Feds authorize killing adult wolves in Idaho pack

LEWISTON – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has authorized the killing of the remaining adult gray wolves in the Chesimia Pack near Dworshak Reservoir.

The pack has repeatedly preyed on livestock and hunting dogs in the region, officials said, and investigators believe the pack may be responsible for the recent death of a cow. Investigators with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services agency have confirmed that the pack killed a calf recently.

Rancher Tom Beale of Pomeroy said he thinks the cow was killed at the same time or a little earlier than the calf, but the carcass was found later.

In 1995 and 1996, the Fish and Wildlife Service released gray wolves into central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park as part of a program to re-establish wolf populations. The wolves are now exceeding recovery goals in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Wolves in most of Idaho are protected under the Endangered Species Act, but their special designation allows animals that prey on livestock to be killed.

George Graves, assistant state director of Wildlife Services in Boise, said officials believe the pack was originally composed of six adults and at least two pups. One adult wolf was killed by trappers, with federal approval, earlier this summer.

Two weeks ago, wolf managers authorized trappers to kill two more adults. Only one of those two has been shot. Last week the federal government authorized trappers to kill three more adult wolves.

Thus four adult wolves likely remain in the pack, Graves said, and all are slated to be killed.

Beale said he is worried that the adult wolves may go after his dogs when he’s rounding up his cattle in a few days. And he’s not satisfied that all of the adults in the pack are slated to be killed. The pups are already hunting with the adults, he said.

“They want to make sure they leave enough little ones to breed that they will kill more cows in the future,” he said. “I’m getting a real sour attitude about it.”

Wolf managers have authorized the removal of entire packs in the past when they could not be stopped from preying on livestock. But even if the pack is removed, more wolves will likely move into the area, said Carter Neimeyer with Fish and Wildlife in Boise.

“There will probably be wolves in that area for decades to come,” Neimeyer said.