August 28, 2009 in Region

Wolves kill 120 sheep near Dillon, Mont.

The Spokesman-Review

Tags: Montana wolves

DILLON, Mont. — Wolves killed 122 buck sheep in a pasture south of Dillon earlier this month, surpassing the number of sheep killed by wolves in the entire state in 2008, state wolf managers said.

The dead sheep were found on the Rebish/Konen Livestock Ranch on Aug. 16.

“This is one of the most significant losses that I’ve seen,” said Carolyn Sime, the statewide wolf coordinator for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Wolves killed 111 sheep in Montana last year.

Suzanne Stone with Defenders of Wildlife, a group that supports the restoration of wolf populations, said this is the first time she’s heard of such a mass killing.

“I’ve heard of bears or mountain lions doing that, but what usually happens is the sheep panic and jump on top of one another or fall into a ditch and suffocate,” Stone said. “I’ve never heard of any situation where wolves killed so much livestock in a short period of time.”

Kathy Konen says the sheep were killed, but their carcasses were almost all intact.

Jon Konen said: “I had tears in my eyes, not only for myself but for what my stock had to go through. They were running, getting chewed on, bit and piled into a corner. They were bit on the neck, on the back, on the back of the hind leg. They’d cripple them, then rip their sides open.”

Federal trappers confirmed 82 bucks were killed by wolves while 40 carcasses were classified as probable kills, including some that had been eaten by bears.

In July, the Konens lost 26 sheep to wolves in the same pasture.

After that attack, FWP authorized federal trappers to remove three wolves that had been observed in the area.

Federal trappers shot two wolves, killing one and possibly mortally wounding the other, and were searching for a third. After the second attack, trappers shot an uncollared wolf in the Centennial pack, but declined the Konens’ request to kill two radio-collared adults and five pups born this spring.

“They’ve done enough damage to say that they need to be eliminated,” Kathy Konen said. “We have cows and sheep there right next to where the sheep were killed.”

State officials say the pups are too young to have been involved and too young to be left on their own.

Trappers are still looking for the third wolf they were authorized to kill after the July attack.

The Konens have applied to the Montana Livestock Loss Program to get reimbursement for the sheep. The program pays up to $350 for buck sheep and can reimburse more if a rancher can show the animals were worth more.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy has scheduled a hearing Monday in Missoula in a request by animal rights and wildlife groups to halt planned wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho while a lawsuit is pending seeking to restore federal protections for the wolves in those states.

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Eight comments on this story so far. Add yours!

HuntWolves on August 28 at 9:23 a.m.
How to Hunt Wolves: http://www.huntwolves.com/how-to-hunt…
How to Identify Wolves: http://www.huntwolves.com/identifying…
Where to Hunt Wolves: http://www.huntwolves.com/best-places…
Montana Laws: http://www.huntwolves.com/montana-wol…

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HuntWolves on August 28 at 9:29 a.m.
If you ever needed a reason for state managemnt of the wolves through hunting seasons…..

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BT on August 28 at 10:46 a.m.
Obivously wolves are making a come back!! Instead of killing the wolves it sounds more like they need to be place in a controlled area (like our prisons)!! Unfortunately everytime a animal is placed on the hunting list people go out and destroy the whole herd. These animals roamed the earth way before Columbus landed on Plymounth Rock…I still can't figure out why we have so many prisons instead of open season on criminals like over populations of animals!!! Go figure!! There's enough criminals in the nation..I vote for open hunting season on ciminals before destroying another animal population!! Lord knows at least wolves keep the food chain going…what do criminals do keep taking money from hard working folks.

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flynmonkiesrock on August 28 at 11:22 a.m.
Well it looks like all of you can put your ignorant signs on. Two or three wolves killed all of those sheep? Wolves kill for only one reason. To eat. They only kill what they need to feed on for that one time. Which, in this case would equal ONE sheep. Why don't you spend your time studying what you think you know. I have lived with wolves around me and with coyotes. They only kill what they need. However, DOGS kill like this all the time. Did you know that a collie mix is one of the worst sheep killers? They don't even have to be feral to kill like this. I would bet the rancher's own dogs and/or neighboring dogs did this. And it would look like a wolf kill because dogs kill the same way. Chasing and tearing at the sheep? That is what DOGS do. A wolf killing one sheep would panic the others and they would run and that is all. I had one of my own dogs wipe out all of my ducks in a night. Wanted to blame coyotes, but knowing how they kill, it didn't fit. The three wolves were most likely just in the neighborhood, probably attracted by what the dogs killed. They are scavengers and opportunists. So, another one is being hunted and most likely will be killed for something it didn't do. And the ignorant sheep owners will continue to own and love the dogs that did this. If they had been watching the sheep they would have seen what really killed them. Of course, they most likely would have blamed wolves anyway rather than their own dogs. What really stuns me is the supposed wolf advocate swallowing this bull. She should know better.

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klos on August 28 at 12:37 p.m.
Obviously too many sheep in Montana :)

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dirtymaxin1 on August 30 at 8:13 p.m.
Wolves are born killers. They were teaching the pups how to hunt and kill there prey. Might as well teach them on the sheep because they are easy prey compared to an elk or moose which would stomp them into the ground. Its going to get worse before it gets better because the moose, deer elk and coyote populations have been hit hard in southwest MT. Many families who depend on the elk and deer population to feed there families might have to get used to eating wolf meat. This bunch of wolf lovers and judges who dont have to make a living raising livestock cant see how much this hurts the producer who feeds these people protecting them.

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Marksman on September 04 at 8:08 a.m.
Washington farmers shouldn't try to tell Montana ranchers how to ranch! That would be like me telling Washingtonians how to catch salmon. I'm sure if you talk to the Montana fish and wildlife folks they would happily supply you with as many wolves as you want roaming Washington.

Unfortunately, flynmonkee your spelling is as flawed as your wolf knowledge. Go talk to a Rancher instead of your urban handwringers. Ranchers in Montana don't let their dogs run free and they shoot any dogs they see running livestock; I know, I was born and raised there.

My Father in law was born and raised there by his Dad, a Montana pioneer who homesteaded the land before Montana was a state; the rule on their 1100 acres, was dogs,coyotes or wolves chasing livestock; shoot 'em!

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twilight12 on September 04 at 11:08 p.m.
I agree completely with you Marksman. Though I am not a hunter myself, I do believe in the importance of thinning the population of animals. It is good for the environment in the fact that in winter when food is less plentiful, it will give those animals who have not been hunted a better chance of survival.

It is really no different than selective cutting. Thinning the forest of trees and replanting new ones to prevent wildfires. When you do selective cutting you can barely tell it was done.

I am also for the wolf hunt, especially in Mt because my favorite animal of all is the Bison in Yellowstone. They will wander out to find food and get eaten by wolves.

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