2019 Gray Wolf Damage and Conflict Management In
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wolf Damage and Conflict Management in Wyoming Environmental Assessment GRAY WOLF DAMAGE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN WYOMING Lead Agency: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS) WILDLIFE SERVICES (WS) - WYOMING Cooperating Agencies: WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Consulting Agencies: WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE U.S. FOREST SERVICE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) NORTHERN ARAPAHO TRIBE May 2019 Wolf Damage and Conflict Management in Wyoming TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................... 6 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION....................................................................... 10 1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 10 1.2 PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE WYOMING WOLF POPULATION .. 11 1.4 NEED FOR WOLF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN WYOMING ............................... 13 1.4.1 Wolf Predation on Livestock and other Domestic Animals ....................................... 14 1.4.2 Potential Role of Wolves in Disease Transmission .................................................... 18 1.4.3 Wolf Conflict Management to Protect Human Safety ................................................ 20 1.4.4 Indirect Impacts of Livestock Predation ..................................................................... 21 1.4.5 Wolf Conflict Management in Wyoming and WS Wolf Conflict Management Procedures ............................................................................................................. 23 1.5 ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF WOLVES ............................................. 25 1.5.1 Social Benefits of Wolves ........................................................................................... 25 1.5.2 Importance of Wolves in Native American Culture and Beliefs ................................ 26 1.5.3 Ecological Benefits ..................................................................................................... 26 1.6 WYOMING STATE POLICIES GOALS AND PROCEDURES FOR GRAY WOLF MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................... 30 1.6.1 Statewide WGFD Goals and Objectives ..................................................................... 31 1.6.2 Population Objectives ................................................................................................. 31 1.6.3 Population Monitoring ................................................................................................ 32 1.6.4 Wolf Mortality ............................................................................................................ 32 1.6.5 Research ...................................................................................................................... 32 1.6.6 Genetics/Connectivity ................................................................................................. 33 1.7 RELATIONSHIP OF THIS EA TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS ...... 34 1.7.1 Final EIS on the Reintroduction of Gray Wolves to Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho ......................................................................................................... 34 1.7.2 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule to Identify the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and to Revise the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife .................................. 34 1.7.3 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reissuance of Final Rule to Identify the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolves as a Distinct Population Segment and to Revise the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife ................................................................................................................. 34 1.7.4 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Gray Wolf in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Removal of the Wyoming Wolf Population’s Status as an Experimental Population ............................................................................................................. 34 1.7.5 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reinstatement of Removal of Federal Protections for Gray Wolves in Wyoming............................................... 34 1.7.6 Environmental Assessment for Proposed Revision of Special Regulation for the Reintroduction of Gray Wolves into the Central Idaho and Yellowstone Areas (The latest 10j Rule).............................................................................................. 35 i Wolf Damage and Conflict Management in Wyoming 1.7.7 Wyoming Gray Wolf Management Plan .................................................................... 35 1.7.8 Addendum: Wyoming Gray Wolf Management Plan ................................................ 35 1.7.8 Categorical Exclusion Records (CEs) for WS Wolf Conflict Management in Wyoming............................................................................................................... 35 1.7.10 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between WS and the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board................................................................................. 36 1.7.11 USFS Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs) ......................................... 36 1.7.12 BLM Resource Management Plans/Environmental Impact Statements (RMP/EISs) ............................................................................................................................... 36 1.7.13 Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee Guidelines ..................................................... 37 1.7.14 WGFD Wildlife Management Plans ......................................................................... 37 1.7.15 Proposal to Permit Take as provided under the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Eagle Rule Revision ................................................................. 37 1.8 DECISION TO BE MADE ................................................................................................ 37 1.9 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................ 38 1.10 SCOPE OF THIS ANALYSIS ........................................................................................ 38 1.10.1 Actions Analyzed ...................................................................................................... 38 1.10.2 American Indian Lands and Tribes ........................................................................... 38 1.10.3 Resources Not Currently Protected by WS Wolf Damage Management ................. 39 1.10.4 Period for which this EA is Valid ............................................................................. 39 1.10.5 Site Specificity .......................................................................................................... 39 1.11 SUMMARY OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ................................................................. 41 1.12 PREVIEW OF THE REMAINDER OF THIS EA .......................................................... 41 CHAPTER 2: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ISSUES IDENTIFIED AND EVALUATED IN THE EA ........................................................................................................................... 42 2.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 42 2.2 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................... 42 2.2.1 Wolf Habitat in the NRM and Wyoming .................................................................... 42 2.2.2 Human Environment ................................................................................................... 45 2.2.3 The Environmental Baseline ....................................................................................... 45 2.3 ISSUES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL FOR EACH OF THE ALTERNATIVES ............. 46 2.3.1 Ability of alternatives to meet management goal and objectives ............................... 47 2.3.2 Effects on the Wyoming Wolf Population .................................................................. 47 2.3.3 Effects on Public Safety and Pet Health and Safety ................................................... 47 2.3.4 Animal Welfare and Humaneness of the Methods to Be Used .................................. 47 2.3.5 Impacts to Stakeholders, Including Aesthetics of Wildlife ........................................ 49 2.3.5.1 Variations in Perception of Wildlife Damage ...................................................... 49 2.3.5.2 Aesthetic and Sociological Values of Wildlife .................................................... 50 2.3.6 Effects on Nontarget Species Populations, Including Threatened and Endangered Species and Ecosystems ........................................................................................ 51 2.4 OTHER ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE ANALYSIS .....................................................