Big Carnivores in Washington Outdoorfest Biologist

Oh no, but some limted expereince and knowlege of the scene. But have been on several remote camera and hair snare projects, Okanagon griz assessements, a number of biological assessments, and know the Selkirk Mgmt Griz plan very well as it was prepared by my colleagues.

Threre's s some good bio-energenic studies that show that historically the North Cascades never supported more than 30 - 50 grizz because, well, it just isn't as productive habitat as the rockies or plains.

This best siting I know of recently was that one on Sahale Arm - last autumn? While the populations that the NCs can sustain are low, they can still serve as a viable metapopulation. One growing issue is climate change - and the corresponding effect on white bark pine - which is important for the bears. Going to check a few remote cameras in the OK on Friday - Monday, hoping for wolverine, if we get griz I'll let you know.

The fellow from the Grizzly Outreach program is one of six who work for them. He had a map where "sightings" (reporting of evidence) have been found in Washington. It is not online. There were a surprising number of what he said were credible reports even as far south as Snoqualmie. He had no doubt of the Rainier sighting as he knew the reportee.

I personally know of three people who have seen grizzlies in the State, one of them twice in the same area. In addition to the Sahale photo there was one that looked very likely near Mt. Baker last year. It looked like a yearling. Personally I've seen definitive tracks and found a 14" pile of scat within five miles of the tracks the following year. My evidence was in one of the "hot areas" for Grizzly reporting according to the wildlife biologist..

Awesome. More than I have personally seen.

Great discussion!  I'm curious what our 'experts' make of this 1994 article claiming multiple griz on the Kapowsin tree farm, a vast gated area abuting the west boundary of Mount Rainier Nat'l Park:  community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/arch...9930929&slug=1723574

I recall (but couldn't find online) several newspaper articles over the years claiming hair & tracks in the Wm O. Douglas Wilderness east of Rainier.

Is there historical or Native American evidence of griz in the southern Cascades? I mean, it's on the California flag, eh?

Scotsman might find this one interesting, since it involves our favorite superintendent disproving a Rainier griz sighting way back in 1989:  www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books.../notes/vol2a-12c.htm

In  August 2000, I came around a corner near the top of Puyallup Point, just ouside the W park boundary (and just north of Glacier View Wilderness) and saw a grizzly less than a hundred feet away. I had the low evening sun behind me and got a great look as it reared on it's hind legs, then quickly traversed beneath me to the nearest cover.  I've spent most of my life in western national parks and two summers as a geologist in remote Alaska, so I know what I saw.

Besides the photo of a Moose taken at Ross Lake and posted online, the same Park Ranger in the North Cascades who saw the Grizzly this year also saw a Moose.

Saw this one on the way to Golden Horn this august:

"NORTH CASCADES WOLVERINE STUDY – Project Update August 22, 2012
In our last update on 18 May, we provided details on the 5 wolverines we captured this year and the 4 that were fitted with satellite radio-collars: 1 male (Rocky) and 3 females (Kendyl, Mallory, and Xena). We also reported that we had located the reproductive dens of Mallory and Xena; Mallory’s den was on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and Xena’s den was in North Cascades National Park. These are the first wolverine reproductive dens ever located in Washington...

CONTACTS:  Cathy Raley (craley@fs.fed.us) to be added to our project-update mailing list."

Interesting stuff from the USFS.