3-11 IAN Wolf Kills Horse

Horse lover and co-owner of Allen Media for whom I work, Susan Allen, sent me an article from the Daily Journal saying that “Federal hunters are pursuing one or two wolves blamed for killing a horse in central Idaho last month. A colt belonging to Kevin and Jennifer Swigert was killed Feb. 13. The Swigerts raise horses in a rural canyon west of Hailey and in recent years, they've blamed wolf packs for killing livestock. Todd Grimm, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services in Idaho, said one or two wolves are responsible for the colt's death.Todd knows a lot about wolves so I called him up and had a very interesting conversation. “There is a comment in the story that quote you that says they don’t normally hit horses. That is the part I find interesting. I guess what I meant by that comment is that we do not have many cases of confirmed depredations on horses. We have lots on cattle and lots on sheep but we don’t have a lot of reported depredations on horses. Can you offer an opinion as to why that would be? Wolves will go after a moose so why not a horse? I have no idea. It may be that there are easier things available like cattle and sheep. Good point. Did you just say that they will go after bison? Oh yes, wolves in Yellowstone have killed bison, it’s not like they’re physically incapable of it. I heard a BC guide, his father was a guide so was his grandfather, he said wolves will go into a den with a grizzly in it and go after them. That is a bold wolf (laughter).