Man To Get Money For Death Of Sheep

A Wyoming man will be reimbursed for the deaths of his sheep in what appears to be the first payment to a Wyoming rancher for possible wolf-caused livestock losses.

Defenders of Wildlife announced last week that it will be paying Bill Mayo $690. Mayo said a wolf killed six sheep on his ranch south of Pinedale in February.

“I think it is a fair settlement,” said Mayo on Friday.

The Defenders of Wildlife has a $100,000 wolf compensation fund for the reimbursement of ranchers. That compensation goes to the ranchers at fair market value for livestock losses caused by verified wolf attacks.

Mayo called state and federal game and fish officials and reported that several of his sheep were killed by a large canine. Before authorities arrived, however, Mayo and some of his friends chased an animal they believed was involved in the sheep deaths and captured it.

Authorities say the 100-pound female canine could be the offspring of one of the wolves transplanted in Yellowstone National Park in early 1995. But they also say it could be a wolf that migrated from northwest Montana or a wolf-dog hybrid.

Officials say DNA analysis of the animal has not been completed.