return to the wild.

Each bird was tested and found to be suffering from lead poisoning. They have been transferred to the Los Angeles Zoo for long-term treatment.

Tiny manatee orphan in Florida rescued

A Florida manatee calf rescued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists Thursday is one of the smallest they have aided.

The diminutive female weighs only 50 pounds and measures just over 3 feet in length.

With no sign of the mother in the area, the orphaned calf was captured by members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Team from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

Unable to survive on her own because she is so young, the calf was taken to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and will receive 24-hour care from the zoo's manatee rehabilitation team.

No word on whether the young mammal will be released or kept at the zoo after fully recovering.

Spring is the beginning of the manatee calving season, so this orphan may be the first of many.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Whooping crane population declines for first time in almost a decade

 

A flock of endangered whooping cranes has begun its spring migration to breeding grounds in Canada, but it has experienced a population decline for the first time in almost a decade.

This past winter was the worst on record in terms of bird deaths, according to Tom Stehn, whooping crane coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Total winter mortality is estimated at six adults and 15 chicks, a loss of 7.8% of the flock," Stehn stated. "When added to the 34 birds that left Texas in spring 2008 and failed to return in 2009, 20% of the flock was lost during the last 12 months."

Stehn attributes the winter losses to poor habitat conditions at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, which the birds migrate to each fall. Low rainfall totals resulted in saltier bays and also fewer blue crabs, the primary food source for the cranes.

Jaguar Macho B may have been euthanized prematurely

*Updated with information on the State Attorney General's office involvement

Macho B, the wild jaguar euthanized shortly after being recaptured in Arizona, may not have been suffering from kidney failure.

That is at least the opinion of pathologist Sharon Dial of the University of Arizona veterinary diagnostic laboratory, who reviewed tissue samples taken from the dead cat.

Dial stated that the animal may have been simply suffering from dehydration and that authorities may have decided too quickly to euthanize the jaguar.

"Nothing is absolute," Dial said. "There is nothing to say that he absolutely would have recovered, but I can say by looking at the kidneys that there is no structural reason why he would not have."

"I've looked at a lot of cat kidneys, not jaguar kidneys," Dial added. "For a supposed 15-year-old cat, he had damned good looking kidneys."

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials are not happy with the comments made by Dial, believing them to be premature.

Two sea lions euthanized since inception of recent Columbia River control plan

Two California sea lions that were recently trapped as part of an effort to protect endangered fish populations have been euthanized.

Both mammals tested positive for a potentially contagious viral disease and had to be put down instead of transferred to an aquarium as previously planned.

"Our primary goal is to place healthy animals in the approved facilities that have asked to receive them," said Rick Hargrave, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman. "These animals had an infectious disease that was potentially contagious and could not be placed in a zoo or aquarium without endangering other animals."

The actions are part of an effort, previously reported in Outposts, to control sea lion populations that have been documented preying on chinook and steelhead below Bonneville Dam.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A California sea lion caught and awaiting relocation during a 2007 effort to reduce the mammal population below Bonneville Dam. Credit: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Gray wolf removal from Endangered Species Act protection affirmed

The decision to remove some gray wolf populations from protection under the Endangered Species Act will proceed as originally announced in January.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar stated today that he will uphold the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist wolf populations in the northern Rockies and western Great Lakes states of Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Utah and Wisconsin, plus portions of Washington, Oregon and Utah.

"The recovery of the gray wolf throughout significant portions of its historic range is one of the great success stories of the Endangered Species Act," Salazar said in a press release issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. "The successful recovery of this species is a stunning example of how the Act can work to keep imperiled animals from sliding into extinction."

Wolves in Wyoming will continue to be protected under the act, due to an inadequate wolf management plan, as will wolves in other parts of the country, including the Southwest.

This delisting will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and will mean that wolf management will become a job for state and tribal wildlife agencies instead of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

However, the Fish and Wildlife Service will monitor the delisted wolf populations for a minimum of five years to ensure that they continue to sustain their recovery.  At the end of that time, they will decide if relisting, continued monitoring or ending service monitoring is appropriate.

While some state Fish and Game departments and outdoor organizations such as the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation applaud the decision to move ahead with the delisting, environmental groups such as Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity vehemently oppose it and are threatening lawsuits to overturn the plan.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A gray wolf in the wild. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Jaguar Macho B's capture may have hastened his death

One of the two veterinarians who performed the necropsy on Macho B, the jaguar captured in Arizona last month, believes that the tranquilizing and stress from the ordeal contributed to the cat's health issues that led to the subsequent decision to euthanize him.

In an interview published in the Arizona Daily Star, Dr. Dean Rice, Phoenix Zoo executive vice president and one of the doctors performing the necropsy, said that while Macho B likely had kidney deterioration prior to being captured and tranquilized, the stress of the trapping probably exacerbated the problem.

"I'm sure the kidneys were going bad for some time. Kidneys don't go bad at the snap of a finger," Rice said. "If you sedate someone with drugs and the kidneys aren't working, the sedative can have a negative effect. My guess is that sedation probably aggravated his kidneys."

Jaguar Macho B euthanized because of severe kidney failure

Sad news involving Macho B, the jaguar recently collared and re-released in southern Arizona. Unfortunately, the big cat had to be euthanized today after veterinarians determined that he was in severe and unrecoverable kidney failure, a common ailment in older cats.

"It is a sad, but appropriate course of action to euthanize this animal given the hopelessly terminal nature of his condition," Steve Spangle, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arizona field supervisor, said in a press release.

The decision to euthanize him was made in consultations between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Phoenix Zoo.

As mentioned in a previous posting, the jaguar was taken to the Phoenix Zoo after being recaptured today. Wildlife officials had determined that the animal's health may be in jeopardy based on monitoring of recent data transmitted from the satellite tracking collar, which showed a reduced pattern of movement for the jaguar than previously noted.

"This is an unfortunate and disappointing situation," said Gary Hovatter, deputy director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "We were looking forward to using the data acquired from Macho B to learn more about the species' use of the borderland habitats in order to further conserve the species as a whole."

A necropsy will be performed to learn more about the jaguar's condition and to hopefully provide clues as to how long the animal had been sick.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Macho B, shortly after being collared and released in southern Arizona. Credit: Arizona Game and Fish Department

Jaguar recaptured in Arizona due to health concerns

*Update: Jaguar has been euthanized. Please see most recent post

Macho B, the jaguar recently captured, collared and released in southern Arizona, has been recaptured after wildlife officials determined that the animal's health may be in jeopardy.

Monitoring of recent data transmitted from the satellite tracking collar showed that the jaguar has had a reduced pattern of movement than previously noted.

"We have been monitoring Macho B's movements continuously since the initial capture. While he was still moving around, we noticed a decreased level of activity over the weekend that warranted further investigation," said Bill Van Pelt, Arizona Game and Fish Department birds and mammals program manager.

Sea lions threatening Columbia River fish to be culled beginning this week

California sea lions that are eating threatened or endangered fish in the Columbia River will be trapped and either relocated or killed beginning this week.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, the federal agency responsible for managing marine mammals, has given authority to wildlife managers from Washington, Oregon and Idaho to remove sea lions that have been documented feeding on chinook and steelhead.

The mammals have figured out that fish are easy prey at Bonneville Dam, where chinook and steelhead gather as they attempt to navigate fish ladders on the way to upriver spawning areas.

According to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 4,243 salmon and steelhead were eaten by sea lions last year in the area immediately below the dam. This is the highest number consumed to date.

Although California sea lions are protected by federal law, there is concern that they are threatening fish populations before they get the opportunity to spawn.         

“As wildlife managers, we have a responsibility to do what we can to protect vulnerable fish runs,” said Guy Norman, southwest regional manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "California sea lions -- some weighing more than 1,000 pounds -- can literally eat their weight in salmon and steelhead in a couple of months below Bonneville Dam.”         

The Humane Society of the United States is against the culling of sea lions, countering that fishermen and dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers kill more fish than the sea lions do and that cutting back salmon catch allowances could easily make up for the amount of fish eaten by the mammals.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Update on jaguar recently collared in Arizona

The satellite tracking collar fitted onto a jaguar recently captured, collared and released in Arizona is already providing biologists with a better understanding of the big cat's habits and patterns.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has also confirmed that the male jaguar is the one dubbed "Macho B," which has been photographed by remote trail cameras during the past 13 years. At an estimated 15-16 years old, he is believed to be the oldest known wild jaguar.

"Every indication is that Macho B is doing well and has recovered from his capture and collaring," Terry Johnson, Arizona Game and Fish department endangered species coordinator, said. "Until now, all we've had is a photo here and a photo there, but nothing that shed light on what the species does while moving within or between habitats."

Macho B is one of at least two jaguars known to have roamed southern Arizona in recent years. The other jaguar, Macho A, was photographed in 2001 but hasn't been seen since 2004. It is unknown if he has returned to Mexico or has died.

The collar, which weighs less than 2 pounds and is less than 2% of the animal's total body weight, should not impede his normal movement nor ability to catch prey. It also has a unique feature that will alert biologists should the jaguar cross the border into Mexico.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Macho B, shortly after his collaring and release. Credit: Arizona Game and Fish Department

Jaguar captured, collared and released in Arizona

A jaguar was captured southwest of Tucson this week during an Arizona Game and Fish Department research study. The study was actually aimed at monitoring black bear and mountain lion habitats.

The male cat has been fitted with a satellite tracking collar and released. The collar will provide biologists with location updates every few hours and it is hopeful that this data will provide information on a little-studied population segment of this species. This is the first time in the U.S. that a jaguar has been able to be followed in this manner.

"While we didn't set out to collar a jaguar as part of the research project, we took advantage of the important opportunity," Terry Johnson, Arizona Game and Fish dept. endangered species coordinator, said in a press release issued by the department.

Steelhead trout poaching garners 10-day jail sentence

A transient was sentenced to 10 days in jail in San Luis Obispo County for catching and cooking a steelhead trout, a federally protected fish.

Wildlife officials said that the poaching was a blow to the species because the fish was an egg-carrying female and was killed before she had a chance to spawn.  Her eggs were scattered along the banks of the San Luis Obispo Creek where she had been caught.

"Each fish really counts," Department of Fish and Game lieutenant Dean Hileman said. "We are talking about a species that is so critical that some subspecies are in danger of going extinct."

Central coast steelhead trout are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Streams once abundant with steelhead a century ago now have populations that are a small fraction of their former numbers due to habitat destruction, pollution, dams and low stream flows.

In Southern California, steelheads are listed as endangered.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Guide J.D. Richey releases a 5-pound steelhead caught during a day trip on the American River near Sacramento. Credit: Pete Thomas/Los Angeles Times

Gray wolf delisting plan is on hold

The Obama administration has suspended a plan by the Interior Department to remove some gray wolf populations from protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The regulation was to take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. However, the rule hadn't been published as of Wednesday, so it now falls under the memo issued Tuesday by Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, which stated that that no proposed or final regulations should be sent to the Federal Register for publication until they have been reviewed and approved by new agency heads appointed by the president.

"They [the wolf delisting rules] will not go forward. There will be a review of the proposed rules, which will be conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said Hugh Vickery, an Interior Department  spokesman. "We have no estimate at this time of how long that review will take, or when a final decision will be made."

Last week, then-Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett said that wolf populations in Idaho, Montana, Utah, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin would be removed from management by the federal Fish and Wildlife Service and instead be handled by state and tribal wildlife agencies, as populations in these states had recovered.  Scarlett is no longer with the Interior Department.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A wolf, seen in this undated photo, walks through the snow in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Credit: Associated Press