It is recognised, Washington Wolf Management plan

a story

a life......

one wolf.....

The state finally has aknowledged Mckenzie's release.

The Wolf The Woman The Wilderness is the book I wrote over 10 years ago to tell her story. A story that happened over 20 years ago.

What does the life of one individual mean.....

McKenzie, The Grey One, was not a pet, she hunted and raised pups in the North Cascades.

She was allowed to learn to go back where she belonged.

Was Elsa the Lioness of Born Free, a pet?
Were Tundra and Wah who were released by Canadian Wildlife Biologist, RD Lawrence, Pets? Documented in the book 'Secret go the Wolves.'

McKenzie's was a difficult and long journey that took us over two years to complete.

I did not do this lightly. I talked to many rehab experts, and one alaskan wolf biologist. Who agreed with me that she was a good candidate for release.

She did hunt near Hozameen, but that was not her release site.
Although the wolf biologist at the time in that area aknowledged her as an indigenous wild wolf.

I have never encountered another individual that was capable of that return journey back into the wild.

Do you realize the imbalance of our world?

One life

One wolf

If you hear howling in the North Cascades

Remember the Grey one, and her story.

She was not a pet, but a wolf...who finally came home.


Teresa Martino Yamamoto


When will we come home? When will we recognise home?

Shonka shiga

Markquiaki



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Poems

This is for you
---------------------------------------------------

She brought me an orphaned fawn

they called me about a beached grey whale

He told me of a sick raccoon

A shot wolf

An injured eagle

Why they ask...........


Why is the fawn orphaned?

The whale beached?

What is this mystery?


-----------------------------------------------------

I guess we all ask that question.

I ask it late at night while listening to Pete breathing.

I ask it in the morning as spring comes late

--------------------------------------------------------

All creation has a purpose

The wolf keeps the deer strong

the mosquito can pollinate in the arctic

Creation has been working for a long time.

Till we picked up the hammer andf began nailing without knowing what we were building.


A child asked me what our purpose is


I thought and answered what I have been told.

To show compassion

And to interpert the world

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


give up ?

No never


But

We need to see clearly

We need to see truthfully

afraid?

Here take my hand

We are going on this journey together

All it takes

Is compassion

and hard work.

So

Turn off your TV

Put down the newspaper

And figure out how the world works

From her best teacher

Go Outside.

Love you

Prayers for Pete

I am writing to ask everyone to please keep Pete in your thoughts over the next while. He is seriously ill though we don't want to get in to details at this time. Pete is the strength of Wolftown and at this time needs our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your continued support.

Sorry my friends, I’ve not been keeping up with the blog. But life has been busy. This winter was long and hard. We are lambing now and that means a lot of time worrying about the ewes and young lambs.
I have had a few new interns. Mostly kids from back east who want to learn farming and know that there is a compassionate way to raise livestock. You can’t join the slow and local food movement in the north and be eating only vegetables.
It is about balance and peace. That’s what these young folks are looking for.
Keeping livestock is like marriage. You can be kind and reciprocate help that you give to one another or not. Each helps the other to survive. Living on the land is also like marriage; you give and take in balance.
There is not a lot of wildlife rescue yet. But there will be. We have had a few sick and dying seals. People ask me….what can we do. What can we do?

There is only one real answer.

Live kindly on the land. Support the slow and local food movement.
For me the best thing I can do to help wildlife is change the way I live and preserve land.

I know it’s hard out there, and those that read this might think, we have no land and no way of following this way.
Work with those around you.
Don’t like the big corporations? Then don’t participate in them, don’t watch, don’t buy from them. Pay them no attention.
Aim for simple
Stay with common sense.

WOLFTOWN!

WHAT WE DO!

1. We are a federal and state permitted wildlife rehabilitation and education facility.
We take injured, ill or orphaned wild animals and restore them to health and return them to the wild.
We teach how important indigenous wildlife are to the health of our ecosystem.
We specialize in predators. Especially canids, wolves, coyotes, foxes and birds of prey.
We have non-releasable animals here at our facility for education.

2. We teach sustainable and predator friendly agriculture. We raise sheep which we browse loose on horseback with sheepdogs. We do not feed grain, nor do we use medicated feed or antibiotics. We utilize everything the sheep give us. And in return we care for them in a kindly, compassionate and respectful way. We believe that the local and slow food movement supports the health of humanity and can keep wild eco-systems whole.
The sheep teach our interns how to handle stock, then our interns volunteer to stay with herds or flocks at other farms or ranches where there are problems with predators. This is the BEST way to keep predators from preying on stock. (Think of the Masai of Africa and their cattle.) Predator friendly farming label sells! Sustainible? Think browsing sheep on sides of roads instead of using machinery? Think of using captured methane from sheep to power organic wool mill.

Predators keep wild ruminants healthy. They do this by actively culling herds. The easiest to catch is what is most often preyed upon. This is a far better management system than our current understanding of management. Feeding wild ungulates promotes concentrations of animals thereby spreading disease and parasites. It does not support the normal swings in population that occur in Nature. What it does do is supply deer and elk for hunting and it can keep populations of ungulates away from crop farming areas. We need to rethink this system. If the wild population of ungulates is healthy, predators will naturally prey upon them more, so reduce losses in domestic stock. Think also of raising stock with more sense. Stock that is predator/disease/parasite resistant.
If you raise domestic ruminants, cattle, sheep, goats, you want wild populations of deer and elk to be healthy. As many of the parasites and diseases can be transferred to your stock! This is especially true if you are raising stock organically.
If you teach wild canids that your stock is OFF LIMITS they will keep other transients from moving in and preying upon your stock. They will also teach their pups what NOT to hunt. You teach predators to stay away by, having stockman stay with stock. Correct use of properly bred Livestock Guardian dogs. (Not llamas and donkeys when your predators are wolf and grizzly.) Use of deterrents such as flares, blanks, rubber bullets, electric fencings, good fencing, and bringing weak and young animals in close to the ranch house at night. For smaller predators, use of bells and sheep coats, can help as well.

3. Preservation of wild land- No matter how many animals we rehab and release. No matter how many people we educate about the environment if we do not change the way we live all of this is a moot point.

Changing the way we live is the single most difficult thing we can do and it is the most important.

It includes:
Proper use of land. Does everyone need a cabin in the mountains? Could the idea of suburbia be rethought? What are the impacts of mono culture farming? The use of too many chemicals. The need for natural, not petroleum based products. Think Wool clothing, naturally sustainable, organic and warm! And sheep can be raised to fit into an ecological niche and not be farmed using a mono-crop system.
The need for wildlife corridors and wild places off limits to people. (Nature in the Bank!)
The understanding that stress has an impact on wildlife. Stress that people cause by over use of motorized vehicles, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, even bicycles and hikers cause for the need of voluntary common sense solutions. Wild animals have only so many calories that they can use per day. Stress causes more of these calories to be utilized. This can be a decisive factor in a wild animal’s, survival, health and breeding potential. There are a lot of people in the mountains these days.
Nature balances herself. Sometimes the best thing we can do is leave things alone to balance.
The idea that our survival may depend on what we do now and in the next ten years. Selflessness and humility are needed as well as community involvement.


WOLFTOWN has been a leader in bringing about this change for over 20 years. If you need us we are here for you.
Call us for help with rehab, education or predator problems. 206-463-9113
We are all unpaid volunteers supported by a community of like minded individuals.

Volunteer yourself! Host a fundraiser!

We are looking for more land to house our big predator rehab and agriculture programs. Contact us for more information.

WOLFTOWN
PO Box 13115
Burton, WA
98013

www.wolftown.org
wolftown@centurytel.net

Wolftown Rehabilitations

Wolftown have rehabilitated the following from February 2008 to date:

Raccoons - 8
Crow - 1
Barn Owl - 1

Baby Domestic Chick - 1
Robin - 4
Barn Swallow - 1
White Footed Mice - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 2
Anna's Hummingbird - 1
Harbor Seal Pup - 1

Stranded Seal calls - 10
Whale calls - 1
Canada Goose - 2
Bald Eagle - 1
Common Golden Eye - 1
Barred Owl - 1
Bufflehead - 1
Winter Wren - 1
Stellars Seal Lion - 1
Deer Fawns - 3
Great Blue Heron - 1

We have also had Wolf/bear/coyote calls - 12 sightings, non-lethal predator questions (off island)

Our normal and ongoing programs include
12 non-releasable wolves
4 non-releasable birds of prey

We have many sheep and three goats in the agricultural/predator friendly farming intern program

We have 3 horses in our youth mentorship/agriculture program



We have two rescued Border Collies for the agriculture program
We also have a team of sled dogs for the youth mentorship program

And...we need your help to continue this work! Please consider donating or volunteering.

WOLF NEWS

Sad to report our darling Zhoni was humanely destroyed. She was our oldest wolf at 15. Poor girl couldn't get up one morning. We will miss you girl! Zhoni was saved by law enforcement officers in ID where she was owned illegally.

Wild rescues: Cedar Wax wing, hit by a cat- died
Rufous hummingbird- hit by a dog- recovering
8 raccoons- 4 Euthanised as they were very ill, 4 doing very well!

Wolves are STILL on the endagered species list thanks to your envolment in signing petitions! And thanks to one brave judge!

Wolf pack sighted in OR

2 wolves radio collared in Okanogan WA One is a lactating female.

(If you know T you will know why this is important news.

Wolftown Shawls!

Here are the shawls The winter Tree Shawl was sold, (It has tree embroidered on back.)

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Did you know you can support the work and animals of Wolftown by buying hand made, slow clothing. These items are made from our sheep. Hand sheared, gently standing, hand washed and hand spun. Then knitted or crocheted or woven into a unique one of a kind, WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING Piece for you to enjoy and get the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting good thiongs like wildlife rehab and education. create many wonderful items for sale.

We have wonderful, warm wool hats for $65.



















Shepherd's fanny pack for $35. (not shown)

Great vest for $150.



















Small scarves for $35.
Large scarves for $65.
(Large scarf shown)


















Celtic lace shawl for $200.


















Wool shawl for $200.



















Skeins of wool for $30.




















We also have some acrylic (if you are allergic to wool) prototype shawls and a blanket for $200. These are made to test patterns before using our hand spun wool.
We would also like to thank Celtic Croft for allowing us to show their beautiful ancient kilt. We will be making wraps similar out of our woven wool for $500. They can be worn in several different ways, skirt, wrap, belted skirt with portion for wrap...be creative!



















If you are interested in purchasing some of these lovely and warm handmade items, please call Wolftown at 206 463-9113.

More Wildlife and a wedding and T's story

Happy day and congradulations to my dear brother Shon man and his sweet wife Tory! They got married yesterday and everyone wore kilts!

In the midst of this we had a call on a baby robin. Who we advised was not lost just exploring so a box was put up a tree and sure enough mom found baby and all was well.

My poor brother found two sick raccoons on his way back from his wedding that sadly had to be put down.

Our dear eagle also had to be put down as he developed a systemic infection, but thank you everyone who helped him.

And here is a story.

And Pic of Jhon in a kilt!

The eagle sat in the brush facing us feet spread wide, talons ready. But he was injured and putting on a brave front. I had waded through deep blackberry bushes and held my capture net at the ready while Pete blocked his escape route with a blanket.

While I crept up to him thoughts swam through my head.

An eagle can press 1500 lbs per square inch with his feet.
Why did I go into wildlife rehab? A job where Pete and I are not paid, work long hard hours and are on call 24 hours a day.
Why was the phone call I got just before responding to the eagle, so angry?

Concentrate, I told myself and crept closer. The eagle turned and regarded me. His golden eyes still and calm.

My thoughts drifted back to the phone call before the eagle.

“What do you mean you cannot take these baby raccoons? Do you want me to leave them in the woods to die. Why are you so uncaring?”

I patiently explained to the woman that Wolftown was at its limit of raccoons and we could only house so many. I told her that our resources were limited to how much money we had for vet care, medicine and building housing. I also told her that we can not save all of them. Then I gave her phone numbers of licensed rehab facilities off island to take them. And to call me back if they were all full and I would try to place them myself. But if they were sick I would euthanize them.

(By the way Wolftown releases raccoons and deer off island. And we only rehabilitate very strong good candidates. We have ways of finding out how our rehab wildlife is doing by using transmitters this has taught us really refined ways of seeing if our rehab techniques are working.)

The women then told me, as so many others have done, of how many raccoons she has raised and all her good work and how frustrated she was with me.

I listened to her while thinking of her nurturing of raccoons and what this means in the big picture of Vashon as a whole ecosystem. Could this women recognize lepto? Was she practicing quarantine for the deadly parasites that raccoons carry? Did she have children? Pets? Grandkids?

Her strategy was off. She was releasing raccoons too early and those would die. She was habituating them to people by not feeding them blind. So those would get into trouble. Lastly that she did not realize that mother raccoons like all wild animals are very practical if their young are not viable they will abandon them. This is the way nature prevents sick or weak animals from breeding. Some babies are brought to Wolftown because Mom raccoon was hit by a car. But not always. Many raccoons on island are sick. This is bad in a lot of ways. Predators will help with this. That’s why we should welcome the coyote, the bobcat and the bear.

The eagle in front of me suddenly spread his wings and I was standing before his over 6 foot wingspan.

“Put your wings in.” I told him. “So I can net you.”

Pete suddenly said, “His wings are down now.”

I swung my net and neatly the eagle was inclosed in it. I let him jump forward then I had him . We carefully unwrapped him and put him in the big eagle crate. Carried it to the truck and placed it in the back and drove to Wolftown.

My thoughts swirled in my head. There had been two more calls that day. One call from a women that wanted me to move a wild animal that was a nuisance to her.
“I cannot move nuisance wildlife. For that .” I told the woman, “You must call State Fish and Wildlife. I can only move sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. That is the law.”
This made the woman angry and she yelled at me and hung up.

The phone call before hers was from a man rescuing crows. He called me about one that was ill.
He admitted that he was rescuing crows because he likes crows.

“That’s good you like crows .” I told him, “But my problem is you just told me that you are breaking the law. And I am required by law to tell the state. I can lose my permits if I do not obey the law. That means all the good work of Wolftown would suffer.”

He argued with me that he was doing the crows good by helping them.

I asked him if he had access and knowledge of Fluid therapy, antibiotics, protein requirements for developing corvids.
He was silent.
I told him that wild life rehabbers are actively checking birds especially corvids(Crows and ravens) and water fowl for bird flu. That we will be the first to see it. Something I personally take very seriously. Would he recognize it? I have had to be trained to recognize it.
Then I explained,
“If you love a species of wild life and want to be near it.
You learn that your care for wild animals must go beyond being around them but helping the whole ecosystem.
That wild animals are not pets but ‘other nations caught in the web of time with us.’

He then started listening to me as I told him the story of my life and work with Wildlife.

I asked him to come volunteer. Wildlife rehabilitation has come far in 25 years and we now have techniques that are state of the art. And ethics that balance the whole thing.
Both these things are important. The man quietly said he would try to come help.


We pulled up to Wolftown and then got the eagle crate out and put it in the biggest hawk mew.


Pete and I waited 20 minutes for the eagle to settle. This is a good practice as wildlife are often in shock when they are handled and they can die of the stress.

The eagle turned out to have a fractured wing and gangrene had set in. He was humanly euthanized.

I went out and fed Wolftown’s baby raccoons after the eagle died. And I thought about this one day.

I came up with saying Wolftown’s mission in my head like a mantra.

“Finding the Balance of Animals and Wilderness.”
“Finding the Balance of Animals and Wilderness.”
“Finding the Balance of Animals and Wilderness.”

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Well, we've had more wildlife come in to the project so here is the update...

We had a call about a Canadian Goose who had fishing line wrapped around it's neck. Fortunately we were able to get to it and cut off the fishing line, the Goose is doing well and has gone back to the wild.


We have had two orphan fawns come in, one had no colostrum and therefore it's immune system was compromised which ultimately lead to it's death. Fawn's don't get their colostrum from the placenta they get it only from the first milk from the mother. The second fawn was already too far gone when we got to it.





For the baby Barn Owl that we got it was also too late and it didn't make it.

We had calls about a Fresh Water Otter that had fishing line around it...we haven't found it yet so if you see it, please call us ASAP so we can help it. The number is 206 463-9113.

We have two orphan Raccoon babies that are doing well.















We also have a Bald Eagle that has some wing damage that we are currently treating. We call him Curly. If you would like to help out with the cost of caring for Curly we (and he) could really use the help. It costs $5 to $10 per day just to feed the Eagle, then there are vet fees on top of that. It you would like to donate, write a check to Wolftown with the memo stating "Curly" or "Bald Eagle" and we will ensure those funds are directed to his treatment and care.

Spring Wildlife rescues

FINALLY we have had some warm weather! I know I needed it. Sheared the flock of sheep thanks for some great help from Dianna and Logan!

The rescues this spring have been few and far between. My thought is the really cold start to our spring did in most of the weaker guys out there.

We have an orphan fawn. We call him, Useless. But we mean it as a tease! His mom got hit by a car. He is using the lamb bar and doing very well.

We have had a very sick dehydrated, starved baby barn owl. A Brancher so almost on the wing. Owls are devoted parents we are not sure what happened that he was not fed? He was too far gone when we got him. Poor guy!

Today we got an adult great blue heron. But sadly the woman who found him had chased the eagle who had caught him away! The eagle needed food. The heron for whatever reason, old, sick, tired got caught. The eagle makes all herons stronger.

But now the eagle didn't get his food. And the poor heron who was very torn up had to be PTS.

Its hard to explain the way things work sometimes. But we tried to explain gently to the woman who had found him that it would have been better to have left them alone.

Sheep Browsing

Browsing the sheep on horseback

Jan/feb at Wolftown

January started our lambing season. So far we have a set of twins that are 4 weeks old. We are expecting about 20 lambs.
The sheep teach in our sustainible ag programs. How we live affects the land. These primitive sheep teach compassion and sustainibility and the management of land. They also teach where food and clothing comes from and they teach common sense and balance.

Here are our latest wildlife rehab updates.

A common golden eye diving duck, female, was found hypothermic and starving, it was successfully rehabilitated and released.












We also had a bufflehead diving duck, male. that had been grabbed by an eagle and somehow a person got him away from the eagle.... This brings up the issue of maybe it would have been better to leave the eagle alone. However since the bird was brought to the project this one was also successfully rehab'd and released.










Sadly we were unable to save a winter wren that was hypothermic and starving, it was dead on arrival.

We also had a stranding call on a male harbour seal that died of unknown causes.

On a happier note, here is a picture of the two lead dogs and the wheel dog of our sled team just hanging out at home (the other three must be in the bed!).

Frank and Cap, seal and lambs

Frank the peregrine is not able to be released. Whatever happened to him has disabled him enough that sustained flight is just not possible. So he will go on into education.

Little Cap our rescued working sheepdog has a new book out! It's his little story. Written by T illustrated by her mom! You can order it by e-mail or phone. Its $20 plus postage. wolftown@centurytel.net 206-463-9113

I went out to investigate a seal carcass for Dept of Fisheries last week. The good folks with DNR harvesting geoducks gave me a lift by boat as it was off the coast of Vashon's east side. For you non PNW folks a geoduck is a BIG clam.

The seal was shot, stabbed and slashed to death, wieghted down with sand bags I suppose to hide the fact that he had been illegally killed. Alot of folks I guess think that the seal has no right to eat his natural food.

I wonder as earth's human population grows what this portends for wildlife. Competition for food in nature is a swinging balance.


On a softer note, dear Persephone lambed twins. Ewe and ram lambs. I was up all night with her as it was out of season lambing and below freezing outside. In fact it snowed that night.






Pics that follow are not for faint of heart.

Pedse and Ta

I have been tired lately and not able to find time to post on the blog. Lambing will start in about 10 days and wildlife rehab really starts up around Feb and march.

Ta and Pedse two wolves in the education rescue have been very sick. Ta was diagnosed with bone cancer last fall and steadily going downhill. She is the wolf that came as a movie wolf rescue pup. She had a seed stuck to her eye!. So her first thing was a trip to the vet to get the dam seed off. She took it all in stride. She used to sleep on my stomach and the kids in the project called her ice cream as we gave her her pills, for her eye, in Ice cream. Ta grew up to be a formidable wolf. And often bit people interfering in her enclosure. Mostly Mike B when he was cleaning. However she did go after Anna. She was a tough cookie and although this was just her way of telling you, 'leave this is my territory!' It still pinched horribly. However she never bit me. She was always my dear pal.

Pedse- Came down with Pancratic disease and went very quickly. Coal Came from an old movie animal trainer in ID who rescued him from some abusive folks. But then Fish and Game heard about him and came to put him down because he was illegal. The old lady called me in tears. She had no money to transport him and neither did we!
But I called her town's local newspaper and they ran an article about him. People sent us money and little notes. It was a lot of folks sending a little and it came to over $3000 in 3 days. One note I truly loved was from an old man that simply said, 'here is five dollars to save Coal, please save him.'
Pete and I and Cam did. We rented a van and drove over to get him. And except for nipping the end off the Vet's finger, everything went smoothly. Coal didn't do that on purpose the Vet trying to handle him before he was unconscious. The Vet thought that Coal thought his finger was a hot dog. Hum?
But anyway Coal came to live at Wolftown. Coal was a teaching wolf, always very gentle. His little mate, Cabe used him as a sun shade. The interns first wolf experience was with Coal.

Elo, Ta's mate howled a lot for her last night. He had been leaving his food for her.


Frank the Peregrine is now over whatever happened to him and I am going to try to refly him. I sure hope he can be released.

I think about you people out there that support Wolftown. I am so sorry I cannot write to you all, I get so many e-mails. But I do thank you too! I could not do it without you.

T

Dec

Hawe!

The video cam number thingie does not work like I thought so be patient we will have it up and running and you will be able to see the wolves. AND T setting off with the sled team, and moving birds to go fly on the 80 acres. And taking out the horses and sheep dogs to browse the sheep.

here is dog team in 07 Dogs across America!
Take care!

T

Wolftown, Thanksgiving 07

To see the new Live Wolf Web Cam type 192.168.1.47 into your address bar. Thanks Vince and Louise! These are the wolves, PupPup and Shoka Jr. They are an arctic wolf and timber wolf. Frank the Peregrine is still recovering from his either asper or his enlarged heart problem. He is off all medication and flying around his mew. We had a cormorant come in who did not make it. He had a severe bite wound on his back. Ta our beloved Marine wolf has been diagnosed with bone cancer and is not expected to live. We are keeping her as comfortable as possible. She was a movie wolf reject and a great fierce wolf. Although she is very afectionate towards T

Wildlife update

Well folks, Sunday was a very sad day! After almost two months of training we were ready to release Frank the Peregrine falcon. Frank had done very well. He had shown that he could catch pigeons and fly well enough to survive. I gave him four days of quiet time before the release, Birds of prey forget you in 72 hours. He was fed without see me and allowed to gain in weight to give him a safety zone.
But when the release came he could not fly! I at first thought he was just shocked at his surroundings, as he seemed fine when we caught him and crated him early that AM. But he simply was not flying. I strode over and put him on a branch. And he LET me catch him, which was not a very good sign. But I put him on a branch and sat down to watch. Nothing. So I re caught him and we took him back to Wolftown. I thought at first, could he have hit his head in the crate. But we had heard nothing? And he knew the crate very well. Finally I decided it must be an infection of some kind. And the dreaded Asper reared its ugly head. Asper is a fungal infection where spores are breathed in. It is present in the environment at all times but a bird under stress is likely to succumb to it. Also Frank was difficult to gain height in early training, possibly that was a sign.
Monday we took Frank in to do complete blood work and x-rays. His lungs showed some slight modulation, which could be a sign of Asper in its beginning stages. He is on Meds as the blood work takes 7 days. Asper runs its fatal course in 7 to 10 days.

So cross your fingers for dear old Frank. Pics are of Frank and the Saker falcon- Snapdragon.
(NEW NEWS!!! x-ray report came back with Frank having an enlarged heart! That might be why he came into rehab in the first place? Also why he was difficult to a get hieght while flying. Primlimnary blood work do not show signs of infection. Asper test results in one week.)
We had a Canadian goose come in which we fixed up and was released.

A common loon came in with a terrific injury to its neck which I couldn't save.
two more barred owls came in and were released. Ginger Beer the deer was succesfully released.

Mabel the Coyote is doing very well.
Thats the news!

T

Wolftown newest rescues

Here are some of our latest wildlife rescues.

An osprey that was caught in a net. I flew her for a couple of days. She did very well. The blood on her chest is MINE! Doesn't she look like a dodo bird?

Our new tiercel Peregrine, Frank, that we are flying for Island Wildlife of Bainbridge. To be released this fall.
Thats his horrified look.
And a Douglas Tree squirrel, Mojo, I had a heck of a time getting him off my arm, this was during a cage transfer.

Summertime

Alot of news lately!

A wolf was filmed by remote camera in the forests near Colville. That was great! Of course my opinion is that a small scattering of wolves have been in the north cascades for 20 years.

But that is great news!

Wolftown has been doing alot of rescue!

Sick seal pups, Orphan fawns, hit by car owls!

And we have more sheep in the agriculture program!

Still rebuilding from the Dec 14th storm. And still need help fundraising!

Thxs for being out there guys! And I really appreciate your encouragement!

Here is info on WA state Wolf recovery, meetings, Please attend! And photos of recently rescued Wildlife!




the Washingtons Department of Fish and Wildlife intends to hold Public meetings and a Comment period regarding state management of wolves, starting in mid-August through the end of the month

Also recently a biologist who had been mounting night cameras in the Colville National Forest in Washington as part of his research obtained a photo that looks quite clearly to be a wolf. Will be sending you all that news article next.
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

July 30, 2007

Contact: Rocky Beach, (360) 902-2510 or
Harriet Allen, (360) 902-2694

Public meetings, comment period scheduled
on state wolf management

Citizens can comment on gray wolf management in Washington state, during public meetings Aug. 14-23, and in writing through Aug. 31.

The series of public "scoping" meetings is being held by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and an 18-member citizen working group that is advising WDFW on development of a draft wolf-management plan.

"This public comment opportunity is intended to ensure that we receive a full range of citizen views as we develop a conservation and management plan for the gray wolf," said Rocky Beach, WDFW wildlife diversity manager.

While the state will not re-introduce wolves, the species is expected to re-establish in Washington on its own as wolf numbers increase in neighboring states and Canada.

To prepare for return of wolves, a citizen working group appointed by WDFW has been meeting since early this year The working group includes representatives from the livestock and timber industries, conservation groups, local government, hunters and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Additional public comment will be taken on the draft plan when it is completed next year.

The eventual wolf-management plan is expected to include gray wolf population objectives, wolf-livestock conflict resolution, wolf-game species interactions, wolf-human interactions and other issues.

The public meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the following locations:

Clarkston, Aug. 14, at the Clarkston Center of Walla Walla Community College, 1470 Bridge St.
Spokane, Aug. 15, at Mount Spokane High School, 6015 E. Mount Spokane Park Drive.
Yakima, Aug. 16, at the Ahtanum Youth Park barn facility, 1000 Ahtanum Road (parking fee waived for meeting attendees)
Twisp, Aug. 20, at the Methow Valley Community Center, 201 S. Methow Valley Highway.
Sequim, Aug. 21, at the Guy Cole Convention Center, Carrie Blake Park, 212 Blake Ave.
Bellingham, Aug. 22, at Whatcom Community College, 237 West Kellogg St.
Vancouver, Aug. 23, at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way.
Written public comments also will be taken by mail or email through the end of August, as part of the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the wolf plan under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Comments will be taken through Aug. 31, by e-mail to SEPAdesk@dfw.wa.gov (include "Wolf Plan Scoping" and commenter name in e-mail subject line) or by surface mail to Wolf Plan Scoping, SEPA Desk-Habitat Division, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

Although gray wolves were largely eradicated in Washington by the 1930s, sightings have increased since federal recovery efforts were initiated in Idaho and Montana in the mid-1990s. The success of those efforts has prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose removing gray wolf populations from the federal list of endangered species in three states and parts of four other states, including Washington. The state plan will address wolf management in Washington after the species is removed from the federal list of endangered species.

Since the gray wolf is also designated as a state endangered species in Washington, the plan must identify population objectives and appropriate conservation and management strategies.

"If gray wolves are de-listed by the federal government, the main difference will be that Washington and other western states will have the primary responsibility for managing their wolf populations," Beach said. "We need to prepare for that possibility by developing a conservation and management plan that works for people and wildlife."

Once a draft wolf conservation and management plan is developed next year, additional public review opportunities will be offered. The final plan is expected to be complete by June 30, 2008.

More information about citizen working group members, the group’s operating principles and gray wolf facts can be found on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/index.htm .

The stallions of Wolftown

Ballywhim Sterling Moss, Eeniskim and Sun's Own (Smokey) Teach in our youth program and also help us in the mountains here are some fun pics!
Eeniskim is the overo roan, Smoke the grulla and Sterling the grey!

Whats new!

I want to welcome Henry to Wolftown. Henry is helping with our birds of prey and he is a gem. A Master Falconer and also a great wildlife guy!

We have had an exciting week. First Zho got stuck in her own wolf hole! Pete had already left for work so T had to move the Wolf long house by herself. Zho was underneath it. Then start digging Zho out. But I wasn't strong enough to PULL her out. Zho was very brave although she did bite up two shovels. Finally Henry came and we both pulled her out! Poor old Wolf! She is losing her strenght in her back legs so thats why she got stuck! Good thing Wah her mate was cooperative!

We also had a raccoon call. Someone was remodeling a house and knocked down a snag and there were raccoons babies in it. Thankfully they called Wolftown and we moved them under the house. The mom will not abandon them. But it is best to do tree work in the fall when the wildlife is older!

We also got a call about a seal on the beach. Thought it might be the elephant seal, white 131 who is in South Sound right now, she's molting. But by the time I got there she had been flushed into the water by a dog! No one knows whose dog it is. But I've hauled injured otters from that beach! Don't let your dogs wander loose so they injure wildlife!

Met some dogs from Ravensgate Border collie rescue...but Cap was afraid of them.

And of course the black bear that was on island. Cap tracked him! He swam over to the mainland.
Whew
Here is bear story!

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS!

Or Aunt Em!




Yesterday morning Henry who is now part of Wolftown’s team and an old dear friend , and I followed my little sheep dog Cap through the woods to track where a bear was holing up in the warm part of the day.

Funny, this was not east of the mountains but on Vashon. Cap the sheep dog is just recently learning tracking work which by the way helps us with our non-invasive field work studies off island. Cap finds this rather amusing from the daily grind of moving a flock of rams and another flock of ewes and lambs to the various pastures around Wolftown.

Cap followed scent till Henry and I spotted tracks and scat of a black bear. While we walked thoughts came and went through my mind.

I had received about ten calls about the bear and I personally spoke to sheriff officials and State Fish and Wildlife numerous times within the past several days.

The bear brought up many things to me.

The first is the fact that people freaked out. Now please realize the majority of people on Vashon didn’t freak but the more freaked ones called me right away. Maybe some of you that are not freaking need to call me so I can balance this somehow. And those who did freak, I understand you freaked because you were faced with the unknown and you were truly concerned for yourselves, the bear and your pets, livestock and gardens…in that order.

A change from dealing with a Montana rancher who has lost 4 horses and two calves to grizzly and wolf. They freak in an entirely different way.……but usually can be worked out.
And all of us need to understand what it takes to be a rancher these days.
And we need to support them because frankly we want the big ranches to stay in place. It takes communication and the ability to listen.

Oh well back to the story!
First those that were concerned with safety issues. Black bears do not consider people food. They can attack people….but folks THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE! The bear on island had been frightened by what it thought was a terrible danger and had scrambled 12 feet up a tree to escape..horror of bear horrors an 75 year old grandma looking out a window at it. Ahhhhhhhhh! Run away…..

Bears are actually very shy. How many of you have seen them in the wild? As Henry and I walked through the forest of Vashon we were in what many would call suburbia…. 5 acres and a house but with a thick belt of trees between. These are wildllife corridors…… Henry and Iwalked with all our equipment with a dog that had a bell on and people surrounded us and they did not see us. Bears are like that. You don’t see them, they are hiding! This is because they are scared of people. And Henry and I were much more conspicuous and I lost my shoe and got trapped by branches on MY idea of a trail. When I take interns of island I really have to LOOK to find bears…..Now here’s the rub, that is mostly true of adult bears. This is because they have lived a season or two and know that people hunt them. So they learn to avoid people. Juvenile bears like the one on island, have not learned this lesson. That bear had been probably chased off his territory by an adult. Black bears breed in june.

Someone told me they were keeping their children home from school because of bears. This was interesting.

I grew up where there were bears and lion and MANY rattlesnakes. Funny the rattlesnakes liked to rest on our porch and my Pop was always sweeping them off. Sometimes he ate them too which helped control population but that’s another story. My relatives taught us from a very early age what to do around wildlife.

Common sense things like…..don’t run. Keep your eyes open. Stay with your brothers,Yell, look taller. Don’t bother young cubs don’t bother carcasses…..And the biggest one.
Do not bring it home! The last thing was a really big one for my family.
I guess I though everyone had learned this as a child but I guess not. But its ok to learn this now.

On the bears side is it better for the bear to be here or elsewhere. Hum? Well the bear choose to come here. He sought out a place where I had seen bears in times past on Vashon. It has good berrying potential.
It is good for our ecosystem to have the bear here. For one because of carrion which Wolftown is no longer taking. By the way the scat we found was 95 % plant material. Bears try to eat the easiest things to find and catch. Prey that does not run fast like berries, shoots, grass and dead stuff.

As far as your pets are concerned. Keep your pet food inside. Do not let your dog chase bears. When I was a kid we did not let our dogs out to run unattended. This was because they, being hunting dogs, would run deer or livestock and get shot. They also could get bit by rattlesnakes that my Father had not eaten yet.
Our dogs treed bobcat and lion occasionally and so I think they were savvy on the cat end of things.

I got called out by a local Vashon Sheep person and they were concerned about letting their flock out to graze after sighting the bear recently. A mature ewe can outdodge a bear if she has enough room. And the bear is going to think hum this is too hard. But this flock had garbage cans, in containers which was good, but right next to the sheep pens. So that needed to be moved. Also 4 strands of heavily charged hot wire set at different heights will deter most black bears. This also helps with gardens.

And your garbage and gardens can also be kept free of deer, dogs, and raccoons with hot wire. Raccoons carry a parasite that frankly I fear more than any bear. And I do worry about our deer with their parasite load. The bear could help with these things. Read my article on Wolftown’s blog called Balance.

You folks are my community and I love you even though sometimes you kinda baffle me. But I am sure I do the same to you sometimes. Please know that I will help at any time day or night if you have any problem with the bear.

And I will help Fish and Wildlife or the Sheriff remove him if he is a problem. But the law says they have to ask me.

But I hope we can learn to live with him. When I saw his tracks in the forest leaf litter of Vashon…..I thought of my childhood …..There’s no place like home!

T Martino

News!

I am sorry, its hard for me to get to the blog! I forget the passwords or how to do the dang thing!

Man! It was simpler, years gone by! But I know you folks like to read whats going on here at Wolftown.

We had a hummingbird come into the rescue. Sadly she could not survive. But she was sure game and tried hard.

We are seeing springtime and the sounds of the many birds fills me with happiness.

Soon Inniskim and I will do the first of this years non-invasive field work in the North Cascades.

All the wolves and other critters are fine.

Our garden is doing well such as it is. The sheep think alot about it.

If you do not grow your own food I heartily suggest you grow something for yourself. There is a sense of power being able to feed yourself and make your own clothing. Something that reminds me of my childhood!

The other thing is walking. Walking to the store or post office. It moves your blood, slows time down, gets you talking to neighbors.

I ride the little stallions to town sometimes and walk beside them and it helps my head and heart!

Hope spring is looking in your window!

Pic is of Pete and new lamb!

Old Wolves

Spring is really here and yesterday was warm and bright. Most of the ewes in the sustainible ag program have lambed and the fresh milk and chees is very welcome.

Some of our wolves are starting to show their age. Zhoni and Chewie are both now on glocosamine and Chewie hips are bothering him. We are going to have to build him a little nesting area that we can provide more warmth for him next winter.

The wolves howling is beautiful. I am legging up the little stallions for their mt work. Things are settling down.

My Brother Marty is providing a live web cam so folks can see what is happening at Wolftown. Thanks Mart! Happy Birthday!

Pic is Chewie yawning!

Wolftown Here we are!

Sorry I've not written in so long. We have been working hard and making good progress on the storm damage. Our World Wide Community have raised almost $18,000 to help us rebuild and do some strenghtening of fences and clean up! THANK YOU ALL!

Thanks also to Natural Balance Pet food! And Alpine Outfitters!

Here is last Mt snow Dog run using only frieghting dogs. T went by herself up to the north Cascades.

Kipmik running wheel and Arnuk and Keet lead.
Love you

T

Sterling helping with storm cleanup

Here are some pics of Sterling our connemara stallion helping skid logs away from the pasture and fencelines!

Wolftown Volunteers!

These guys and gals that are helping with cleanup are doing a great job and now we can finally see the project! We will be closed for at LEAST 60 days while we get things organized. The pics are of a BIG hanging hemlock that Charles is dropping!

THANKS EVERYONE!

Work!

Today we start the major cleanup! That's Trout on fallen tree. And shot of branches down between fencelines that must be picked up due to fire hazard.

Stupid or Brave

I wish to share something with you. Was it stupid or courageous of Pete and I to brave the storm, really risk our lives to make sure the fencelines were holding.

We went out there knowing that our job is to keep the project safe. We are entrusted to that purpose by the agencies that grant us our permits, by our members that support us and by the public which allows us to exist.

Also we are an example to others that there are things worth risking yourself for. So many people are afraid of risk. They have been taught to stay safe at all costs. I know that if we do not all risk to make the world a better place all of us will suffer the consequences.

Wolftown is a precious thing. It is something more than what it appears. It is worth my every risk.

So if you wonder if it was a foolhardy thing to do to brave the wind and falling trees I guess you need to ask yourself if there is anything you would risk your life to protect.
Only you know the answer to that.

If you have comments about this e-mail me and I will post them here.

huiha@centurytel.net

Photos 6 days after storm

Here is what things look like now.