Photo courtesy Conservation NorthwestWolf pups, which are dubbed the "Lookout Pack," play in this photo from a remote camera in western Okanogan County
Wolf pair confirmed in Okanogan County
Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 9:18 a.m. PDT
Updated: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 2:06 p.m. PDT
OLYMPIA - Two adult animals located and radio-collared July 18 in western Okanogan County are wild, gray wolves, genetic tests have confirmed.
After 10 years of conducting wildlife surveys using remote cameras, Conservation Northwest has captured photographs of six wolf pups residing in the North Cascades.
In response to consistent wolf sighting reports in recent years, staff at Conservation Northwest coordinated with agency biologists and local volunteers to place four remote cameras in the North Cascades.
Information from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) indicates an adult male also has been photographed with a remote camera where the six pups were photographed.
Volunteers conducting a routine camera check Sunday evening (July 20) discovered several images of wolf pups and a recently collared male adult, possibly the sire, said Conservation Northwest officials.
They also recorded sounds of wolf pup howls. The wolf pack, dubbed the "Lookout Pack" by agency scientists, is the first documented, resident wolf pack in Washington State since the 1930s.
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Tissue and hair samples were collected from the two animals and submitted for DNA testing to confirm that the animals were pure wolves.
Preliminary results from additional genetic testing indicate the two wolves likely originated from British Columbia-Alberta populations. More comprehensive testing is currently being conducted to determine more specific information.
Radio tracking collars placed on the wolves allow biologists to monitor the animals' location and activity.
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Anyone wishing to report a possible wolf sighting or activity should call the toll-free wolf reporting hotline at 1-888-584-9038. Those with concerns about possible wolf-caused livestock depredation should call the USDA Wildlife Services in Olympia at (360) 753-9884 or the USFWS in Spokane at (509) 891-6839.
Anyone wishing to report a possible wolf sighting or activity should call the toll-free wolf reporting hotline at 1-888-584-9038. Those with concerns about possible wolf-caused livestock depredation should call the USDA Wildlife Services in Olympia at (360) 753-9884 or the USFWS in Spokane at (509) 891-6839.
EXCITING NEWS FOR WOLF ENTHUSIASTS...
For more information about gray wolves in Washington, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/.
Toll-free 'Wolf Reporting Hotline' for Washington 1- 888- 584- 9038
1 comment:
My husband and I were horse backriding today July 27, 2008 at Mt. Spokane when an animal ran to the edge of the trail in front of us. It was grey and black with a bushy coat. Something about it was different. Very pretty. We have been debating if it was a wolf. We shortly came across a man in a van who asked us if we saw the black and grey dog and then said, "Do they have wolves here?" He thought it could of been a wolf also. Whatever it was it had a beautiful coat and stood there staring at me for a few seconds. My husband was on his horse behind me and I turned my head to say Look and my husband was already getting off his horse saying, "That's a wolf". That's when the critter decided to turn and run. It did not want anything to do with us. So that was our exitement for the day. Hope it was a wolf. I think they are great!
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