Grizz and Livestock

In the face of grizzly bear attacks on livestock in Boundary County, ID, Boundary County Farm Bureau President John Kelly heard the calls from ranchers. He set up a grizzly bear tour with state and federal authorities to address the frustration.

 

I was actually disappointed in Fishing & Game’s response because I felt like they were looking out for the rights of the animal. And I felt like here I had no recourse for something that was attacking my livestock, which obviously that's an economic impact. But a bigger importance is it's a public safety issue.

 

Wayne Kasworm U.S. Fish and Wildlife: “The law states that you cannot protect livestock or property, and killing a grizzly bear in that regard is not legitimate under the law.”

 

Earlier this summer, at rancher Darcy Lammer’s place Darcy called conservation officers and they set up a snare to catch a rogue grizzly who was menacing livestock and people. Then something alarming happened: “because I've been notified by Fish and Game that there's a call in Grizzly Bear within a mile of your house right now.

 

And I was standing there with my pistol and I turned around and I saw the bear coming up from the back corner of the corral rifle. I mean, right headed right back towards us. I was standing in front of a bar and didn't know where my kids were. And that bears, what, 20 yards or less away from me?

 

I hollered for my kids to get to the bar and get safe.

 

I pulled my pistol and held it on the bear and all the can go through your mind. That's that point is I need to protect my family. But if I pull this trigger, I'm going to jail.