3-14 SS Colt and Wolves

There is a couple living in a rural canyon which is west of Hailey. Kevin and Jennifer Swigert raise horses and hound dogs out there in the sticks and recently lost a colt to a either one or two wolves. Let me remind you that the number of wolves in Idaho is approximately 680. The Swigerts, living where they do live, also see a lot of wildlife. In recent years, they've blamed wolf packs for killing not only livestock but also reducing elk herds once prominent in the hills above their home. U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services director in Idaho is Todd Grimm And he commented on the story that was published in the Daily Journal. Todd knows a ton about wolves and I called him to talk about the horse depredation which led to a variety of other observations between the two of us that I'm passing along to you because I found them fascinating. "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)."