Big Increase In Wolf-Killed Livestock In Idaho

[Greybeard]

The "Capital Press" (Salem, Oregon) had an article on the high livestock kill rate by wolves in Idaho from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. Cattle kills were up 3% but sheep kills were up 76% from the same period one year earlier. There was also a high dog kill rate. Idaho Fish and Game believes the wolf population declined in this time period by about 200 individuals from about 1000 individuals previously. That big of a decline appears suspicious from the wolf hunting reports I've read. If so, there must be some serious government controled killing going on.

Idaho cattle and sheep ranchers doubt the IDFG and USFWS wolf population estimate. They believe the actual wolf population in Idaho is at least 2000 individuals. The big documented livestock kill rate increase indicates a growing and not declining wolf population. I'd bet on the ranchers wolf population estimate.

Any word on deer and elk wolf kill estimates in Idaho or anywhere else? 2000 wolves would kill about 100,000 deer/elk a year. That would be one big dent in the big game resource in Idaho. Keep them damn wolves in Idaho and don't let any more swim over to Oregon :mad:. Oregon Fish and Game is being very quiet about the growing wolf population here. Greybeard/

[ncboman]

all the guys on the wildlife resources boards worry they will lose their fat jobs if they 'create waves'.

[Rock Chuck]

112 have been killed by hunters this fall. I don't know of any way to find out how many have been killed by the govt.

[Greybeard]

112 killed by hunters is a lot more than I would have guessed. That would be 10% of the agencies estimated population, a very high kill percentage. This is another statistic that makes the agencies wolf population estimate suspect, much on the low side. Greybeard/

[Hi Ball]

Well it certainly does NOT take loosing my head of cattle for a rancher to have the bottom of the barrel fall out as far as his profits for the year are concerned. Also the live weight of cattle brought to market can be just as costly for the rancher also.

When wolfs run cattle around the grazing grounds and those cattle are all head up with the presence of wolfs, they don't put on the weight and this costs the rancher's thousands of lost dollars in what would have been a total of more live weight for the shipping date.:( ;)

[alan]

I read that most of the wolf kills were at the border of Yellowstone. Once quotas were met, wolf season closes. There was talk of somehow tweaking the harvest limit to encourage more hunting farther from YNP.

[Rock Chuck]

A few weeks ago, the IDFG killed 7 in a pack in the Sawtooth Nat Recreation Area north of Sun Valley. That's a long way from YNP.

[Wild_Bill_Hiccup]

I just heard on the local tv news (Missoula, MT) that the govt plans to kill off an entire pack in the Big Hole Valley. I guess the ranchers finally knocked enough heads together to finally get them thinking clearly! ;) I'd be amazed if they actually get them all though.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh65/wild_bill_hiccup/WOLF.jpg

[StringJumper]

I wish the hunters much success. I annually hunt the area between Stanly and Challis. In 2002 I heard a pack take down something on an adjacent ridge....could not see the action but certainly heard it. Over the past 8 years I have seen a noticeable drop in mule deer and elk sightings. Yes, ity could be attributed to a number of things but you will be hard pressed to convince me that it was something besides the wolf explosion in that area.

SSS is my policy now and I think the locals feel the same.

[Wild_Bill_Hiccup]

Yep... there are some areas around here where you can now hunt for days (in the snow) and not see a fresh deer or elk track, but yet you see the tracks of wolves most everywhere you go. I'm lucky in that my most favorite hunting spots have thus far been untouched by wolves, but I fear that it's only a matter of time before they start into some of my trophy mule deer hidey holes... and my favorite highcountry elk camp...

The moose have been pretty much wiped out in the Bitterroots and it is obvious what is killing them. Our moose were never the sharpest of critters on a good day and I'd imagine they basically had no real fear of any predation before - not even human hunting pressure amounted to much. But, these wolves have found them to be mighty tasty and, I guess, very easy to catch. I need to ask for the pics from my brother and another pro film guy I know... they have pics of the remains of several moose/wolf kills...

As an aside, a heard that a local outfitter had all his hounds killed by wolves while running a mountain lion up the West Fork. I still don't know which outfitter it was, so it was not one my close friends anyway...

[GF.]

112 killed by hunters is a lot more than I would have guessed. That would be 10% of the agencies estimated population, a very high kill percentage. This is another statistic that makes the agencies wolf population estimate suspect, much on the low side. Greybeard/

I'm inclined to agree with you on that - unless the wolves are just dumb as rocks - I just can't foresee guys picking off 12% of the population as targets of opportunity....

JMO, letting the wolf population balloon until it crashes for lack of a prey base would be about as stupid as letting the whitetail population grow until they run out of....

Food?

Never mind!