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January 20, 2017 CapitalPress.com 5 WDFW hoped shooting 5 wolves would stop attacks Progress made on Mexican potato access Department spends $134,999 on operation By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press By DON JENKINS Capital Press Washington wildlife man- agers hoped shooting five wolves in the Profanity Peak pack would end the attacks on livestock, but eventually killed seven when depreda- tions continued, spending $134,999 in the process, ac- cording to a report by the De- partment of Fish and Wild- life. The report presented Fri- day summarizes WDFW’s ac- tion’s last year in the Colville National Forest in north- eastern Washington, where wolves attacked at least 10 cattle and probably killed at least five more. Most of the information already had been reported, though WDFW previously had declined to disclose how many wolves it originally in- tended to shoot. WDFW initially an- nounced it would remove part of the pack. The mission grew into total pack removal when depredations continued, though four wolves were still alive when WDFW called off the hunt in mid-October. The report also updates how the much the depart- ment spent. WDFW had pre- liminarily tallied the cost at $119,500. Most of the money, $73,440, was spent on heli- copters, while $52,431 went for department salaries and equipment. WDFW also spent $9,128 to hire a trapper for 11 days. Although the trapper did not capture any wolves, the hiring showed ranchers that WDFW was willing to go out- side the department for help, according to the report. The operation was the third time WDFW has shot wolves to protect livestock since 2012. WDFW hoped a lethal-control policy devel- oped last spring by an adviso- ry group that included ranch- ers and environmentalists would bolster public support for department actions. Emotions, however, re- mained high. WDFW em- ployees, ranchers and one member of the advisory group were threatened, according to the report. Some environmental groups said they were out- raged by the killing of wolves, especially on public lands. Ferry County officials and some ranchers said lethal con- trol was overdue. According to WDFW, the pack had a history of attack- ing livestock, and its territory overlapped 11 federal grazing allotments with 1,500 cow- calf pairs. As the 2016 grazing sea- son neared, however, WDFW was unable to track the pack. The pack’s only member fit- ted with a radio-collar, an adult female, had moved to the south with a male wolf to form a new pack. “With the approach of the summer grazing season, ad- dressing that situation became a priority for WDFW wildlife managers,” according to the report. WDFW captured, collared and released an adult male June 9 and an adult female June 12. By then, cows were in the forest. WDFW reported see- ing cattle about 2 miles from where the female wolf was captured, but were not alarmed. The pack’s previous- ly known den was more than 10 miles away. By the end of June, WDFW concluded the current den was actually 4 to 5 miles from where cattle had been released. Washington State Univer- sity Large Carnivore Con- servation Lab Director Rob Wielgus told The Seattle Times in August that the Dia- mond M Ranch had intention- ally released cows “on top” of the den. WSU administrators repudiated the comment, say- ing it was inaccurate and had contributed substantially to growing anger and confusion. The first depredation was confirmed July 8. The rancher added a range rider and “ar- ranged for additional people Photos courtesy of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington wildlife managers examine a calf killed by wolves Aug. 3 in the Colville National Forest. This and other attacks led the state to shoot seven wolves. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently issued a report detailing the decision to kill members of the Profanity Peak wolfpack. to help monitor the cattle,” according to WDFW. On Aug. 3, WDFW con- firmed a fourth depredation by the pack, the threshold for considering lethal removal. The department confirmed a fifth attack the same day. WDFW Director Jim Un- sworth approved a recom- mendation by Eastern Wash- ington Regional Director Steve Pozzanghera to shoot up to three adults and two pups, hoping that would be enough to stop the pack from feeding on cattle. At the time, WDFW believed the pack had 11 members, though the num- ber was later revised to 12. WDFW shot two adult fe- male wolves Aug. 5 from a helicopter. WDFW also tried to trap and hunt for wolves on the ground, but were unable to find anymore in the rugged timberlands in the following two weeks. Unsworth called off the hunt Aug. 18 — more than two weeks after the last wolf attack. The next day, howev- er, WDFW documented four depredations. Unsworth di- rected the department to try to kill the entire pack. From a helicopter, WDFW shot one wolf Aug. 21 and three more Aug. 22, includ- ing an adult female that was found injured Aug. 25 and dispatched, according to the report. The seventh wolf was killed Sept. 27. The final con- firmed attack on livestock was Oct. 3. DENVER — Potatoes USA officials say an “important and very positive step” has been taken in the industry’s 15-year effort to gain access to all of Mexico for fresh U.S. potato shipments. Precisely how significant the development will prove to be remains to be seen. U.S. potato exports to Mex- ico have been allowed only within 16 miles of the U.S. border, except for a brief pe- riod in 2014 when the market was opened. Mexican courts granted an injunction against fresh U.S. potato shipments shortly after full access was granted, based on Mexican growers’ claims that some phytosanitary issues had not been properly addressed. The restriction was reinstated and has remained in place since. On Jan. 13, Mexico’s ag- riculture department, called SAGARPA, published a pest risk assessment for U.S. po- tatoes and a sheet offering re- quirements for shipping fresh U.S. potatoes beyond the 16- mile zone. According to Pota- toes USA, the publication will set the rules governing fresh U.S. potato shipments beyond the 16-mile zone until a per- manent decree is formalized, which should take 60 to 90 days. “Can people export? We don’t know because the pro- cess by which that is to occur based on the document has not yet been clearly defined by the Mexicans,” said Po- tatoes USA Chief Marketing Officer John Toaspern. “They made these publications, but they haven’t sorted out the ex- act process.” Toaspern also offered the caveat that officials are still determining if the previous legal actions by Mexican po- tato growers will prevent fur- ther imports, and additional lawsuits could result in new injunctions against U.S. pota- to exports. “It is very much in flux,” Toaspern said. Opening all of Mexico to fresh U.S. spuds would be a major victory for the U.S. po- tato industry. Even with access restrict- ed to within 16 miles of the border, Mexico is the second largest market for fresh U.S. potatoes. Toaspern said open- ing Mexico would also bene- fit Mexican consumers, who would enjoy a broader supply and variety of potatoes. 3-7/#4N