06.2018 CWWC Newsletter

Colorado Wolf AND WILDLIFE CENTER JUNE 2018

Welcome Rango!

Rango is a fennec fox that we adopted recently. The fennec fox is the smallest canid (from the family Canidae, which includes foxes, wolves, dogs, coyotes, and jackals). Rango is a really sweet boy and we are excited to call CWWC his home.

This Oregon Tourist’s Visit to California is Something Special: She’s a Rare Gray Wolf

By Gabby Ferreira · gferreira@thetribunenews.com · June 12, 2018

CERTIFIED BY THE

The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for this logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

The contents of the material we include in our newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. We collect information from sources that are from other organizations, the web, news feeds, and/or other sources. We choose articles that are in the related field of education and conservation.

A gray wolf visited Nevada County recently, marking the first time a gray wolf has been seen in that area since the early 20th century, according to the Redding Record Searchlight.

The wolf, a 2-year-old female, was spotted about a mile from Interstate 80 near Boreal Mountain, approximately 30 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe, The Union reported.

The wolf, known as OR-54, came to California on Jan. 3 from Oregon, then went back to Oregon and returned to California, the Record Searchlight reported.

“She’s a traveling maniac,” Kent Laudon, a wolf expert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the Record Searchlight. In fact, after her short jaunt to Nevada County, the wolf went back to Sierra County. It wasn’t immediately clear why OR-54 went to Nevada County, but county Agricultural Commissioner Chris De Nijs told The Union that she might have been looking for food, or perhaps her pack got too big.

Authorities believe she is the daughter of OR-7, a wolf that crossed from Oregon into California in 2011 and became the first confirmed gray wolf in California since 1924, according to The Union and the Los Angeles Times.

OR-7 roamed both California and Oregon

until 2013, when he went back to Oregon and eventually established the Rogue Pack in Jackson and Klamath counties in southern Oregon, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There’s another Oregon wolf currently exploring California named OR-44, but he doesn’t appear to be related to OR-7 or his offspring, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

There are two known packs of gray wolves that have recently made California home: the Lassen Pack in western Lassen County and the Shasta Pack, discovered in 2015.

One of the Shasta Pack’s cubs was spotted in western Nevada in November 2016, but their status is currently unknown.

Gray wolves are listed as an endangered species in California and in the United States, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The animals don’t pose a safety threat to humans, the agency said, though they recommend people don’t feed, approach or otherwise interact with a wolf.

If you have a close encounter with a wolf or wolves, don’t run, Fish and Wildlife said. Instead, maintain eye contact, act aggressively and make noise while slowly retreating. If the wolf doesn’t leave, yell or throw objects.

Agency Considers Dropping Wolf Protections Wolves may be Dropped From Endangered Species List

To subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website at

wolfeducation.org and sign up on the newsletter page.

JUNE 14, 2018 · TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) – The federal government is considering another attempt to drop legal protections for gray wolves across the lower 48 states, reopening a lengthy battle over the predator species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told The Associated Press that it has begun a sciencebased review of the status of the wolf, which is covered by the Endangered Species Act in most of the nation.

If the agency decides to begin the process of removing the wolf from the endangered species list, it will publish a proposal by the end of the year and take public comments.

The government proposed removing wolf protections in 2013 but backed off after federal courts rejected its plan for taking wolves in the western Great Lakes region off the list.

| 2 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center had the privilege of having Ms. Vincent’s first grade French students from the International School of Denver visit our center. They were a wonderful group of students who enjoyed our tour guide Fish and our foxes. The students sent us this cute drawing of our Rhett and Scarlett to show their appreciation of our animals. They were a great group and we look forward to hopefully seeing them again in the future.

Man Sentenced for Trapping, Killing Wolf

By Andy Stiny | astiny@sfnewmexican.com | May 25, 2018

A man who admitted he intentionally trapped and killed an endangered Mexican gray wolf with a shovel in Catron County has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution to the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program.

Craig Thiessen pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque to a criminal misdemeanor charge of the taking of threatened wildlife, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Thiessen, from Datil, admitted that in 2015 he captured a gray wolf in a trap on his grazing allotment in the Gila National Forest and hit the wolf with a shovel. He admitted knowing the animal was a gray wolf “because it bore a tracking collar, which is affixed to all Mexican gray wolves in the area,” the release states. In ad-

dition to probation, Thiessen was ordered to pay $2,300 to the recovery program.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the wolves as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1976, prompting the recovery efforts. The agency reported in February that there were 114 wild wolves in the New Mexico and Arizona population, just one more than in 2016.

Center for Biological Diversity conservation advocate Michael Robinson said he was unaware of the Catron County case.

“I’m glad to see that one of the people responsible for the many illegal wolf killings has been caught,” Robinson said. “Given that the Mexican wolf is so close to extinction, it seems the penalty should have been stiffer for this heinous and cruel act.”

COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER | 3 |

On the Bus with Orenda!

Orenda had her first public appearance for the Magic Restored event at the Antler’s Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs. She was a rock star! Keep in mind, that it is very difficult for wolves to do things that are unfamiliar to them, such as riding a bus. However, through constant training with Chelsa (our wolf trainer) Orenda does very well on her bus rides. Thank you Chelsa and CWWC staff with making Orenda’s bus ride to her first public event as fun as possible!

Today’s NW Wolves Have Roots In Coastal Rainforests And Rocky Mountains

by Courtney Flatt Follow NWPB/EarthFix June 15, 2018

A wolf of the Wenaha Pack captured ona remote camera on U.S. Forest Service land in northern Wallowa County. - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

New genetic research on the Northwest’s wolves finds they descended from a mix of two different types — some from the northern Rocky Mountains and some from coastal rain forests.

That means the packs that form in our region have more genetic diversity — a key to survival.

The idea for this research actually started out with Oregon’s famous wandering wolf, OR-7. When Sarah Hendricks studied

wolf DNA in the wake of OR-7’s travels, she and other researchers realized there are two genetically different types of wolves. And that got her wondering about wolves in Washington and Oregon.

Coastal rain forest wolves are pretty different from what we typically think of in Washington and Oregon.

“They eat a lot more salmon, as opposed to ungulates, like deer or elk. They’re slightly smaller. They have a different coat coloration. They’re fairly distinct from wolves we find in the interior parts of North America,” Hendricks said.

It turns out, the study found, some wolves in Washington have DNA signatures from coastal rain forest wolves, which, at some point, probably naturally migrated south and bred with wolves originally from the northern Rocky Mountains. They may have also moved into Washington. (Wolves in Oregon all appear to have northern Rocky Mountain DNA.) The researchers were surprised to find DNA signatures from coastal populations show up in Washington.

“Most of the observational data indicates that individuals are coming from Idaho or Montana (which would be linked to northern Rocky Mountain DNA),” Hendricks said.

Hendricks, now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Idaho, said it’s important for wolf packs to have genetic diversity.

“As populations and the environment changes in the future, it’s better to have a lot of genetic diversity so that the wolf populations can change as well,” she said.

Genetic diversity could be important as the climate changes, and wolves’ habitat and prey could be affected by increasing rain or temperatures.

Hendricks said it could also be important when people consider changes to public policy and species management. She said there needs to be more precise language for species with mixed DNA. For example, because of their mixed genes, these wolves are related to packs in Alaska — which could be important if wolves in Alaska are added to the Endangered Species List.

Sad News Out of Wyoming The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the trophy hunting of our beloved grizzlies who reside in their state. The hunting season will begin in September of this year.

Think twice about spending any money in businesses in Wyoming who support the trophy hunting of our beloved grizzlies and wolves. Boycott business and services that do not advocate for protection of the grizzly and wolf nation of Wyoming!!!!

You can also contact Wyoming Governor Mead and let him know how you feel and that his state will loose financially if this hunt proceeds. He has the power to veto this hunt!!!! | 4 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

Governor Matt Mead Idelman Mansion 2323 Carey Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82002-0010 1-307-777-7434 Email link on his website: http://governor.wyo.gov/contact-us

COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER | 5 |

MY TRIP TO WYOMING

A judge ripped this federal agency’s justification for killing thousands of wild animals

By Jessica Silva Since wolf conservation is a concern everywhere, not just Colorado, I was very interested in hearing from locals when I visited Wyoming for a cattle-branding event. The owners of the property occasionally host hunters who want to hunt antelope, and live off the land to a certain extent. They are interested in wildlife thriving in some ways, but seem to be going about it poorly in other ways. For instance, they use Guinea hens to help rid their property of ticks and rescue injured animals, but then shoot their cannon full of a bowling ball in the known general direction of a fox den. Being America’s last vestiges of the Old West, as well as being one of the three states that host America’s most revered wildlife preserves, Yellowstone National Park, is too much of a dichotomy for them to handle.

They don’t like having the Park in their state, and they are not at all happy about any interaction with Dept. of Wildlife Fish and Game. In the end I was incredibly discouraged; the Wyomingans I encountered have a very negative outlook on cohabitating with wolves, and they seldom supported their arguments against wolves with actual facts. Their staunch resistance to hearing anything beyond what they think they know was very telling. It told me that regardless of any proof or research to the contrary, they just hate wolves, period. I was stuck at the receiving end of a one-sided debate. Not because I wasn’t willing to participate, but because I was never given a chance to interject. The following are points that my “debate” partner was trying to force upon me. I felt that since I wasn’t given much of a chance to reply at the time, that I would write a bit about the experience and share some information with our readers at the same time, in the event they get stuck being preached at by someone from a state where wolves are the devil.

The wolves that were reintroduced to Yellowstone were a different species than the original wolves. They were much larger and more aggressive. They should have reintroduced the species that was originally there.

False. The Mackenzie Valley wolves were the largest in North America, but not by very much, perhaps 15 pounds at the most. The Northern Rocky Mountain wolves’ historic territory actually overlapped the Mackenzie Valley, so not only were they close neighbors but they probably were prone to interbreeding occasionally. Additionally, biologists were unable to put the same wolves back due to the fact that there weren’t many wolves left after humans tried to obliterate the entire species. Thus, the wolves that are now in Yellowstone are as close to the same as the original subspecies as biologists could get. Besides the slight size difference, which could be attributed to availability of food, the two subspecies have no real differences in hunting style, prey, or behavior.

Wolves kill for sport.

No, they don’t. And it has been proven. Wolves will take meals where they can get them. If they are lucky enough to kill an abundance of meat, they will gorge themselves until they are | 6 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

full and then leave the rest. However, they will keep coming back to that area and keep eating until it is gone. Additionally, many other animals will feed off of this kill, such as birds and coyotes.

Wild animals don’t have Tupperware and a refrigerator to store their leftovers. Humans have misinterpreted this surplus hunting as sport-like behavior, attaching an understanding of what is strictly human behavior to wild animals, who don’t kill for thrills like humans do. Killing big game is dangerous for wolves, and they are not likely to risk injury just for the thrill of it.

Wolves are responsible for the decimation of elk in the preserve in Jackson Hole.

False. I believe this was in reference to an incident in 2014 when 80 elk died in the preserve. While wolves do kill some elk in this area, Wyoming Game and Fish Department attributed this elevated number to a bacterial disease, which they reported in an article. In a more recent article, residents and officials are actually struggling to deal with the growing herd numbers, so obviously the elk are doing just fine. It is curious why they have so much anger at the decimation of elk, but none over the decimation of wolves in our country.

Wolves prey on all of our cattle.

Some Department of Agriculture numbers for you in regards to Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming: # of cows: over 6,000,000 # of cows killed by wolves in those 3 states in 2014: 136 # of sheep in WY, MT, and ID: 45,000 # of sheep killed by wolves: 114 Frequently, coyotes or dogs kill cattle, and the kills are blamed on wolves. In order to further reduce the number of cows killed by predation, and to avoid wild animals on their ranches, ranchers might want to stop leaving dead cows on the range for bait, which is something they frequently practice to attract coyotes for killing instead of the more effective hazing tactics.

94% of cattle deaths are due to disease, weather, or birth complications. TOTAL carnivore losses (including dogs, bears, mountain lions, vultures, bobcats, lynx) attribute to only 0.23% of deaths in 2011. Cows are stolen more often than are killed by wolves. When was the last time you heard a news story about a cow theft?

The last thing I wanted to share is where I was told to go for more information. I was told numerous times to “look it up”, so I did, on credible sites with accurate information! But I was also told to go to this particular website for more information.

In the interest of fairness I checked it out. As soon as I looked at this website, I knew that all my logical arguments would fall on deaf ears. LOBOWATCH2.com is a fanatical hunter’s website who is long on conspiracy and short on factual information.

I also wondered what happened to LOBOWATCH1? Perhaps they were forced to shut it down. There are pictures on this site that were obviously taken from Wikipedia. There is no “Contact Us” link, and my personal pet peeve: the site is full

of grammatical and spelling errors. There is a bizarre letter to the president, calling the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone a criminal act. It is all very radical. The sad part is that the woman who argued all the points in this article with me has a radio show out of Utah (where she lives) and is spouting her governmental conspiracy theory rants, supported by anecdotal rather than actual evidence to whoever is gullible enough to listen. She refused to consider any statistics, based on her belief that because these biologists went to school in a US university (where else would they go?) that they are pushing the government agenda (she couldn’t explain what that was) and thus discounted any information that came from any studies done (studies are all skewed, according to her).

Because it was impossible to refute the argument of a person who refused to be logical, I was unable to escape what she considered a “debate”, when in reality it was a mostly onesided flood of misinformation, without feeling a sense of doom and frustration. I’m sure we all encounter this form of resistance when we discuss the work that we do with people who are not pro-wolf. All I can recommend is to stay informed and to not let ourselves get sucked into unwinnable arguments with illogical people. We WILL make progress with a more mature style of debate, backing our statements with research data and facts, and knowing that the majority of Americans want to see these beautiful animals back on the wild landscape where they belong.

By Darryl Fears · June 25 · The Washington Post

A federal agency’s justification for killing thousands of animals in Idaho was faulted by a U.S. District Court as “not convincing and objective” because it failed to take “the required ‘hard look’ at concerns” raised by others, including sister government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, regarding the potential harm to the environment.

The decision by Chief District Judge B. Lynn Winmill could have a broader impact on the federal Wildlife Services, a division of the Agriculture Department that removes and kills millions of animals each year. Coyotes, wolves, grizzly bears, beavers, blackbirds, mountain lions, foxes and a wide range of others identified as nuisance animals are slain on behalf of ranchers, farmers, homeowners and airport operators — actions that are routinely challenged by environmentalists.

Winmill agreed with a suit brought by the Western Watersheds Project, the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians and Predator Defense, which argued that Wildlife Services gave itself broad authority to destroy native predators in Idaho without conducting a scientific review of how such kills would affect the ecosystem. The court said officials dismissed concerns even when other agencies charged with environmental conservation — the Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Fish and Game — said the rationale given “was not an objective analysis of the environmental impacts.”

“The criticisms … make this a unique case,” Winmill said. “It is rare for the court to encounter such unanimity of critical comments from other agencies.”

As a result, Winmill found “Wildlife Services acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner.”

Instead of issuing a final judgment, he ordered the division to work with the plaintiffs to establish a method for determining the impact of its animal control.

“Wildlife Services will now have to fairly evaluate how killing thousands of coyotes in southern Idaho each year affects the environment,” Talasi Brooks, a staff attorney for Advocates for the West, said recently. “The opinion is a win for wildlife and a win for management based on modern science.”

Bethany Cotton, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, said in the statement: “Indiscriminately killing native carnivores does not achieve any of Wildlife Services’ stated goals. The next logical step is for Wildlife Services to pull its proverbial head out of the sand, accept the best available science and adopt a nonlethal coexistence mandate.”

Since the Hoover administration in the 1930s, Wildlife Services has entered into agreements with ranchers, farmers, private industry and states, which pay the majority of the agency’s costs of removing animals viewed as a threat. The agency has responded to past criticism by saying it works to strategically resolve human and wildlife conflicts and its activities have increased because those conflicts have.

In 2016, the agency pointed to a USDA inspector-general audit to defend its methods.

Investigators said an audit “did not reveal problems with wildlife damage management activities, or with WS’ system for tracking controlled materials. WS’ actions in these areas complied with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations.”

But at least two members of Congress have complained about the agency’s failure to provide information about its justifications and methods for killing animals.

Some conservation groups readily acknowledge that Wildlife Services has a role in wildlife management. Yet when asked for data, the amount of poison used and where, the agency has declined to divulge information. Watchdog groups that wanted to evaluate how the agency conducted aerial hunts of animals such as wolves were stonewalled.

Conservationists have pressed Wildlife Services to better study how eliminating predators harms the environment. Without apex predators to take down big game, herds grow and linger in small areas, trampling and chewing flora that many other animals need to live.

COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER | 7 |

CWWC CLASS OF 2018 YEARBOOK SUPERLATIVES

CUTEST COUPLe · AMAROK & KODA

BIGGEST FLIRT · TALA

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED · ORENDA

LIFE OF THE PARTY · AMAROK

BEST EYES · KEKOA

BEST SMILE · MICAH

MOST LIKELY TO BE YOUR BOSS · SAKARA

MOST LIKELY TO QUIETLY TAKE OVER THE WORLD NEVADA

| 8 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER | 9 |

ADOPTION CORNER

ADOPTION CORNER

Available from TCRAS · Teller County Regional Animal Shelter

Available from San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society

tcrascolorado.com · 719.686.7707 · NO-KILL shelter in Divide, Colorado

slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) · Non-Profit NO-KILL Shelter

SLVAWS WISH LIST

Mr. Oakley

• Washer • Riding lawn mower

AGE: 4 y 5 m 20 d SEX: Male/Neutered Brown/White Australian Shepherd/Mix

• Veterinary scale • Motion activated solar spot lights • Kiddie pools • Grain-free adult and puppy food

Hello there my name is Mr. Oakley. I am a sweet boy who is looking for a new family to call my own. I would do best to be the only dog in the home, as I want all the attention that I can get, and become protective of my person. I have a heart of gold that I would love to share.

Due to my breed I would love to go for long walks or runs to stay happy. If you are looking for a sweet active dog, I am your guy!

Please come in and say hi!

• Clear plastic totes, all sizes • Unscented laundry & dish washer detergent, bleach • Windex - refill containers • Mops, brooms, push brooms, dust pans • Pickup truck or 4WD SUV Donations are tax-deductible.

501c3. EIN 84-1530392. Thank you!

Paul AGE: 3 y 2 m 8 d SEX: Male/Neutered White/Seal Snowshoe/Mix Hi. My name is Paul and I am a handsome young guy that just loves to play. Sometimes I get a little too excited and do not know how to properly ask to be done. If you are looking for a cat that is independent but loves to play I am your guy!

Please stop in and say hello!

Camo Camo was a stray transferred to us from Land of Ahs, Ft. Carson. He is super friendly and affectionate with adults, but has shown discomfort with children, as a child once rushed him and screamed at him while in his crate at an adoption fair. Energetic and full of life, he will need lots of exercise. A good hiking, biking partner.

Come visit Camo on any Saturday at the 5020 N. Nevada Petco, Colorado Springs, from 10 AM to 4 PM. 2 years old, neutered, vaccinations. Shown with Rileigh Jones, on a visit from Cornell. She was a 4-year adoption fair volunteer, now headed to veterinary school.

NOW HIRING Part-time Telephone/Desk Assistant Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, a non-profit animal sanctuary in Divide, CO, is seeking reliable, qualified applicants for the position of Front Desk Assistant. The position includes a wide variety of duties and responsibilities in a typically fast-paced work environment in support of our mission to provide a voice for animals. This position does not include the opportunity to interact with wolves. It is an office position. The core functions of this position are as listed...

GENERAL PURPOSE Provides administrative, secretarial, and clerical support to maintain an efficient office environment.

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES • answer phones, provide information, and schedule events • provide point of sale service, check out guests making purchases • take and distribute accurate messages • greet public and clients, answer questions, and direct them as needed • prepare and coordinate daily information on tours and events with staff • receive, sort, and distribute incoming mail • monitor incoming emails and answer or forward as needed • prepare outgoing mail for distribution • fax, scan, and copy documents • maintain office filing and storage systems • update and maintain databases such as mailing lists, contact lists, and client information • retrieve information when requested • update and maintain internal staff contact lists • coordinate and maintain records and daily lists • type documents, reports, and correspondence • assist with coordinating and organizing appointments and meetings • assist with event planning and implementation • monitor and maintain office supplies • ensure office equipment is properly maintained and serviced • keep office area clean and tidy EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE • high school diploma or equivalent • business college training is an advantage • previous office experience may be requested but this can also be an entry-level position • competent computer skills including MS Office or equivalent • internet skills including use of emails, group messaging, and data collection • numeracy and literacy skills KEY COMPETENCIES • organization, problem-solving and planning skills • work management and prioritizing skills • verbal and written communication skills • attention to detail and accuracy • flexibility, reliability, teamwork and multitasking HOURS AND COMPENSATION Two part time entry-level positions available 18 - 30 hours per week depending on the season. Through the summer, we are seeking to fill two positions 5.5 - 7 hours per day 2-3 days per week (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) with one weekend off per month. $10.20 Per Hour SUBMIT RESUME TO TOURS@WOLFEDUCATION.ORG