Special Edition: A field report from Wood River Workshop
It’s not often that you find Defenders staff, several ranchers, and Wildlife Services biologists and field agents all gathered around a table having a productive conversation about wolves. But that’s exactly what happened this week during a two-day workshop in the beautiful Wood River Valley of central Idaho.
Maybe it was the gorgeous backdrop of the stunning Sawtooth Mountains. Maybe it was the perfect weather. Maybe it was something in the water. But whatever it was bodes well for the future of the Wood River Wolf Project.
The workshop officially kicked off the fifth year of what has been a tremendously successful collaboration between Defenders, Blaine County, a handful of local sheep producers, and at least four different federal agencies. Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center and Wildlife Services district office all attended the workshop and offered valuable insights into how to expand the scope of the project and make it more effective overall.
There was broad agreement about the need to involve more ranchers by disseminating best management practices for preventing livestock losses to wolves. Mike Stevens with Lava Lake Lamb said his herders having been using guard dogs, fladry and scare devices for years, virtually eliminating all losses to wolves. Yet many Idaho ranchers are still not familiar with nonlethal deterrents and how to implement them.
Last year, Defenders began laying the groundwork to significantly expand the scope of the project from a relatively small portion of the Sawtooth National Forest to pastures and grazing allotments countywide. Doing so will require a dramatic shift in our approach—from having field technicians out 24/7 tracking wolves and following bands of sheep, to having them conduct site evaluations and recommending ways to avoid conflict in high risk areas. Making that change will take time and require the cooperation of all our partners, but ultimately will allow us to increase tolerance for wolves across a much wider area.
The group also agreed that having more collared wolves in the project area could provide much-needed information about wolf activity and the effectiveness of nonlethal tools. There are currently only about 30 collared wolves left in the entire state, and none remaining in Blaine County. By deploying more collars, Defenders field technicians can make more accurate assessments of the threats to sheep, especially as they move through rugged wilderness where livestock are harder to protect.
Beyond the discussion of management tools, the workshop was vitally important for re-establishing trust between all project partners. We don’t always see eye-to-eye, but frank discussions during the workshop showed how much can be accomplished when we’re all working toward the same goal: keeping as many sheep and wolves alive as possible.
Thanks to all workshop participants for traveling long distances to share their knowledge and expertise on how best to foster coexistence between people and wildlife.
Look for updates throughout the season as Defenders field technicians set out to survey the landscape and forge new relationships with livestock producers across Blaine County. Good luck team!
Defenders of Wildlife leads the pack when it comes to protecting wild animals and plants in their natural communities.
Very heartening news in this well-reported article. I also love the stunning scenery of the Wood River and Sawtooth Mountains in the photos. I am particularly pleased to hear that guard dogs and other non-lethal methods to protect livestock are being employed. I am hopeful that there will be an increase in people’s tolerance of wolves from now on. Our coexistence with them is vital IMHO.
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KUDOS to all who attended and are attempting to create a way to manage wolves and sheep in a positive manner. Hopefully it will continue to
evolve in the same way.
Best to all, Continued success,
NG
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Very encouraging read, after mostly hearing about people being “trigger happy” and targeting wolves – when they are not setting off massive wildfires.
Also so cool to see a Maremma Sheepdog being deployed. There are so many large LGDs, Lifestock Guarding Dogs, in shelters and with rescue organizations across the country, so one would think that people would be very willing to take them in and try them out. There’s nothing better when it comes to heard protection from predators, be it wolves, coyotes, wolverines, or bears, than large LGDs.
We are adopting an Anatolian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix here in the next week or so. Looking forward to it and to keep the (otherwise fun) coyotes at bay.
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This is a great program, but is it to late? Why bother when the Idaho governor has stated he wants to kill every last wolf and they are currently shooting the wolves using helicopters and federal sharp shooters?
What is the real story?
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I agree with the concept and implementation of this project EXCEPT you wrote “The group also agreed that having more collared wolves in the project area could provide much-needed information about wolf activity and the effectiveness of nonlethal tools. There are currently only about 30 collared wolves left in the entire state, and none remaining in Blaine County. By deploying more collars, Defenders field technicians can make more accurate assessments of the threats to sheep, especially as they move through rugged wilderness where livestock are harder to protect.”
I do not agree that more collars are necessary or good for the wolves. Radio collared wolves are often used to track and kill packs of wolves as in idaho. Radio collared wolves also face injuries from collars and what need is there to track wolves in rugged wilderness as it relates to wolf depredation. Sheep are not going to venture into rugged wilderness. This is not a defensible stance. I hope that you do not seek to collar more wolves.
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What a wonderful idea. I wish we had this program in Wisconsin since the state just allowed a wolf hunt to begin which includes let traps (I can’t believe this and it breaks my heart).
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SO HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP THAT COULD BE A MODEL FOR WORKSHOPS IN OTHER STATES AS ONLY COOPERATION BETWEEN FARMERS AND RANCHERS WILL SAVE THE WOLVES FROM EXTINCTION
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Haha just wanted to say…..big fan! Keep it up everyone who goes is Lucky to participate it something like this, especially in Idaho
thank you everyone:) just leaving a comment….nothing special but everything that you guys do brings tears to my eyes, I hope one day to be somebody who works with wolves
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