Ranchers Suspect Wolf In Calf Deaths But Feds Say No Released Wolves Are In The Area

Another calf has been killed at a ranch in the Salmon area, and local ranchers think it could be a black wolf or wolf hybrid that has been spotted in the area recently.

Some suspect it’s one of the 15 wolves released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January, but an official with that program says it isn’t likely.

Ted Koch, biologist in charge of the Idaho wolf release program, said he’s making arrangements to fly to the Salmon area next time an apparent wolf kill is reported.

Then he will go along with Sheriff Brett Barsalou to investigate.

The latest kill was reported on a ranch about 10 miles east of Salmon.

“Whatever it was started at the flank and chewed off the ribs just like a chain saw,” said rancher Quinton Snook.

“This is getting past the funny stage.”

The calf was killed Friday night.

It is the second one he’s lost in a week.

But Koch said the transplanted wolves carry radio collars and none has been tracked into the area.

The radio-collared wolf closest to the area is a black female which was located last Wednesday about 50 miles away.

When biologists arrived in Salmon Friday to look for tracks and examine the first dead calf, they used tracking equipment to check for radio-collar signals.

They found none, said Koch.

Salmon veterinarian Bob Cope examined both calves and suspects a large canine did it, but couldn’t be more specific.

“About all we can say is there’s a big predator out there,” he said.

If another of Snook’s calves is killed, and it is determined that a radio-collared wolf did it, Koch said he’ll recommend that the rancher by compensated by Defenders of Wildlife for all the calves killed.