June 21, 2001, update June 22, 2001 rejoinder to USFWS
Last night the kill order on the Whitehawk Pack was rescinded. Instead, wolf managers will try to trap 2 wolves and relocate them.
Many will be pleased to learn of this, but removal of two elk-killing and occasionally livestock-killing adults wolves might seem to hurt the nutritional status of the pack (and the nine pups, who are only going to get bigger). On the other hand, I have learned that two of the adult wolves only spend some of the time with the pack, so perhaps it will not make as much difference as at first glance.
If the pack kills any more livestock, however, the lethal order will go out again.
Brailsford's sheep are still in the critical 4th of July Creek area (3 more days). Brailsford's herders are reported to be doing a good job gathering and penning the sheep at night near the sheep wagon inside an electric fence. If these precautions had been taken when they sheep were first released, it is possible no sheep would have been killed, nor the guard dog.
I have learned the herders are very upset about the loss of one of their Great Pyrenees guard dogs. An informed source told that a herder said last rites for the dog.
The herders have only horses and a sheep wagon, so it is not likely they know the full extent of the controversy. A letter of condolence to the herders in Spanish is being prepared.
There are many more possibilities in this developing story , but they are not ripe to mention yet, but the national media should keep their eye on this controversy and its ramifications.
Update June 22: the latest report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the following about the Whitehawk Pack. "The Whitehawk pack control action near Stanley, Idaho continues. Efforts are being made to capture a couple of adult pack members and relocate them. Lone adult wolves can successfully raise pups, despite some false claims being made that removal of even 2 adults may cause the pups to starve."
I think this was written before the announced termination of control for now.
The above from USFWS was probably written in response to this web page's suggestion that the 9 pups may starve if 2 of the 4 adults are removed. None of my stories have claimed that 2 adult wolves can't feed 9 pups. In fact, the former White Clouds pack of central Idaho raised 9 pups in 1998, although they did kill 6 of Brailsford's ewes that year. My critique of the removal of 2 adults was that the remaining two adults would likely turn at least in part to the numerous cow calves and sheep in the area due to their obviously accessibility. When Brailsford's sheep are in 4th of July Creek, they can be herd on Decker Flat 3 miles away if the wind is right. All wild animals who take notice of sheep know that they are there.
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