Still no clues in dog poisoning cases

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Investigators are still scratching their heads over the poisoning of 26 dogs since March, including the latest case, a dog that died after a visit to Yellowstone National Park.

A $20,000 reward has yielded no clues to who has been scattering pesticide-laced meat around western Wyoming and eastern Idaho, killing eight dogs and sickening 18 others.

The leading theory is the culprit is an extremist who opposes the reintroduction of wolves to the region and is trying to kill them off.

But the discovery of two poisoned hot dogs and a poisoned steak in Jackson this spring has given rise to another hypothesis – that someone is upset by unleashed dogs.

“In my opinion, the bait that was found in town was directed at dogs and the ones that were found in Teton County could be either one – wolves or dogs,” Sheriff’s Detective Mike Carlson said Wednesday.

Tensions have run high on a popular Bridger-Teton National Forest trail, where a local man has been known to confront people who do not keep their dogs on leashes. A dog was shot near the trailhead in late 2002, prompting forest rangers to begin patrolling the trail.

But the man is not linked to the shooting and is not a suspect in the poisonings, according to Carlson.

Most of the poison has been left at campgrounds, picnic areas and roadsides. The latest case was last Thursday, when a dog died after it apparently ate poison at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake.

It is the only dog poisoning in Yellowstone to date. Despite a thorough search, no poison turned up at the campground, and no plans are being made to scour Yellowstone’s hundreds of miles of roads.

“If they do see any suspicious activity, certainly they are aware of what to look for,” Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as well as the U.S. Forest Service, have been posting signs at trailheads with information on how to recognize poison and poisoning symptoms.

“Keep your dogs on a leash and be aware if they pick up anything off the ground,” Carlson suggested. “And if they find any suspected baits, please call the Sheriff’s Office and let us know.

“And don’t touch the bait or anything like that.”

After peaking in April and May, only a couple poisonings and cases of poison-laced meat have been reported in recent weeks.

“There’s a lot more people out and about in the areas where the stuff was put out. It acts as a deterrent – too many potential witnesses,” said Roy Brown, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent.

Brown’s job is to investigate the wildlife that have also been poisoned. Out of concern it could hurt his investigation, he declined to say how many and what types of wild animals have also been poisoned.

The poison is Temik, a powerful pesticide used by sugar beet growers in Wyoming. More than 3,000 companies or people have the applicator license necessary to get Temik, including 200 in Teton County.

The manufacturer of Temik, Bayer CropScience, has contributed to the reward, as have dog owners and the local crime-stopper program.