Welcome back to the Wood River Wolf Project! So far, this season has been quite exciting. To begin the season, we reached out to students from several different schools in the Wood River Valley to help place cameras for the project while learning about coexistence and the work we do. Students from the Sage School, Community School, and Hemingway Middle School helped place thirteen cameras around the valley in key areas.
“It never rains in Idaho”
Students were eager to get a wolf photo back, but at first only coyotes and elk showed their faces for the students. However, we just got back our first wolf photos, and our student volunteers were thrilled! There’s nothing more rewarding than putting in hard work and seeing it pay off. Beyond that, understanding the patterns of where wolves are moving helps us keep sheep safe because it gives a better idea of what areas are high risk.
One of the first images students captured. Even if there’s no wolf in this photo, students learning to identify animals by their tracks and scat, then using that information to choose where to place a camera is very important for their ecological awareness!
A coyote lays down in front of the camera for students to see.
First wolf photo by students!
On a personal note, getting the chance to work with students during this project has been very refreshing and hope-inspiring. Kids bring fresh energy, new perspectives, and an element of fun that is always needed. I feel honored to have been a part of their ecological learning journey. Thank you for making this such a fun project to be a part of!
Beyond the Student Camera Project, the Wood River Wolf Project received a grant from the Office of Species Conservation to purchase new non-lethal equipment for our band kits. As a reminder, a band kits is a non-lethal tool kit. It comes equipped with powerful lights, a variety of sound makers, protective collars for Livestock Guardian Dogs, and Fox Lights. Thanks to the Office of Species of Conservation we were able to purchase much louder blank pistols, much brighter lights (3000 lumens with more than a half-mile range), and the solar panels to charge our equipment in the field. The blank pistols that we provide are non-lethal stage guns that do not shoot actual ammunition. Instead, they make an extremely loud noise, louder than many of the rifles that the herders carry.
An example of all what our band kits contain
Now that the sheep have begun entering the Project Area, we are out bringing band kits to herders and training them on how to use the new equipment. The herders are quite excited that we are getting lighter and easier to carry equipment, as it makes their lives easier.
A big thumbs up for a lighter, tighter, and more effective bandkit!
Unfortunately, the recent legislation passed in Idaho will likely have strong effects on our local wolf population. As packs are fractured by hunting, they often turn to predating on livestock. That makes the potential for this year to be much more difficult than years in the past. Additionally, the threat of night hunting adds an element of danger to this job, as the field team often works at night.
Despite these challenges, we are keeping our chins high and continuing to strive towards coexistence. Through innovation, collaboration, and dedication, we here at the Wood River Wolf Project believe that we can build a culture of coexistence, and we continue to work towards this goal everyday. The community has shown an outpouring of support and concern regarding this legislation. Thank you for supporting us and for believing in the work we do!
See you down the trail,
Logan Miller, Wood River Wolf Project Field Manager