Challenges to Gray Wolf Recovery in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California

• Main Author: Kriz, Matthew A.
• Other Authors: Duplaix, Nicole, Kerkvliet, Joe, Edge, Daniel W., College of Forestry
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: Wildlife recovery; Gray wolf > Conservation; Canis lupus; gray wolf
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_projects/rn301686c

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are the most socially polarizing species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Wildlife management practices at local, state, and federal levels include lethal control to resolve stakeholder and wolf conflicts as a last resort. There is little experimental evidence that lethal control is effective in this regard, the only exception being situations where full pack removal is implemented. Gray wolves still need federal protections and the results of this literature review indicate that the Department of the Interior (DOI) and state wildlife management agencies should evaluate their lethal management policies as they relate to gray wolves and conservation goals. Becoming more efficient in site-specific non-lethal wildlife management practices could help bridge the social disparities between various stakeholders and ultimately improve the conservation, sustainability, and tolerance of the gray wolf.