Good news: The state's Department of Fish & Wildlife completed an end of year survey that shows at least 27 wolves in five packs are now living in Washington. The population includes three successful breeding pairs defined as an adult male and female with at least two pups that survive until the end of a calendar year. Fifteen breeding pairs documented for three consecutive years is the goal of the state's recently adopted wolf management plan. The grey wolf is protected by the state throughout Washington and federally listed as endangered in the western two-thirds of the state.
Bad news: Florida panthers continue to die at an alarming rate. Three critically endangered panthers have been killed already in 2012. The state Conservation Commission confirmed that two were killed by vehicle collisions in Collier County, where the largest concentration of panthers live, and a third panther killed in a fight with another panther. Cats will fight to defend territory, but drivers account for the largest number of dead panthers. In 2011, nine of the confirmed deaths out of 24 were due to collisions. Estimates are now that 100 to 160 panthers remain alive, an unsustainable number, but up from the nadir of 30 in the 1970's. State wildlife authorities continue to work to increase habitat, a crucial requirement if panthers are to survive in Florida. Consideration should also be given to building safe wildlife crossings in areas of known high panther activity to reduce the number of panther fatalities due to careless drivers.