More than 27-thousand sheep – bedding down on public lands that are also home to wolves. That was the scenario for the Wood River Wolf Project in Central Idaho this year – where non-lethal wolf-management tools are used to keep sheep and wolves safe. The result? Only four sheep lost to wolves - and that happened on a night when the herd bumped into a previously unknown wolf pack. Suzanne Stone with Defenders of Wildlife says it’s the best year yet – and they've been doing this for five years.
She says the biggest challenge this year was locating the wolves, since there are no radio-collared animals left. That was done with on-the-ground detective work and remote wildlife cameras. Non-lethal tools include livestock protection dogs, shooting blanks, air horns, flag fencing and human presence. Stone argues that co-existence methods are less expensive than “kill-only” approaches that involve radio collars, sharpshooters and helicopters. The state of Washington recently spent thousands to kill wolves.
Field supervisor Patrick Graham says there were nights when wolves came within 50 yards of sheep.
Ranchers, sheepherders, federal and state agencies, and an Idaho County have partnered for the Wood River Wolf Project. Suzanne Stone says the track record of success has caught the attention of wolf managers in other states, with queries even coming from Europe.
She says the biggest challenge this year was locating the wolves, since there are no radio-collared animals left. That was done with on-the-ground detective work and remote wildlife cameras. Non-lethal tools include livestock protection dogs, shooting blanks, air horns, flag fencing and human presence. Stone argues that co-existence methods are less expensive than “kill-only” approaches that involve radio collars, sharpshooters and helicopters. The state of Washington recently spent thousands to kill wolves.
Field supervisor Patrick Graham says there were nights when wolves came within 50 yards of sheep.
Ranchers, sheepherders, federal and state agencies, and an Idaho County have partnered for the Wood River Wolf Project. Suzanne Stone says the track record of success has caught the attention of wolf managers in other states, with queries even coming from Europe.
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