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Latest Wolfwatcher News...

National Wolfwatcher Coalition Announces 2023 Wolf Education Mini-Grants Available

Posted on September 28, 2023

We are proud to announce that we will again be awarding mini-grants for wolf education and includes the promotion of non-lethal measures to minimize wolf conflicts. Due date for submission is December 31, 2023, and will be awarded in the amount … read more

Posted in Front Page News, Grants
Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem Wolf Pack and Population Size Report

Posted on November 30, 2022

During 2021-2022, we estimated the area of 9 wolf pack home ranges/territories and estimated the size of 14 wolf packs based on an average of 7.3 independent observations of each pack at the estimated size (i.e., the number of wolves … read more

Posted in Front Page News, News, Regional Wolves
USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Nonlethal Initiative for Livestock Protection

Posted on February 3, 2022

In FY2021, Wildlife Services (WS) received $1.38M from Congress for the second year in a row to expand the use of nonlethal methods to protect livestock from large carnivore depredation and to research efficacy and development of new nonlethal approaches. … read more

Posted in Front Page News, Non-Lethal Management Tools, Resources
Return of the Wolves: Lessons from the Wilderness

Posted on January 31, 2022

Saint Paul-based National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (the Foundation) has released a new documentary film, “Return of the Wolves: Lessons from the Wilderness,” and corresponding educational lesson plans for classrooms, distance learners, and homeschooled students. To learn more about … read more

Posted in Front Page News
Become A WCC Junior Wolf Biologist | Wolf Conservation Center

Posted on December 30, 2021

Love wolves? Become a certified Wolf Conservation Center Junior Wolf Biologist! Children are encouraged to build upon their knowledge of wolves by completing the digital “Junior Wolf Biologist Training Guide” and sending it to the Wolf Conservation Center wolf experts … read more

Posted in Front Page News
Wolf Conservation Planning and Resource Bank Documents Created

Posted on July 2, 2021

Photo by Tristan Alder The National Wolfwatcher Coalition is proud to be one of five conservation groups that crafted The Wolf Conservation Planning and Resource Bank documents. The other groups included, Endangered Species Coalition, Humane Society of the United States, … read more

Posted in Front Page News, News

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Wolfwatcher

5 hours ago

Managing wolf hatredtinyurl.com/3267zyshCare for your neighbors. Let natural processes go to work. Have patience. That’s my 100-year plan.How do we manage hate? After teaching university courses in wildlife policy and the human dimensions of wildlife management for three decades, I understand conflict. I know wildlife managers need to learn to cope with heated disagreements.And I also understand fear––a legitimate management concern.The fear ranchers feel for the welfare of their livestock in wolf country is rational. Fear toward some animals may be hard-wired into us.Hate is different. Intense dislike. Rage. Coyote-killing contests are a wanton waste, but hate is not why they take place. Sniping black bears over a mound of garbage or shooting mountain lions is unethical in my book, but I would never say these bears and lions are hunted because of hate.The American Psychological Association defines “hate” as “a hostile emotion combining intense feelings of detestation, anger, and often a desire to do harm.”That desire to do harm seems to sum up a great deal of the anti-wolf sentiment in the western states.I monitor an anti-wolf social media site, and I can practically feel the spittle coming off the animosity and loathing expressed toward gray wolves (as well as toward wolf supporters). This almost religious fervor combined with a one-upmanship of who can appear to be the most violent or demonstrate extreme hate is unnerving.Whatever drives it, it’s here. It’s real. And we must live with it.I propose three strategies for the next century.First, 100% of livestock and working dog depredations need to be addressed, through reasonable and timely compensation, non-lethal deterrents at no cost to producers, and even removal of chronically depredating wolves.Wolf management specialists cannot just be good at trapping or shooting wolves; they also must be able to conduct legitimate forensic examinations of carcasses, manage range riders, construct fladry, and select effective livestock guarding animals. That is currently an issue, with wolf removal specialists belittling the non-lethal management specialists, and vice versa. That cannot continue.Second, no more reintroductions. The natural recolonization of wolves throughout the west may be slow, and discontinuous, but ecosystems operate on a different time scale than we do. Over the next century, wolves will live where there is space and prey. Where conflict is to be avoided, managers will intervene.And finally, wolf managers should work to avoid making enemies. Remember, hate is a learned behavior. In a century, none of today’s wolf haters will be with us. It is critical that wolf managers and wolf enthusiasts create no new enemies. And livestock managers will learn to live with wolves.Editors’ note: While it is true that “In a century, none of today’s wolf haters will be with us,” and is also true that “Hate is a learned behavior,” it is further true that hate left unchecked breeds more hate, and that from the instigation of federal programs to kill wolves to the extirpation of wolves from most of the Lower 48 states took less than half a century.Therefore, while further wolf reintroductions may not be necessary for wolves to re-establish themselves throughout appropriate wild habitat, patience can scarcely be the only response to ranchers, hunters, and politicians promoting wolf hatred and killing.The state wildlife agencies and game boards in Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and Wyoming, in particular, have already demonstrated themselves to be perfectly happy to allow hunters to extirpate wolves all over again, if allowed to do so.photo: Wolfphotography.com ... See MoreSee Less

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Wolfwatcher

2 days ago

Here is the cat we need to protect in Southwest. Ocelot This post came in this morning. Have a good day ... See MoreSee Less

Seventh ocelot ID'd in AZ over last 2 decades is captured on video

ow.ly

Researchers have sighted a wild ocelot in a Sky Island mountain range, more than 30 miles from its last known location.

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Latest Wolfwatcher News...

National Wolfwatcher Coalition Announces 2023 Wolf Education Mini-Grants Available

Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem Wolf Pack and Population Size Report

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Nonlethal Initiative for Livestock Protection

Return of the Wolves: Lessons from the Wilderness

Become A WCC Junior Wolf Biologist | Wolf Conservation Center

Wolf Conservation Planning and Resource Bank Documents Created

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NWC Business Office