Food Donations Roaring In For Rescued Animals

Eastern Idaho residents are donating a lot of dog food to help feed 43 wolf hybrids removed last week from a Lava Hot Springs facility after lions escaped.

Officers killed 18 of the 45 lions and tiger-lion hybrids, and 27 others were taken to a California game preserve. Officials have said if the surviving lions are healthy, they may be placed for adoption.

The wolves were removed from Ligertown, a couple of miles from Lava Hot Springs, to a Bonneville County site near Roberts where wild animals were bred in the past.

Officials say it could cost Bannock County $100,000 to care for the animals, but people are responding to appeals for food.

Undersheriff Lorin Nielson said donations are doing more than feed the animals.

“We are fortunate that the people in this community really do rally around in times of need,” Nielson said. “Our guys have been pushing so hard for the last week to get this under control. It is gratifying to see the people in this valley doing what they can to help out.”

Nielson said the help is desperately needed because the Ligertown operation was an unplanned expense.

Food collections are under way in Pocatello, Blackfoot, Fort Hall, Arco, Idaho Falls, Rexburg and Rigby, arranged by a Blackfoot radio station, KLCE, and others.