Wolves continue to prey on cattle

by Cat Urbigkit

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that last Wednesday, Aug. 16, USDA Wildlife Services confirmed that three calves “were attacked and injured by wolves west of Big Piney.”

Wildlife Services is currently trying to trap and collar a wolf in the area of the recent depredations. Mike Jimenez of FWS has requested Wildlife Services remove two wolves from the area.

On Aug. 4, Wildlife Services confirmed that three more calves were killed by wolves in the Upper Green River drainage. By Aug. 9, at least 12 calves have been confirmed as killed by wolves in that area.

FWS reported: “In an effort to prevent further depredations, two adults and three young-of-the-year wolves have been removed, but depredations have continued.” Wildlife Services has been instructed to remove all remaining pack members in the area.

Jimenez said that Wildlife Services was spending Wednesday morning, Aug. 23, in the area between Boulder and Farson investigating a report of four to six dead calves near where sheep depredations have occurred several times in the past. Jimenez said that the Wyoming Game and Fish Department investigated four or five dead calves in that area the week before, but the carcasses were “too far gone decayed to say anything.” The dead animals last week could not be confirmed as wolf kills, but the jury is still out on the more recent depredations.

In other wolf news, FWS reported that laboratory reports and the investigation “of a large black male wolf-like canid” that was found in early April 2006 along I-90 east of Sturgis, SD, concluded it was a gray wolf from the Yellowstone area. The animal had died due to a vehicle strike and had deer remains in its stomach.