Some ruminations on wolf and other "depredations"

Feb. 23, 2003

When a wolf kills a farm animal is it called a "depredation," in contrast to when a wolf kills a wild animal. Then it is "predation" or "defense," such as "defending its territory."

When elk eat grass or hay on a farm it too is called a "depredation," but when elk eat grass on public land or private land where they are welcome, no one ever says the "elk preyed on the grass." Instead, "elk graze," but oddly wolves never "graze the elk or the deer." Nevertheless, both grazed and depredated plants, and preyed upon elk and cattle do sometimes mount what is called "a defense."

Some plants contain chemicals that are poisonous, irritating, or bad-tasting that prevent them from being eaten. A number of wolves have been killed by swift, well-placed kicks of elk.

My ruminations about words can serve to introduce some recent news on "control," straight from "the horse's mouth" at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Control (from USFWS "Status of Gray Wolf Recovery, Weeks of 2/07 to 2/21, 2003")

Wildlife Service’s investigated a report of a possible wolf-killed calf on the 10^th several miles north of Red Lodge, MT. A wolf might have been there but there was not enough evidence to know what happened. On about the 18^th a rancher closer to Red Lodge who had depredations last year reported a suspected wolf kill but not enough evidence was left to confirm anything. The rancher reported seeing two gray wolves harassing a mare/foal about the same time frame and fired shots over their heads and scared them away. On the 19^th he reported another probable calf kill and preserved the evidence. Wildlife Service confirmed it was a wolf kill on the 20^th. Three wolves are believed to be in the Red Lodge pack but up to 5 were seen last summer when a cow and other calves were killed by that pack. Lethal control for up to 5 wolves was authorized.

In Meeteetse, WY a calf was confirmed killed by 2 wolves. The radio from the Grey Bull river pack was located in a distant location. WS was authorized to kill up to two wolves in the immediate area of the depredation.

A rancher in the Paradise Valley legally shot two uncollared wolves [out of 3] [2-yr-old male and female pup] in his cattle/calving pasture on the 12^th. He had a shoot-on-sight permit for up to 2 wolves that were on private land and near his livestock. LE investigated and confirmed that all the permit conditions had been met. Control on the Mill Creek pack [now down to 2-4 wolves] has ended unless other depredations are confirmed. Asher met with a neighboring rancher and fencing contractor to investigate building a more secure night pen for his sheep.

The Taylor Peak wolves [2 adult and 2 pups- 2 radioed] harassed a mule in the Madison Valley on the 17^th. Asher and WS investigated on the 18^th and wolf tracks were abundant. The mule had a deep cut on its leg, a wire cut, that it probably received while dogging the wolves. The rancher was provided cracker shells and a receiver in case the wolves came back. The pack then went further down the valley and got into a fight with several dogs through a kennel fence but none of the dogs were injured.

The rancher who has lost several llamas to wolves in the Ninemile Valley reported that a pair of wolves have been seen hanging around the area on several occasions recently. The llamas reacted to the presence of the wolves, and she is concerned there will be trouble. Attempts may be made to haze the wolves, or to trap and collar them. They appear to be a splinter group off the Ninemile Pack. The collared Ninemile wolves seem to be staying higher up in the valley. Volunteers from the Univ. Montana will receive rubber bullet training and might respond if the problem persists.

WS confirmed that a calf was killed by 2 wolves on private property north of Mackay, ID on the 15^th. Another calf carcasses found 3 days previously was classified as probable and one from 10 days ago was mainly consumed but a possible wolf kill. No radioed wolves were found and snares were set in an attempt to collar a wolf. On the morning of the 18^th a 2-3 yr-old male gray wolf was seen in that vicinity and it was shot by WS that afternoon. It had calf hair in its stomach. A second wolf had been reported but aerial searches on the 18^th and 19^th did not locate it. Control is terminated unless other depredations are confirmed.

Meanwhile Idaho U.S. Senate Larry Craig obtained an appropriation of $100,000 for additional reimbursement to Idaho ranchers for livestock maybe killed by wolves. Defenders of Wildlife already pays them for confirmed losses and 50% value for "probables."

Many will say these additional monies (very small for a federal appropriation) are only fair. Others might say some occupations always get the "lion's share," especially as the Idaho legislature cuts and cuts and cuts expenditures for education, health care, aid to the disabled, job retraining, etc.

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