Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center 09/2016 newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2016

May 2001 to September 11, 2016

A Loss Of A Great Friend

SHUNKA

John Buffington

Rick and Shunka

May 2001 to September 11, 2016

A Loss Of A Great Friend SHUNKA The hardest thing about having animals is the fact that they are not with us long enough, and to have to make that dreaded decision some day to have them go to their eternal sleep is so difficult. I have seen my share over the years of my life and sometimes I feel that I cannot endure the pain anymore. However, I know that the joy of each special spirit is worth the heartbreak. Whether it be a rescue and you give that animal the best life you possibly can, or to have one that has provided so much to so many through love and to be a tool for education, is why their journey is worthwhile.

Shunka was surrendered in May of 2001 along with his brother Wakanda. There are so many memories in the 15 years of his life that I could write a book, but to briefly talk about him and some of the things that I fondly remember is my special relationship with him.

When he was a few years old I remember putting him on my back while I would hold his paws and slowly spinning him around. He loved that and we would have so much fun together. I remember the long walks and his big slurpy kisses. I remember his warm eyes and his silent howl because it never developed, but he did not really know. I remember how he helped to raise fox kits, and coyote pups and how he loved my dog Casey. My last memory, was how he loved our new wolf pups Raksha and Isha. We would take him on a walk and when he was near their enclosure, you could not pull him away. He wanted to see the kids and be a grandpa. We allowed him to have that time and it was wonderful to see the tolerance of this old man Shunka letting these high energy wolf pups chew on his ears and jump on his back. You could see the joy in his face.

Many people had the honor of being able to walk him and one of our wolf members, David had taken him

on a a very long walk and he played with the grandpups just the day before his death. Shunka suffered unknown to us a heart condition that came along suddenly and he had fluid that filled his chest. We called one of our great vet friends and she and I made the decision that his prognosis was terminal. We called everyone that we could and 15 people came as quickly as they could from local to far north in Denver.

Shunka had his head in my lap and everyone sat in a circle around him as a big family with the most spiritual energy you could have and we all embraced his last life. After he was gone, I decided to take him to have his grand kids say good bye. We all carried his body on a stretcher and walked with a heavy heart to the pup enclosure. We laid his body down and Raksha came over to see grandpa. Isha was afraid because he is shy of lots of people so he stayed in the distance and watched.

Raksha started to chew on his ears and pawed him to wake up. He did this for a few minutes and after realizing that he was not alive he laid on his body and hugged him. Then he want over to give a small kiss to the people who were in the enclosure.

The love of animals is deeper and more pure than most humans and to see and feel this emotion is something I will never forget. I will miss this big sweet wolf and I miss the many others that I have been blessed to know. I can bet though that he will be a grandpa for the many who left this world and he will comfort and play with them for all eternity.

Darlene and Shunka

Koda and Shunka

Raksha saying goodbye to Shunka

I love you Shunka

Darlene

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The Profanity of the Profanity Peak Wolf Pack Massacre

by George Wuerthner | Sep 7, 2016 | Notes From the Field | Project Coyote | projectcoyote.org

The recent killing of six members of the Profanity Peak wolf This represents the wrong priorities. pack in NE Washington in retribution for the loss of a few We expect different behavior from people using public recattle is emblematic of what is wrong with public land pol- sources. I can, and do, mark up and highlight passages in icy. As I write, trappers are out to kill the remaining pack books that I own in my personal library, but it would be inmembers – including 4-month old pups. appropriate for me to mark up or otherwise damage books What is significant about the destruction of this pack is that in a public library. the Profanity Peak wolves roamed national forest lands. In a similar manner, we should expect different conseThese are our lands. They belong to all Americans and are quences for livestock owners who willingly use public lands part of our national patrimony. (at almost no cost I might add) for their private commerCurrently private commercial businesses such as the live- cial interests. In this case and others like it across the pubstock industry are allowed to use public lands if they do not lic lands of the West, we should expect ranchers utilizing damage, degrade and impoverpublic lands (our lands) to ish our public lands heritage. at the least accept any losses As George says, Clearly the killing of this pack from predators that may oc“What is particularly egregious violates that obligation and recur while they are using pubsponsibility. lic property. And if conflicts about the ongoing slaughter of What is particularly egregious continue, we should remove the Profanity Pack is that it about the on-going slaughter the livestock, not the wolves was essentially a preventable of the Profanity Pack is that or other predators. it was essentially a prevent- conflict. Had the rancher, whose It’s important to note that the able conflict. Had the rancher, mere presence of livestock cows invaded the wolf pack’s whose cows invaded the wolf negatively impacts wolves territory, been required to pack’s territory, been required whether they are shot or othto use other public lands, or use other public lands, or better erwise killed. better yet, simply lease private Domestic livestock consume yet, simply lease private pasture, there would have been forage that would otherwise pasture, there would have no livestock losses, hence wolf support the native prey of deaths. wolves, like elk. So more dobeen no livestock losses, Placing cows on top of a wolf mestic animals means fewer hence wolf deaths.” pack territory is analogous to, elk. In essence, domestic liveand irresponsible as leaving stock grazing public lands are picnic baskets or coolers out in a campground. In most na- compromising the food resources of public wildlife so that tional parks, if you leave a cooler or other food available ranchers can turn a private profit. to bears, you are fined for this careless behavior. We don’t Worse for wolves, especially wolves confined to a den area blame the bear if it happens to eat that food. But when it because of pups, as was the case in the Profanity Peak Pack, comes to the livestock industry, we essentially allow four- when domestic cattle are moved onto our public lands, it legged picnic baskets to roam at will on our lands, and creates a social displacement of elk. In other words, elk should a predator – be it a coyote, cougar, bear or wolf – kill avoid areas actively being grazed by livestock. If the liveone of those mobile picnic baskets, we don’t hold the ranch- stock are grazing lands near a den site, then the wolves auer responsible, we kill the public wildlife. tomatically have fewer elk to take and must travel further to | 4 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

find their dinner.

Who can blame the wolves if they take the most available prey—which is often domestic livestock. Robert Weilgus, a Washington State University professor, studying the Profanity pack noted that cattle were placed near the den site, or as he was quoted in a Seattle Times article as saying the cattle were released “right on top of the den”.

Some commentators, including Washington State University tried to discredit Wielgus suggesting the cattle were released about four miles away. What that demonstrates is either their ignorance of wolf biology or a not so-veiled attempt to confuse the public. If you are a wolf where regular daily hunting exclusions of 20-30 miles are common, four miles is a short romp. It is essentially “right on top” of the wolves.

If you place cattle within a dozen miles of a wolf pack you are essentially putting the livestock “right on top” of the wolves. And if the presence of cattle forces native prey like elk to abandon the area, can anyone blame the wolves if they resort to killing a domestic animal once in a while?

The loss of the Profanity Peak Pack has occurred near the same grazing allotment where another wolf pack was destroyed in 2012. This begs the question of whether any livestock grazing should be permitted in this area. It is obviously good wolf habitat—except of course for the presence of domestic animals. The only realistic longterm solution is to retire the grazing allotment. Either transfer the cattle to another portion of the public lands or, better yet, simply pay the rancher with a voluntary permit retirement to close the allotment and permanently remove the livestock.

George Wuerthner is an ecologist who has been studying predators for four decades.

He serves on the Science Advisory Board of Project Coyote and is the author of 38 books including Welfare Ranching, Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy, Energy: The Delusion of Endless Growth and Overdevelopment, Thrillcraft, and Keeping the Wild.

pup snout 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.

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Meet and Greet at Septembers Full Moon Tour

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CONSERVATION CORNER

Light of Moon, Dark of Night

Help Reverse This Bat’s Plight

Environmental groups criticize a plan that will allow hunters to shoot up to 47 of an estimated 68 wolves living in wilderness

By Susannah Dragash - Summer Intern

The Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) is an endangered mammal that lives in the Midwest and eastern United States. This bat spends its winter in humid, cool caves. Males hibernate in these caves alone or in small groups, but the females form tightly-packed maternity roosts of up to 100 or more individuals.

Indiana bats mate in the fall, but the females don’t become pregnant until spring. They spend summers hanging out under loose bark or in dead trees, called “snags”. During summer, each female births her single offspring, or pup.

Bats forage for insects in the dark of night in forests and stream corridors and, before hibernation, store up enough energy to survive the winter. During hibernation, bats aren’t actually sleeping! Their body temperature drops and their metabolism rate slows, putting them in a basal survival condition. Being disturbed during hibernation causes them to burn through weeks’ worth of their fat energy rations, resulting in death before winter is over. Indiana bats are endangered for a number of reasons, including

Norway plans to cull more than two-thirds of its wolf population www.theguardian.com

human disturbance of caves and habitat loss with the removal of dying trees. Additionally, a fungus called White Nose Syndrome lives on bats’ noses, irritating the animal and keeping it “awake” when it should be hibernating.

So what? Aren’t bats just creepy vampires anyways?

Definitely not. Each bat eats half its weight in insects per night. Think of how many more mosquito bites you’d have if bats went extinct! They also eat moths that are very harmful to trees. Bats are a natural, chemical-free pesticide that are important in keeping the environment healthy.

Everyone can help with conservation efforts. I know that caves are neat, but let’s all do bats a favor and keep out of the caves that are blocked off for these animals’ protection. This way, we won’t spread White Nose Syndrome or disturb those hibernacula. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is managing summer habitats for our furry winged friends as well. Lastly, educate yourselves and others so this mammal can continue improving our ecosystem.

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Norway is planning to leading green groups.

“This is mass slaughter. cull more than two-thirds Under the arrangements, We have not seen anything of its remaining wolves in 24 wolves will be shot withlike this in a hundred years, in the region of the country a step that environmental groups say will be disastrous designated for wolf habitat, back when the policy for the dwindling members of while another 13 will be shot was that all large the species in the wild. in neighboring regions and a There are estimated to be about further 10 in other areas of the carnivores were to 68 wolves remaining in the wildercountry. be eradicated.” ness areas of Norway, concentrated According to environmental in the south-east of the country, but groups, the number of wolves the – Nina Jensen under controversial plans approved government plans to kill this year is Chief Executive recently, as many as 47 of these will be greater than in any year since 1911. of WWF shot.

Nina Jensen, chief executive of WWF in Norway Hunting is a popular sport in the counin Norway, said: try. Last year more than 11,000 hunters ap“Shooting 70% of the wolf population is plied for licenses to shoot 16 wolves, a ratio not worthy of a nation claiming to be chamof more than 700 applicants to each license. pioning environmental causes. People all The government has justified this year’s over the country, and outside its borders, are planned cull – the biggest in more than a cennow reacting.” tury – on the basis of harm done to sheep flocks She said the losses to farmers from wolves had by the predators. Environmental groups dispute been minimal, and pointed to settlements by the this, saying the real damage is minimal and the Norwegian parliament in 2004 and 2011 that stipresponse out of all proportion. ulated populations of carnivores must be allowed The government did not reply to a request from to co-exist with livestock. the Guardian for comment.

“This decision must be stopped,” said Silje Ask The government has taken action to prevent il- Lundberg, chair of Friends of the Earth Norway. legal wolf hunting. Wolves are also an attraction “With this decision, three out of six family groups for some tourists to the country. But the new le- of wolves might be shot. We are calling on the mingal hunting limit is beyond anything that the wild ister of environment to stop the butchering. Today, population can withstand, according to Norway’s Norway should be ashamed.”

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ADOPTION CORNER Available from TCRAS · Teller County Regional Animal Shelter tcrascolorado.com · 719.686.7707 · NO-KILL shelter in Divide, Colorado 5y Female/Spayed White/Grey Domestic Shorthair/Mix Hi. My name is Angel.

I am looking for my forever home. I came in with my other cat friends because our people could no longer care for us. I know my house manners. I am a quiet girl with wishes to lay in the sunshine. If you would like to have a pretty girl to welcome you home, please come and meet me.

Available from San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) · Non-Profit NO-KILL Shelter

ANGEL BUTTON Heeler/border collie mix.

3.5 months old.

MARV 8 Month Male/Neutered White/Black Australian Cattle Dog/Mix Hi. My name is Marv... which I am sure is short for Marvelous. My brothers and sister were found on a country road where we were trying to survive. I was very scared when I first came to TCRAS, but with patience from the great people here, I have learned that people are not scary. I will need some adjustment time, but I know I will be worth the time.

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SMOKEY Border collie/heeler mix male.

3.5 months old.

SAMMY Sammy is a husky/heeler.

Sweet dog. May or may not get along with other dogs. It is sometimes difficult to tell in a shelter situation. Loves to be brushed. 1-2 years old, neutered. About 55 lbs.

OTTO - This guy is SUCH AS LOVE! He loves everyone and other dogs.

He is high energy at first, settles down after a half hour or so. He is just so excited to get some attention. Because he is so enthusiastic to meet other dogs, he sometimes scares them as he comes on too strong into their faces. He intends no harm. He is This is the BEFORE picture not a beginner’s dog. He is a lover and grabs your arm to play, but gently, and drools all over you. He would be good with older children, just because of his size and strength. We think he weighs about 70 lbs. He gets lots of attention at the adoption fairs, especially by the security policeman who comes by every Saturday to have him grab his arm and drool. Paper towels are on hand. He is less than 2 years old.

He was starved and hungry and tried to eat a porcupine.

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IN THE GARDEN WITH KATIE

Autumn in the

Garden