Welcome
to Wolf Watch! WOLF
NEWS | Cat's new Wolf
Book
Wyoming news reporter Cat Urbigkit lives in the heart
of wolf country, near Big Piney, Wyoming, a few hundred miles
south of Yellowstone National Park. As a news reporter, rancher,
researcher and Wyoming resident, she has followed the wolf
issue for many years and written many articles on the topic,
as well as an upcoming book on the history of wolves in Wyoming.
The goal of this website is to present up-to-date, accurate
information about what is happening with wolves, focusing on wolves in the Rocky
Mountains, but referring to wolf happenings outside our region when there is
some local relevance. Rather than an agenda-driven advocacy site, this is the
place to be for the facts about wolves, with a strong focus on what’s happening
on the ground.
We invite those living in areas inhabited by wolves to contact
Cat with news tips, photographs, or other information. We also invite those who
want to support this endeavor to sign on as sponsors, and for our re aders to
support those sponsors.
Article
by Cat & Jim Urbigkit: Using
dogs to help protect livestock from predators (May,
2010)
2011 WOLF NEWS
2010
Wolf Watch Story Archive
2009 Wolf Watch Story Archive
2008 Wolf
Watch Story Archive
2007/2006
Watch Wolf Story Archive
2/2/12: Contrasting
wolf status in North Dakota
(By North Dakota
Game & Fish Department) A pack of wolves attacked
local residents in a town in the Karelia region Russia. This
area is in the
northwestern region of Russia, near the border with Finland.
When police responded to a report of a man attacked by wolves
on a town street, they found several wolves waiting outside
the doors to an apartment building. Two of the animals were
shot when they attacked the officers. This region of Russia
has been experiencing extremely cold temperatures in recent
weeks..... (Click on the link above
for the complete story.)
2/2/12: Wolf
pack attacks town residents in Russia
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) A pack of wolves attacked local residents
in a town in the Karelia region Russia. This area is in the
northwestern region of Russia, near the border with Finland.
When police responded to a report of a man attacked by wolves
on a town street, they found several wolves waiting outside
the doors to an apartment building. Two of the animals were
shot when they attacked the officers. This region of Russia
has been experiencing extremely cold temperatures in recent
weeks..... (Click on the link above
for the complete story.) 2/2/12: Wolf
pack attacks town residents in Russia
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) A pack of wolves attacked local residents
in a town in the Karelia region Russia. This area is in the
northwestern region of Russia, near the border with Finland.
When police responded to a report of a man attacked by wolves
on a town street, they found several wolves waiting outside
the doors to an apartment building. Two of the animals were
shot when they attacked the officers. This region of Russia
has been experiencing extremely cold temperatures in recent
weeks..... (Click on the link
above for the complete story.)
1/31/12: Montana
to study wolf mortality impacts
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) The University of Montana will soon
study how wolf deaths affect pack stability and population
growth, according to the Missoulian. The research will focus
on wolves in Yellowstone National Park, northern Idaho, and
in Alberta..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/31/12: Wolves
in Germany
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Wolves in Germany appear to be making
a comeback, with their preferred prey being wild boar..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/31/12: Hunting
wolves can be difficult
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) As Minnesota prepare for the possibility
of offering wolf hunting this fall, the Grand Forks Herald
talks to hunters who have pursued wolves in Canada, and learned
that a successful hunt can be difficult...... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/31/12: Dealing
with habituated Mexican wolves
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Wolf populations in the Great Lakes
region of the Upper Midwest are now officially delisted. The
Times Union reports what people in Michigan think of the delisting..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/31/12: Great
Lakes wolf update
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Wolf populations in the Great Lakes
region of the Upper Midwest are now officially delisted. The
Times Union reports what people in Michigan think of the delisting..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/31/12: 'The
Grey' slammed by wolf advocates
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) The LA Times reports that wolf advocates
and animal rights advocates are outraged about the new movie "The
Grey" for its portrayal of wolves. The survival thriller
movie that recently premiered features plane crash survivors
(oil rig workers!) who must survive a pack of wolves. Peta
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animals
rights groups are calling for a boycott of the movie..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/27/12: Wyoming
wolf bill filed
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Draft legislation has been filed in
the Wyoming Legislature that, if successful, will make changes
to statute to comply with the deal struck between federal wildlife
officials and Governor Matt Mead that will result in the delisting
of wolves in the state. The bill is Senate File 41..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/27/12: Wolves
a tool to cull elk herds
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) During a public comment process for
a federal agency plan, someone suggested wolves be used as
a tool to control elk herds on a national wildlife refuge in
southern Colorado. Now the federal agency must examine that
option. The Pueblo Chieftain reports that managers will consider
the possibility of using wolves to cull elk herds on the Baca
National Wildlife Refuge as it moves through the planning process.... (Click on the link
above for the complete story.)
1/25/12: Wolf
attack in Tajikistan
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Media reports indicate at least six
people have been attacked by wolves in Tajikistan in recent
weeks. Heavy snowfall has forced wolves from the high country
into local villages, where both livestock and humans have been
attacked.... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/25/12: Howling
over wolf plan
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) The Jackson Hole Weekly has reviewed
some of the comments submitted on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service proposal to delist wolves in Wyoming, and found much
concern over the allowance for "predator" status
in part of the state.... (Click on
the link above for the complete story.)
1/19/12: Feds
won't enforce Alaska wolf decision
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Federal officials at Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge won't allow wolf control within the refuge.
That's in conflict with the state's goal of knocking back the
wolf population..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/19/12: Feds
consider parkway wolf hunt
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) The Jackson Hole News & Guide
reports that federal officials may consider allowing wolf hunting
within the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/15/12: Mead
backs off wolf comments
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) The Jackson Hole News and Guide reports
that Wyoming Governor Matt Mead backed away from earlier comments
that the Wyoming wolf plan may allow wolf hunting in Grand
Teton National Park.... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/12/12: Wolves
in Jackson subdivision
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) A pack of wolves ventured into a Jackson
Hole subdivision in early January, possibly signaling a spread
south from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/12/12: Changes
proposed to Wyoming wolf plan
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Wyoming's wolf management plan provides
that wolves will be managed as trophy game animals in northwestern
Wyoming, including Grand Teton National Park, the John D. Rockefeller
Jr. Memorial Parkway, and the National Elk Refuge. The fact
that this means state officials could allow for hunting within
these areas is of concern to certain officials, and now a state
legislator says the plan must be changed.... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/12/12: California
launches website for one wolf
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) California officials have launched
an official gray wolf webpage in response to the documentation
that a wolf wandered into the state from Oregon..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.) 1/12/12: California
deals with wolf worries
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) California wildlife officials are
meeting with county officials in one region of that state where
a gray wolf was confirmed to have taken up residence after
roaming into the state from Oregon. The meetings allow the
state to provide information about the wolf's movements, and
to discuss state options for management..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/12/12: Montana
may extend wolf season, again
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Montana wildlife officials may extend
the wolf hunting season for the West Fork of the Bitterroot,
since only 3 of the 18-wolf quota have been taken so far..... (Click on
the link above for the complete story.) 1/12/12: Wolf
protests, vigil, in Idaho
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Wolf advocates, and those opposed
to the damage done by the species, held demonstrations in northern
Idaho recently. While one group held a "full moon vigil
to remember wolves killed by hunters," another group,
dressed in hunting camo and carrying anti-wolf signs, also
holds a gathering.... (Click on the
link above for the complete story.)
1/10/12: Yellowstone
wolf pack wanders
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Lack of snow in Yellowstone National
Park has enabled the Mollie's wolf pack to migrated more
than 20 miles into Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, invading the
turf of the resident pack there â€" the Agate
Creek pack. The Mollie's pack was on the move earlier in
the winter, intruding upon the Mary Mountain pack territory,
and killing its alpha male..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/6/12: Northern
Rockies wolf update
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
reports updates on wolves in the Northern Rockies. Livestock
conflicts in Wyoming: In 2011, wolves killed > 66 livestock
(36 cattle and 30 sheep) in Wyoming. Two packs [Green River
(15 cattle) and Dog Creek (17 sheep) and 1 wolf in the Big
Horn Mountains (10 sheep) were responsible for 42 depredations
(64% of the total number of depredations). Fifteen packs
(41% of WY packs in 2011) were involved in > 1 depredation;
8 packs (22%) were involved in > 2 depredations; and 6
packs (16%) were involved in > 3 depredations in 2011...... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/6/12: Scientist
takes issue with WY wolf plan
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) One of five scientists reviewing
Wyoming's wolf plan, at the request of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, is critical of the plan. Read an article
that summarizes the reviewer's comments, or read the views
of all five reviewers..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/5/12: Tribal
view of wolf recovery
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) “One
is an act of man the other is an act of wolf," - that's
the words of a tribal representative in Oregon, talking about
wolves expanding their range into tribal territory naturally,
or through reintroduction. The Wallowa Chieftain has printed
an interesting article about the views of the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's policies for
wolf management.... (Click on
the link above for the complete story.)
1/5/12: Montana
wolf hunt protecting Yellowstone wolves
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Yellowstone
National Park officials have noted that changes to Montana's
wolf hunting seasons has resulted in further protection for
wolves in the area near the park.... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/4/12: Minnesota
looks at wolf hunt specifics
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) Minnesota
wildlife officials are looking at how to structure the state's
first wolf hunting and trapping seasons in decades. The Star-Tribune
has an article with tips on effective hunting methods..... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
1/4/12: Wolf
documented in California
(By Cat Urbigkit,
Pinedale Online!) A lone,
radio-collared wolf has been documented crossing from Oregon
into California, giving the state its first confirmed wolf
presence in decades.... (Click
on the link above for the complete story.)
2011
Wolf Watch Story Archive
2010
Wolf Watch Story Archive
2009
Wolf Watch Story Archive
2008
Wolf Watch Story Archive
2007/2006
Wolf Watch Story Archive
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