Time ticking for wolves

by Cat Urbigkit

Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed in a Wednesday morning interview that the wolf duo roaming the Upper Green River region has only a limited amount of time left.

The wolves have been involved in livestock depredations, most recently killing four or five head of cattle in the area, he said. USDA Wildlife Services specialists will kill the two wolves involved, Jimenez said, via shooting from an airplane. Rain showers prohibited control efforts Wednesday, but Jimenez said he expected Wildlife Services to kill the wolves on Thursday.

The wolves involved in the depredations include a female known as the Black Widow and her new companion. She's called the Black Widow because she is a chronic livestock killer that manages to find new mates, only to prey on livestock again and have her mates be killed in control actions.