[U.S.] Fish and Wildlife Service Approves Lethal Control of Copper Basin WolvesDue to Repeated Livestock Depredations 

 

 

 

July 21, 2005

 

 

[r1idnews] (Region 1 / Idaho News, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

From: Jane_Chorazy@fws.gov

NEWS RELEASE

Questions about this news release should be directed to the contact listed below.

For Release on July 21, 2005

05-062

Contact: Carter Niemeyer, 208-378-5639

 

Service Approves Lethal Control of Copper Basin Wolves

Due to Repeated Livestock Depredations

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that six members of the Copper Basin wolf pack, located near Hailey, Idaho, were lethally controlled on July 20 after repeated depredations on livestock.

The wolves killed two calves this past week on grazing allotments in the Challis National Forest between Mackay and Sun Valley, Idaho.

Last summer, USDA Wildlife Services confirmed the pack was responsible for killing cattle.

The Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery 2004 Annual Report noted that the Copper Basin pack was implicated in five depredations that resulted in four cattle confirmed killed by wolves, and 2 more calves confirmed injured.

A large number of cattle were reported missing last year by livestock producers in this area, in addition to depredations confirmed by government personnel.

A Mackay rancher shot and killed one member of the Copper Basin pack earlier this year under the new "10" Endangered Species Act rule that allows private landowners to kill wolves that are chasing, harassing or killing livestock.

"We are hopeful that this control action will deter any future livestock depredations in this area," said Carter Niemeyer, the Service's wolf recovery coordinator in Idaho. "If the depredations continue, the rest of the pack will be removed."

Idaho Department of Fish and Game personnel were present observing the control action. The [USFWS], Nez Perce Tribe, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are working closely to facilitate transition from federal to local management of gray wolves in Idaho.

So far in 2005, the [USFWS] in Idaho authorized the lethal control of two wolves that were preying on livestock, and conducted such action.

Idaho has approximately 450 of the nearly 850 wolves in the three-state recovery area, which includes Montana and Wyoming.