Utah Wolves

It wasn't long ago, a concentrate decades de facto that Utah wolves were spoken of in the past tense. There weren't any. In fact, the last verified wolf taken in Utah, agreeing to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Predator and Rodent Control, was in 1930 in San Juan County. Prior to that, from 1917 straight through 1930, 162 were taken. With 48 of them in 1918 alone. Only two were taken after 1926, though.

Utah Wolves

Utah Wolves

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Utah Wolves

Utah Wolves

But many Utahns were recently startled by a story in the Salt Lake Tribune... On September 25, 2010... Of the sighting of as many as 15 wolves so far this year in the state. And not just running solo.

Where are they arrival from? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Usfws, has initiated a course of reintroducing wolves into the northern range of the Rocky Mountains. Well, it's apparent that even though Utah hasn't taken part in these efforts, the wolves don't identify state borders.

The natural migration of wolves from Canada into the northwestern Rocky Mountains of Montana over the years has resulted in some packs regaining a foothold there. Canadian wolves... 31 of them... Were introduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and 1996. And 35 of them were introduced into central Idaho. A very controversial decision.

In 2002, those numbers reached 261 in Idaho and 218 in the Yellowstone area. The Montana citizen was carefully to be 84.

But then a radio-collared wolf was captured in northern Utah in 2002. And there were other sightings of what were believed to be wolves in the state also. Under Utah state laws, if there are wolves in the state, they are protected.

And since 2003, there have been expanding reports of wolf operation in Utah. Last year... In 2009... There were nine reports throughout the state. But this year... 2010... There have been 15. And it's still September.

As you might expect, all this operation is quite naturally manufacture citizen excited. And nervous. As these reports have increased, so have the reports of livestock predation. And now, legislation has been introduced by two Utah congressMen to delist the gray wolf as an endangered species.

Once again, in a confrontation between federal courts and western incommunicable landowners, a new federal court decision came down against the landowners. It ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife aid didn't have the authority to take off wolves from the endangered species list on a state-by-state basis. It had done so in Idaho and Montana to allow hunts in those states as wolf populations continue to climb.

Although not all reports of Utah wolves have been substantiated, the Dwr... Division of Wildlife Resources... Will admit that it is distinct that roaming wolves have wandered into the state from Idaho and Wyoming.

But they say there is no evidence of packs or breeding. Every sighting had been solo. Until now perhaps.

Most of the confirmed sightings this year have been in counties bordering Idaho and Wyoming. And two wolves were killed this year after attacking Utah livestock in these areas.

The Salt Lake Tribune description reports that on July 12, in the Uinta Mountains, someone reported finding four wolves on the north side of Lily Lake just off the Mirror Lake Highway. The Dwr says they don't know if they were wolves or coyotes.

Then, not long after that, a University of Utah environMental studies graduate was camping at Washington Lake just west of the aforementioned Lily Lake. He claimed to have caress around coyotes and wild dogs. And he has heard wolves in the wild.

He heard howling and shorter yelps which he is convinced was being made by a group of wolves. He and his companion made adequate noise that the "wolves" became quiet and moved away. State biologists haven't followed up on these reports.

On a personal note, it wasn't too long after that my family and I spent the afternoon and evening at this same Washington Lake. Fishing. And hanging out at a campsite. But these reports became group quite a bit later so we weren't aware of these "sightings".

Two things are apparent. Wolves are fascinating into Utah. And state biologists... At least publicly... Don't seem to be in any hurry to research their arrival.

Utah Wolves

See Also : Weber GasGrill Outdoor