Game wardens offer advice on dangerous predator encounters

Crook County's two new game wardens introduced themselves to the county commissioners last week and provided information on the rights of citizens if they find themselves face to face with a dangerous predator.

Nate Holst has joined the Wyoming Game & Fish department (WGF) as the Sundance Game Warden, while Mitchell Kern will be his counterpart in Moorcroft.

The two men asked to be added to October's agenda after receiving a letter from the commission requesting a more proactive approach to predators approaching the county's four municipalities. Holst and Kern asked for more clarification of the problem.

Commissioner Jeanne Whalen explained that the letter was referring to "anything that's going to eat a person" and, though the issue that originally prompted the letter took place near Hulett, had been expanded at her request to include all municipalities.

Commissioner Kelly Dennis stated that the commission would like to see problematic predators taken care of quickly, "mostly around the populated areas". Acknowledging that predators usually only come into human areas if they are younger or older and frail, he noted that, once they make the decision to come into town, they usually don't change their mind.

"All of us are on the same page that we want citizens to feel safe," Holst reassured the commission.

He explained that the original issue occurred when a mountain lion was spotted two miles north of Hulett, when it killed a deer in a back yard. Holst received a call about it, but it was not an urgent call involving imminent threat to life.

Holst explained to the caller, he said, that a citizen has three options when it comes to dangerous predator encounters: leave it alone; kill it on the spot if you feel threatened; or buy a license that allows you to take the predator at any time during the season.

Holst told the commission that he did not hear back from the citizen and considered the matter closed until receiving the letter. In response, Holst and Kern said they wanted to make sure the lines of communication with the county are open.

Dealing With Predators

Speaking after the meeting, Holst and Kern went into greater detail about predator issues within the county. They would like to remind the public that you have the right to defend yourself from a predator if you feel that you or your livelihood is in danger.

"No-one should have to think in the back of their head what are the repercussions of defending themselves from a mountain lion or a black bear," Holst said.

During a predator encounter, he said, there's not usually enough time to seek permission to defend yourself.

"I just had an incident the other day where a lady was out archery hunting for deer. She was just sitting by the base of a tree and a younger mountain lion came up to her and was within 15 feet. Obviously she didn't have time to call the game warden to get the ok before she shot it," Holst said.

"The one thing I do ask people is to let it lay, so we can come investigate to check that everything is on the up and up."

Mountain lions are a relatively common dangerous predator in this area, but the advice goes for other dangerous species too.

"We're getting more black bears in the Black Hills as well," Holst said.

If you are still concerned about the legalities and want to make doubly sure that you are within your rights if you encounter a predator, there's a solution you can pursue right now, says Kern.

"Right now, we're in mountain lion season," he said. "You can just go ahead and buy a mountain lion license right now and, should the scenario arise, you don't have to think about it because you have a license."

WGF also classifies seven predators that the public does not need permission to take: coyote, fox, porcupine, raccoon, feral cat, skunk and wolves.

"You do not even need a license for any of those," said Holst. "I would encourage folks who are rusty on how Wyoming classifies animals to take a hunter ed course, even if you're not planning on being a hunter, because that gives you the education you need to know as far as different classifications in Wyoming."

Predator, big game and trophy game animals are also defined within the agency's regulations, says Kern, which are available online.

If you need assistance from your local game warden, whether for a predator problem, an injured animal or anything else, Holst and Kern recommend using the Stop Poaching hotline number, which is also the WGF dispatch.

"Cell phones are great, but a lot of our districts don't have cell service and sometimes I'm closer to a location than Nate is," said Kern.

"If you call that number, it gets you to our dispatch and they radio us in our truck and can find the closest warden to help."

Kern and Holst particularly recommend this in situations where, for example, an animal is injured and time is of the essence. The Stop Poaching number is 1-877-943-3847 or 307-777-4330.

"For simple hunting questions and stuff like that, you're welcome to call our phones and leave a voicemail, we'll return it as soon as we can, or you can call the regional office and try to get those simpler answers that way," Kern said.

Kern can be reached on 756-3357 and Holst at 283-1276.

The Wyoming Game & Fish homepage also lists contacts for each region, including biologists, says Holst, and can be accessed via the law enforcement tab.

"Be safe this hunting season," Kern says. "If you have any issues, Nate and I are always here to help."

Mussel regulations now in effect at Keyhole

Regulations came into effect on Wednesday to protect Keyhole Reservoir from the growing threat of invasive zebra mussels, which have recently been documented at Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota. WGF has published a list of frequently asked questions on its website to help recreationists understand the changes, which include restrictions on use of the boat ramp to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

All boats must be inspected. Only the Coulter Bay ramp will be open, and shore launching is prohibited.

"We know there's going to be a lot of questions about it and it's going to be a learning experience on both sides," said Game Warden Mitchell Kern.

"We're going to work with everyone and at least try to keep access going for now."

The department's approach is intended to be proactive. Once established, it's extremely difficult to rid a body of water of zebra mussels.

"The only way to get rid of them would be to totally drain the lake," said Game Warden Nate Holst.