176 sheep killed by Pine Cr wolf pack

[Humptulips]

http://valleycitizen.com/stories_news_detail.php?pkStories=741

Pine Creek wolf pack to blame

 Idaho Fish and Game and the US Wildlife Services have confirmed 176 lambs from the Siddoway Ranch Company were killed this weekend by the Pine Creek wolf pack.
 
The Siddoway Sheep Company said in a news release Monday morning that a pack of wolves attacked a herd of sheep around 1 a.m. on Saturday killing 119 lambs and 57 ewes. This was not the first attack for the Siddoway Ranch this year and Regional Wildlife Supervisor for the Idaho Fish and Game, Daryl Meints said this pack has been active for several years.
 
In the news release, the sheep were grazing between Pole Canyon and the central Palisades Mountain Range approximately six miles south of Victor. In the dark, the herders watching the sheep could not count the number of wolves mounting the attack. Some sheep were bitten, while others suffocated, as the wolves forced them into a pile. This scenario was confirmed by Idaho Wildlife Services State Director Todd Grimes who added that the sheep were running down hill at the time of the attack.
 
As the sun rose, the herders were able to inspect the kill. The wolves ate the hindquarters of just one lamb.
 
A phone call to JC Siddoway who manages the ranch was not immediately returned Monday morning. Please look to www.valley citizen.com for updates this week.
 
The news release further read that the Siddoway Sheep Company has lost about 250 head of livestock to wolf, bear and coyote depredation since June.
 
The losses are not limited to sheep. Just last week, wolves killed a pair of Great Pyrenees guard dogs. A horse fell victim in July when a pair of wolves met a pack string on a trail near Indian Creek and spooked the young horse, which ran down the steep grade and fell from a cliff.
 
Meints identified and named the Pine Creek pack four years ago. It is unknown how large a wolf pack this is as none of the animals are collared.
 
Siddoway Sheep Company is a fifth generation family owned ranch that has been operating in the Teton, Palisades and Big Hole mountain ranges since 1886. The business infuses over 1.6 million dollars into the local economy each year. Siddoway Sheep Company’s president is Jeff Siddoway, an Idaho state senator from Terreton. The ranch is managed by his son, J.C. Siddoway of Newdale.

[grundy53]

makes me sick

sent from my typewriter

[Sportfury]

If that was the WDFW they would probably come out and say that it was something else that did this like they did with cattle in the NE corner of the state.

[mkcj]

 

 "The sheep are herded and monitored by two full-time herders, four herding dogs and at least four guard dogs.”

Now why is it going to be the ranchers fault??? I know they did not have flagging around the sheep THAT would have stopped the wolves!

[snowpack]

Gee, I can't understand why wolves were eliminated years ago.  Kill hundreds of sheep and only eat part of one.

[seth30]

  That is a huge blow to there sheep ranch.

[KFhunter]

how come they didn't go out there with some lights and blast the wolves?

In the dark, the herders watching the sheep could not count the number of wolves mounting the attack. Some sheep were bitten, while others suffocated, as the wolves forced them into a pile.

I couldn't do that, watch my sheep get destroyed like that. 

[AspenBud]

how come they didn't go out there with some lights and blast the wolves?

In the dark, the herders watching the sheep could not count the number of wolves mounting the attack. Some sheep were bitten, while others suffocated, as the wolves forced them into a pile.

I couldn't do that, watch my sheep get destroyed like that.

What makes you think they weren't trying to make a point? It's not exactly illegal to shoot them there.

Allowing 176 animals to be killed is good propoganda if you're a hardcore anti wolfer.

[h2ofowlr]

The sheep herders need night vision and mini guns. 

[KFhunter]

how come they didn't go out there with some lights and blast the wolves?

In the dark, the herders watching the sheep could not count the number of wolves mounting the attack. Some sheep were bitten, while others suffocated, as the wolves forced them into a pile.

I couldn't do that, watch my sheep get destroyed like that.

What makes you think they weren't trying to make a point? It's not exactly illegal to shoot them there.

Allowing 176 animals to be killed is good propoganda if you're a hardcore anti wolfer.

If your cold enough to allow that kind of horror to go on just to make a point, then I don't want to know you.

[AspenBud]

how come they didn't go out there with some lights and blast the wolves?

In the dark, the herders watching the sheep could not count the number of wolves mounting the attack. Some sheep were bitten, while others suffocated, as the wolves forced them into a pile.

I couldn't do that, watch my sheep get destroyed like that.

What makes you think they weren't trying to make a point? It's not exactly illegal to shoot them there.

Allowing 176 animals to be killed is good propoganda if you're a hardcore anti wolfer.

If your cold enough to allow that kind of horror to go on just to make a point, then I don't want to know you.

I concur. But these days I think anything is possible. It's not a big leap. Take the loss, write it off, collect the insurance, get it in the news, agenda forwarded. If nothing else is true it's that people either hate or love wolves and both sides will go to extremes in some cases.

Of course I am purely speculating. No doubt I am wrong...

[SemperFidelis97]

how come they didn't go out there with some lights and blast the wolves?

In the dark, the herders watching the sheep could not count the number of wolves mounting the attack. Some sheep were bitten, while others suffocated, as the wolves forced them into a pile.

I couldn't do that, watch my sheep get destroyed like that.

What makes you think they weren't trying to make a point? It's not exactly illegal to shoot them there.

Allowing 176 animals to be killed is good propoganda if you're a hardcore anti wolfer.

Maybe aspenbud they should get some stickers from the city of Seattle saying no wolves allowed, and put them on all the sheep since it works for guns in Seattle businesses right.

[BIGINNER]

I recall something like thus happening about 2 or 3 years ago. Only mire sheep killed.
this isn't the first time and not the last.  Look st articles in Europe and Russia, you'll probably see that it happens there alot more often

[Dave B]

Its ok, the wolves were doing the rancher a favor.  All of those sheep were either sick or old,  because we know for a fact they dont kill young healthy animals.     

[Northway]

Sheep are the one of the dumbest animals on four legs. You can practically fence sheep by stringing fishing line and attaching it to twigs a few inches off the ground. To take sheep and stick them on a public lands grazing allotment full of predators and not expect them to get whacked from time to time would be ridiculous.

It's a testament to how dumb the animals are that so many would be suffocated in one event.

[mulehunter]

I bet everyone doesn't know how many wolves  could kill any animals everyday in forest BUT BY count 176 on ground over ONE weekend that is easy to count than what is out there in forest!!! I cant image what happen to all population Elk/deer/cubs, kittens,/whatever out there would be like in few years later.      we should have wipe out whole North American Wolves Packs!

  

[thatdamguy]

I am going to present this article to the next jackA$$ who tells me the wolves belong in our state!   

[BIGINNER]

Sheep are the one of the dumbest animals on four legs. You can practically fence sheep by stringing fishing line and attaching it to twigs a few inches off the ground. To take sheep and stick them on a public lands grazing allotment full of predators and not expect them to get whacked from time to time would be ridiculous.

It's a testament to how dumb the animals are that so many would be suffocated in one event.

losing a couple or even several sheep from time to time is one thing, and is expected.
losing 176 in one weekend is not a testament to how dumb the sheep are but a testament to how vicious the wolves are.  and its a big testament to the fact that wolves don't eat everything they kill

[ICEMAN]

Has anyone here joined a wolf lover forum and posted the article?

[thatdamguy]

Has anyone here joined a wolf lover forum and posted the article?

 

Good Idea, Ill post this to the next WDFW Facebook wolf post.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Sheep are the one of the dumbest animals on four legs. You can practically fence sheep by stringing fishing line and attaching it to twigs a few inches off the ground. To take sheep and stick them on a public lands grazing allotment full of predators and not expect them to get whacked from time to time would be ridiculous.

It's a testament to how dumb the animals are that so many would be suffocated in one event.

hahaha!  True.  Sheep are HARD on tha landscape too... In any case- it's not a good thing when wolves roll in a wipe out a whole flock!

[Northway]

Sheep are the one of the dumbest animals on four legs. You can practically fence sheep by stringing fishing line and attaching it to twigs a few inches off the ground. To take sheep and stick them on a public lands grazing allotment full of predators and not expect them to get whacked from time to time would be ridiculous.

It's a testament to how dumb the animals are that so many would be suffocated in one event.

losing a couple or even several sheep from time to time is one thing, and is expected.
losing 176 in one weekend is not a testament to how dumb the sheep are but a testament to how vicious the wolves are.  and its a big testament to the fact that wolves don't eat everything they kill

From my understanding a vast majority of these sheep died of suffocation?

At least with cows, a wolf can rip up one cow without the rest of the herd suffocating itself.

[Special T]

We have ben repeatedly told that wolves fear people and we have nothing to fear.
We are told that if we utilize hazing devises such as Herders and guard dogs it will keep livestock safe.

We know that herders were utilized in this case and it did not help.
Sheep are not that bright and that is one of the reasons why wolves were exterminated from england and thier numbers greatly reduced here in the USA...

[BIGINNER]

Sheep are the one of the dumbest animals on four legs. You can practically fence sheep by stringing fishing line and attaching it to twigs a few inches off the ground. To take sheep and stick them on a public lands grazing allotment full of predators and not expect them to get whacked from time to time would be ridiculous.

It's a testament to how dumb the animals are that so many would be suffocated in one event.

losing a couple or even several sheep from time to time is one thing, and is expected.
losing 176 in one weekend is not a testament to how dumb the sheep are but a testament to how vicious the wolves are.  and its a big testament to the fact that wolves don't eat everything they kill

From my understanding a vast majority of these sheep died of suffocation?

At least with cows, a wolf can rip up one cow without the rest of the herd suffocating itself.

my bad,.. this here is a testament of how good I read the article 

[seth30]

Sheep are the one of the dumbest animals on four legs. You can practically fence sheep by stringing fishing line and attaching it to twigs a few inches off the ground. To take sheep and stick them on a public lands grazing allotment full of predators and not expect them to get whacked from time to time would be ridiculous.

It's a testament to how dumb the animals are that so many would be suffocated in one event.

losing a couple or even several sheep from time to time is one thing, and is expected.
losing 176 in one weekend is not a testament to how dumb the sheep are but a testament to how vicious the wolves are.  and its a big testament to the fact that wolves don't eat everything they kill

From my understanding a vast majority of these sheep died of suffocation?

At least with cows, a wolf can rip up one cow without the rest of the herd suffocating itself.

They wouldnt have if the wolves were not attacking the herd  

[Gringo31]

Sounds like a "pile up".  Massive panic and a mess to sort out.  I've seen it with cattle and it's ugly.