Salmon/Challis Area Ranchers claim numerous wolf-killed cattle during season
11-16-98 (updated 11-17-98)
Ranchers from Salmon and Challis, Idaho with grazing allotments in the ranges of the Moyer Basin and Jureano Mountain wolf packs are claiming many more losses to these two packs than the official count for 1998, which I believe was eleven cows or calves
Story in the Post Register by Candice Burns of Salmon. No compensation - Salmon area ranchers claim wolves kill as many as 100 calves on summer range.
It is indeed possible that calves were killed by wolves or other predators and were not found, or the cause of death of an old carcass could not be identified. Folks should also realize that the area is thick with mountain lion. Bear and bobcat are also abundant. Cows and calves also die of disease, poison plants, lightning, and many other things. With higher losses this year, I would like to see a year-by-year record of losses to see the degree to which this year was one of exceptional losses.
Since I posted this, it has been pointed out that one reason public lands grazing permittees nationwide pay the extemely low price of $1.38 per cow per grazing month, is that grazing permittees are expected to bear predator loss, recreation by the public, and other activities on the forest such as timbering.
I have also received the following email comments:
"The core problem here is that even given data from previous years, we really can't responsibly compare them because they are all the result of self reporting. Wildlife Services makes no attempt to "truth" claims of losses they just call the ranchers and ask".
and from a local resident . . .
"Question: If ranchers are so concerned about cattle losses from wolves, why don't they take a lesson from sheepmen, and spend the summer with the herd? What could be more cowboy custom & culture than camping out and wrangling every day? It might be hard to wean oneself from the TV supplied by Satellite, the ATV which doesn't need saddling, and all those summer events like ropings and rodeos, as well as vacations. Barely leaves time to herd cows."
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