About a month the Stanley Pack, which then consisted of 14 adult or yearling members was threatened with elimination because they killed a few sheep in Pole Creek. Now, they are in peril again, once again because they have killed a couple sheep of the same sheepman.

Last weekend they killed two ewes in 4th of July Creek in the White Cloud Mountains. Traps were set for some of the pack, but apparently none were caught, and the trapping has stopped for now, given the influx of Labor Day recreationists.

Flock owner Bill Brailsford is moving his sheep out of 4th of July Creek on September 2, which will end the problem there for the time being, but the sheep are not going home, and the wolves are nearby in Champion Creek. Normally sheep are in the White Clouds mountains area until early October, but with the drought perhaps they will go home early and the wolves will be safe.

About a month ago members of the Boulder White Clouds Council protested the Forest Service order closing the Pole Creek road to the public while government trappers tried to trap the wolves. Eight protestors stood across the road until the Wildlife Services agent began a dialogue rather than run over Lynne Stone of BWCC. Wildlife Services finally trapped one wolf and moved her to the Bitterroot Mountains (hopefully not the part that was on fire). Originally they had intended to trap the entire pack except the pups (then just 4 months old).

The BWCC has again offered the flock owner help, but this time, like last, he was hostile and refused their efforts to help keep the wolves and sheep separated.

Grazing activists are asking the Sawtooth National Forest to manage the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for the purpose it was established--recreation and wildlife first. Other uses such as grazing are supposed to be secondary. It looks like the Sawtooth National Forest still doesn't get it.

One again folks need to call or email the supervisor of the Sawtooth National Forest, Bill LeVere, and ask him to move the sheep out of the area. The are conflicting with recreation (why are they even there given the nearby fires in such a drought?), and with wildlife, by eating the grass deer and elk need, and by threatening the wolves.

The Forest Service has full authority to remove the sheep due to adverse conditions for grazing because of the weather, high recreation use, and conflict with wildlife. This is something new for the FS. however, and they have to be told and told.

Forest Supervisor Bill LeVere 
Sawtooth National Forest 
2647 Kimberly Road East 
Twin Falls, ID 83301 
e-mail: wlevere@fs.fed.us 
Phone: 208/737-3200 

Deborah DesLaurier, Ranger 
Sawtooth National Recreation Area 
Star Route Ketchum, ID 83340 
e-mail: ddeslaurier@fs.fed.us 
Phone: 208/727-5000 (leave message)

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