Outrage as Yellowstone's most famous wolf is shot and killed by hunter

Researchers and visitors at historic Yellowstone National Park are reeling from the news that one of the park’s most popular wolves was shot and killed by a hunter Thursday.

The wolf, known as 832F, was a popular attraction for many visitors and was heavily studied by researchers who track the migratory patterns of these animals in the area.

The six-year-old was the alpha female of the park’s popular and high-visible Lamar Canyon pack. She was so popular with wildlife watchers, who refer to her as a ‘rock star.’

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Killed: One of the most loved wolves in Yellowstone National Park was shot by a hunter Thursday

Family: The wolf was the alpha female in the highly-visible Lamar Canyon wolf pack, pictured, at Yellowstone

According to park officials, the wolf was shot just outside of the park’s boundaries in Montana - the park stretches across Wyoming and Idaho as well. Daniel Stahler, project director for Yellowstone’s wolf program, told The New York Times that her pack rarely ventures outside of the park.

Already, the shooting has sparked calls for changes in wolf hunting laws in the region. Hunting wolves is permitted in the Northern Rockies and there is no penalty for shooting wolves collared by researchers, as long as it isn’t in the park.



Wyoming also recently authorized the first wolf hunt in decades.

But after the death of 832F, as well as seven other collared wolves, conservationists are calling for some changes. Specifically, they are asking to create a buffer zones around the park where wolfs would be permitted to roam free.

There are fewer than 100 wolves in Yellowstone, and the number of wolves has decreased approximately 60 per cent in the region, largely because of a shrinking elk population.

Others, however, say that hunting wolves is a necessary means of preventing attacks on livestock as well as to protect big game populations.

Debate: While conservationists are asking for stricter regulations against wolf hunting, others say they are necessary to protect against the depletion of big-game like elk

A FRAGILE BALANCE: WOLVES IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

The Northern Rocky Mountain wold has a long history with Yellowstone National Park, which includes nearly being pushed to the brink of extinction before being reintroduced. Recorded wolf sightings date back to the late 1800s, even before the region was officially designated a national park. During this time, wolves were causing serious problems for farmers and ranchers who were settling out west. Facing pressure from these groups, Congress approved action to actively hunt wolves to limit their populations. Between 1914 and 1926, at least 136 wolves were killed in the park and by the 1940s, wolves were seen in the area. By 1970s, scientists found no evidence of any wolves in Yellowstone. Though this came as a boon to ranchers, it seriously hurt the park's ecosystem, as no wolves meant a surge in elk population. These elk did considerable damage to the park, contributing to more erosion and the near extinction two species of plants. So in 1991, Congress approved plans to reintroduce wolves to the park. And by the mid-90s, wolves were once again populating the area. Today, there are a little less than 100 wolves in the park, and researchers are more encouraged by these numbers. Meanwhile, there are once again concerns about their growing population. States have already loosened their restrictions on hunting wolves and Wyoming has even launched its first wolf hunt in decades. It remains to be seen what effects these factors will have on the wolf population at Yellowstone.



But some conservationists are saying that hunters are targeting collared wolves. Marc Cooke with the group Wolves of the Rockies said that these wolves are a prized target for hunters looking for bragging rights or getting back at wolf restoration efforts.

‘The proportion of collared wolves is too high to believe this is not being done deliberately,’ Cooke said. ‘It's wrong, and the world needs to know this.’

Montana wildlife commissioner Shane Colton told the Associated Press that officials will discuss buffer zones at a commission meeting to be held on Monday.

‘We don't want to close any area off if we don't have to,’ he said. ‘But if we keep losing collared wolves ... management becomes difficult. We want to do this first trapping season right.’

Meanwhile, Yellowstone's chief scientist acknowledged the recent shootings have an impact on the park's wolf research. But Dave Hallac, chief of the park's Center for Resources, said that possibility was anticipated once wolves came off the endangered list.



The number killed so far does not threaten the park's overall population, he said.

Park officials will be observing Monday's commission meeting but have made no new requests of Montana officials, Hallac said.

Montana Trappers Association President Tom Barnes said his group is wary of stricter wolf harvest limits, which he warned would hamper efforts to control the predators.

‘The park is the park, and there are 2.2 million acres in the park,’ Barnes said. ‘If they start creating a buffer zone outside the park, are they going to create a larger buffer zone next time and a larger buffer after that?’

State wildlife commissioner Ron Moody said he would support closing areas to harvest or reducing wolf quotas if that's supported by the evidence. But the burden of proof is on wildlife advocates to show why the state should adopt such restrictions, he said.

