Letter to the Editor. By Suzanne Stone. Defenders of Wildlife

It is deeply disappointing to read one rancher’s claim that Defenders of

Wildlife somehow forced him into accepting our money to build improvements

on his property to help protect his sheep.   (“Ranchers hope fences will

protect sheep from wolves” 11/15/04)  We’ve worked long, hard and

constructively with this rancher and his brother to address problems with

wolves and their sheep, and plan to keep doing so.  Part of any constructive

relationship, though, is sticking to the facts.
 

It’s a fact that wolf losses are only a fraction of a percent of livestock

losses in this region.  On average, coyotes kill more than 100 times as many

sheep as wolves, and weather, disease and other losses in turn often dwarf

damages done by predators.  Still, when a wolf kills a sheep it’s front page

news here.  It’s a fact that wolves have brought a significant economic

increase to local communities through almost year round tourism and research

interest; and that biologists are documenting dramatic ecological rewards

gained by restoring this keystone species.
 

It’s also a fact that Defenders has worked hard to provide assistance to

these sheep owners. First, we paid for the fair value of the sheep that were

killed by wolves. Then, at their request, we identified reasonable

preventative measures to help them avoid further problems.  With the help of

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Turner Endangered Species Fund, we

set up radio-activated alarms and flagged fencing that have proven

temporarily effective elsewhere against wolf predation.  We also offered to

help purchase livestock guard dogs and hauled away dead sheep that were

headed to a carcass pit that the residents were using, despite its

attraction for carnivores.  When problems continued, we worked with the

landowners and wildlife agencies and decided that night corrals and cleaning

up carcasses should provide the best long-term solution.  If necessary, we

have already suggested adding electric fencing to increase the effectiveness

of these night corrals.
 

These efforts have been entirely voluntary and the funding provided by

people who support both wolves and the western ranching lifestyle.  For

those of us in the West who support the return of the wolf, the best thing

we can do is to be respectful, patient, and straightforward with ranchers,

hunters and others in the community, even the individuals who ask for our

help and then bad-mouth us in public. The majority do appreciate the help

and make it worth our efforts.

Suzanne Asha Stone

Rocky Mountain Field Representative

Defenders of Wildlife

P.O. Box 773

Boise, Idaho 83701