Feds Consider Moving Calf-Killing Wolves

Wolves that killed livestock in southwestern Montana might be moved to Glacier National Park, but the government has not ruled out destroying the animals, says Jim Till, a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The agency is setting traps for the Boulder pack of wolves. They have been killing calves south of Deer Lodge.

After the last release of troublesome wolves near Glacier in 1994, acting Park Superintendent Pete Peterson said the state should provide more alternatives for dealing with such animals.

“In the absence of substantive progress toward the identification of alternative release sites, it is not likely that Glacier National Park would approve further requests for relocation,” he said.

But during the past week, Glacier Chief Ranger Steve Frye said officials are willing to consider accepting wolves.

“We’re not ruling out the possibility,” he said. “We want to identify release sites that give relocation the best opportunity for success.”

The state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department has said releasing wolves after they kill livestock simply forces other ranches to deal with the predation.

Nine wolves have been released near Glacier since 1989, with little success.

One was injured and later destroyed; two were killed legally in Canada; two were shot after leaving the park; one was shot by a poacher; two pups starved to death; and another wolf was trapped after killing stock near Marion.