Wolf Report: Escaped Wolf Killed

In early December an 80-pound escaped captive wolf was killed in remote southwestern Idaho, ending a week long search for the animal that killed at least one sheep and injured two others. The captive wolf had bolted from its pen in Owyhee County near the Snake River on October 29. The female wolf was sighted west of Murphy several times since it escaped. It was seen attacking some sheep on November 22. The Owyhee County sheriff on November 28, asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services for help. Wildlife Services confirmed that one ewe had been killed by a wolf-like canine, and two others had been injured. Wildlife Services set traps and worked with the county sheriff and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to find the wolf. A kill permit had been issued because the wolf had killed livestock and eluded capture attempts. Idaho has about 800 wild wolves, all protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The captive wolf, however, was not protected under the act. Elsewhere in Idaho, Wildlife Services, the predator control arm of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service, was busy in late November and early December. On November 19, federal officials confirmed that wolves killed a calf on Boise National Forest land north of Sweet. But because the calf was a straggler that should have been off the national forest by the end of October, no control action was authorized. On November 23, they confirmed that wolves killed a calf on private land northeast of New Meadows. Traps were set with the intention of capturing and removing two wolves. On November 29, an adult, gray male wolf was captured and killed. Wildlife Services also confirmed that wolves had attacked four lion hounds on Mica Ridge in the Payette National Forest southeast of Council on November 28. One of the hounds - all Plotts - was injured and returned to its owner. Two others were found killed and consumed; the fourth could not be found. On December 1, a rancher near Medicine Lodge reported to Wildlife Services that a wolf was hanging around his cattle. Officials investigated and harassed the wolf from the area. On December 6, Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves killed a two-day old calf on private land east of Clayton. Efforts are under way to remove up to two wolves. On December 7, federal officials investigated a report of wolves chasing cattle on private land east of Emmett. Investigators found no sign of wolf activity in the immediate area and concluded that the cattle were probably being chased by dogs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the wolf recovered in the northern Rocky Mountains and has started the process to remove the wolf from the federal endangered species list. The Fish and Wildlife Service's weekly wolf reports as well as annual reports, can be viewed at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov/.