Capturing and collaring Washington’s wolves

Wolves started making Washington their home again around 2008, after being extirpated from the state by the early 1900s. Since their return, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been capturing and collaring a sample of these animals to monitor their survival, reproduction, movements, and recovery in Washington. Most people are not familiar with how capturing and collaring wolves is done, or how challenging it can be. There are two methods WDFW use to catch wolves- trapping and aerial darting from a helicopter. Trapping is usually done in the spring and early summer when temperatures are moderate and wolves’ movements tend to be localized around a den or rendezvous site. Biologists check traps often, but even so, a wolf in a trap can be harmed by extreme hot or cold temperatures in a short time. As a result, biologists closely monitor traps to minimize injury to captured wolves and only trap in spring and fall if possible. <a href="https://wdfw.medium.com/capturing-and-collaring-washingtons-wolves-dbfd87c689bd">Click Here</a>