Filthy Game Farm Poses Health Risk, Officials Say

Officials want to raze Ligertown Game Farm just outside Lava Hot Springs, because of the health hazards posed by a maze of filth-laden cages used to hold nearly 90 wild animals.

Officers shot and killed 18 lions starting Wednesday night after they escaped from the ramshackle enclosure or threatened workers. Another 27 lions and lion-tiger hybrids called ligers were taken to a California game refuge while officials ponder what to do with them.

In addition, about 40 wolf hybrids are being watched by Bannock County deputies in a Bonneville County location. One wolf was shot Monday after it bit an officer as it was being loaded.

Bannock County posed a new sign outside, forbidding human inhabitation at the property. Owners Robert Fieber and Dotti Martin have been barred from the property until the investigation is complete. They have not been charged with any criminal violations.

Reporters were allowed inside Ligertown for the first time Tuesday morning and said it was extremely filthy and squalid.

Fields of large bones, feces and chicken feathers were strewn throughout the entire complex. Half-rotten carcasses of deer and other big game were scattered on the ground inside the cages.

At one end of the compound, a covered line of cages led back about 100 feet.

“We call this the catacombs officially, but unofficially, we call it the ‘Hallway to Hell,”’ said Bannock County Sheriff Bill Lynn, who guided the tour.

Another cage contained a lion skull in one corner and what looked like rib cages in another corner.

“We need to reclaim and tear down this facility. We can’t burn it because bacteria might get in the air from the smoke. If we bulldoze it, it could get out in the dust. We don’t know how were going to handle it yet,” Lynn said.

The Southeastern District Health Department is investigating whether there have been any public health violations at Ligertown. Environmental health director Ed Marugg said he investigated a report of health violations seven years ago, but when inspectors arrived, the place had been cleaned up.

County officials obtained a second search warrant to look for photographs of animals and veterinary tranquilizer medication.

“We also want to take water and soil samples to test for possible contamination that could have affected the animals’ health,” said Deputy Prosecutor Deb Lantermo.

Bannock County deputies Tron Crumley and Garth Johnson are watching over the wolf hybrids near Roberts in Bonneville County. Johnson said many people have been concerned about how the animals are being treated. “I hope they will continue to be concerned and will donate some food to help them now,” he said.