05/11/07 Wolf attack II

Wolf Attack II Yesterday, I told you a little about wolf reintroduction to the western United States. I'm Jeff Keane; today I'll relate some of the problems caused by those wolves. As soon as protected wolves grew in significant numbers, new packs left the national parks to establish their own hunting territories. This brought the outcome ranchers knew would happen. Bob Weber, an eighty-year-old Montana rancher who raises sheep, found eight dead sheep in his corral. The government trapper said he couldn't do anything because this was the first attack on Bob's sheep. The next night, twenty-seven sheep were killed at Bob's neighbor's place. Although only 100 yards away, the trapper said he couldn't do anything because the attack wasn't on Bob's place. The trapper finally said they could shoot two of the five wolves in the pack. Bob never saw the wolves. A few months later fourteen more sheep were killed and Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental group that likes wolves a lot came and banged on a frying pan with a spoon to scare the wolves and went home. Compensation can be secured from Defenders of Wildlife but it is only 62 percent of the killed animal's value. Many of the attacks on livestock are not for food  just fun or teaching young wolves the art of killing. Last week, Jim Felton found one of his yearling heifers mauled to the point she had to be euthanized. Pet dogs have been killed and families walking home at night have been followed by packs. Case after case has been documented of the killing and marauding of these wolves. Personally, I think the cost to western ranchers is too high just so a wolf can howl at night in a National Park. I'm Jeff Keane. Range Winter 2007, Summer 2006, Fall 2006, Winter 2006 Western Livestock Reporter 4/25/07