Spring is off to a great start, and so is the Wood River Wolf Project. This year we were fortunate enough to have cameras generously loaned to us from NatureSpy, a UK-based non-profit that help other conservation groups in monitoring, recording and protecting wildlife and habitats. They are loaning 20 new Browning cameras to the Wood River Wolf Project which are a great improvement from our old cameras and we are so incredibly grateful!

One of the new Bushnell cameras from NatureSpy placed near a wolf trail

These cameras will help us better document the wolves in our area, as well as the interactions between sheep and wolves. To do so, we place these cameras along routes that both sheep and wolves will travel, in order to capture instances where they are occupying the same area in a similar time frame. Doing so allows us to both understand where wolves are in the valley while demonstrating that the non-lethal tools are effective while sheep and wolves are in similar areas

Through the mud, rain, and snow of late spring, we have been out tracking wolves and placing these new cameras around the valley, alongside volunteers both new and old. Our Student Camera Project continues this year, tracking and placing cameras while also teaching students about how conflict mitigation tools work to keep wolves away from sheep. In the photo below I showed Ripley and Camas, two high schoolers from Sage School, how Foxlights work and how to best place them. Foxlights were originally designed to scare fox and dingo away from sheep in Australia but today are common deterrents used to protect livestock from a wide range of predators around the world.

Sage School students test the Foxlights.

Foxlights form part of the backbone of the toolset we use alongside human presence and multiple Livestock Guardian Dogs. Used in groups of at least 4 to a sheep band, Foxlights rely on the premise that human presence scares wolves, so these lights seek to mimic human activity. They emit random strobes of red, white, and blue light throughout the night and turn off during the daylight hours. These are placed surrounding the sheep band in locations where they will be seen from a distance. Over the years, these have proved very effective, and many shepherds from the various sheep ranching operations swear by them.

Sage School high schooler, Jodie Willow, placing a wildlife camera in a good-looking location

In addition to these new cameras, our supporters helped us to purchase two e-bikes for this season. The last two years the field staff has used their own bikes or the power of two legs to get them up and over the mighty central Idaho mountains. While we loved every minute of it, we are certainly grateful to have these sweet new tools at our disposable when regular mountain bikes limit our ability to travel as far as we need to go. These e-bikes will let us check more cameras per day while making us more available in the case of predation events, freeing up time for more urgent field work! The first week of the field season I was able to take the new e-bikes out to test and ran into wolf tracks immediately. We’re very grateful for the support from our community and donors worldwide who understand how valuable this project is. The Wood River Wolf Project is now in our 15th year of demonstrating how people can coexist with wolves and other native predators by keeping more livestock and wildlife safe from harm.

Our new e-bikes help us cover many more miles and much more terrain

On top of all this, the first band of sheep has arrived in the valley, and we were there to meet them as they got there. Fortunately, the Plateau Farms herders out Greenhorn, father and son combo Sixto and Alfredo Castañeda Alvarado, are well versed in the use of non-lethal tools. They have been here for many years now, know the mountains well, and have a healthy respect for the wildlife here. Still, they want to keep their sheep and wolves separated, and they rely on the tools we provide them to get the job done. I was able to drop off a new backpack and a much brighter flashlight for them to aid in wolf deterrence this year. When Ray Mavencamp showed up, the Plateau Farms foreman, he greeted me with a hearty “Is that Logan?” I showed him the new e-bike we had just gotten, and off he went on it, yelling “Oh, this is cool!” As he rode away, Sixto and Alfredo looked a bit nervous clearly hoping he didn’t run the sheep off they had just rounded up. He turned around well before and rode back with a big grin. I feel very lucky to have these people to work with on the project, as they are enthusiastic about coexistence and want to see it work!

Ray Mavencamp of Plateau Farms takes the e-bike for a spin

Alfredo holding up the new backpack and Fenix light for the season

Happy Howls,

Logan Miller, Field Manager
Wood River Wolf Project