Wildlife officials say wolves killed a record number of livestock in Idaho last year.
USDA Wildlife Services State Director Todd Grimm this week told the Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board that for the fiscal year that ended June 30th, his agency confirmed 175 wolf-caused depredations in Idaho – up 25 percent from the year prior. The agency conducted 264 investigations prompted by wolf-related complaints in the most recent year and 217 a year earlier. However, from July 1st to August 21st this year, Wildlife Services recorded 29 confirmed depredations compared to 72 for the same period of 2018.
The agency was able to remove a bunch of wolves in the chronic depredation areas in late spring-early summer, and that stopped depredation activity for a period of time. A lack of reporting by affected ranchers also may be contributing to lower recent totals, as could weather and water-supply changes from year to year.
Depredations typically are low in November and early December, and increase in May, June, and July. Activity is highest in August, when wolf pups are old enough to run with adults.
The agency in fiscal 2019 removed 66 wolves, including 25 in May and June. The agency captured, radio-collared, and released three during the year. None was removed to protect wild ungulates. A year earlier, the agency removed 76 for livestock depredations and 10 to protect ungulates. (Capital Press)
