Central Idaho sheep rancher moves flock during lambing to avoid wolves

[bearpaw]

Central Idaho sheep rancher moves flock during lambing to avoid wolves
 
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 25, 2014
 
KETCHUM, Idaho — A central Idaho sheep rancher whose flock sustained losses to wolves each spring during lambing season moved them this year from his ranch near Carey to a new area where wolves aren't present.
 
The Idaho Mountain Express reports (http://bit.ly/1meOoQZ) that John Peavey moved 1,800 ewes in April to the desert about 20 miles south.
 
Peavey says he lost a couple lambs to coyotes but none to wolves.
 
Wildlife Services says that since 2008 wolves killed 153 sheep and three calves in the Flat Top Ranch area in 19 incidents. The agency killed 15 wolves in response.
 
Continued:
http://tinyurl.com/of43lsj

[Dan-o]

Why would he move his entire flock???


Doesn't he know that the wolves would only kill the sick and old, while restoring harmony to the environment?

[KFhunter]

I'd be interested to know the cost break down on moving 1800 to birth and then moving the pairs back (up to 3600 now)

How many died during the roundup, moving and off loading and stress involved with the move (X2)
how much man hours
fuel there and back
range lease?
how many lost on the trip home?
how many lambs never get paired and lost?
lambs trampled?

It wasn't cheap to move those sheep back and forth, but the wolf advocates will praise him for doing it and use it as leverage to get others to do the same.

[idahohuntr]

I'd be interested to know the cost break down on moving 1800 to birth and then moving the pairs back (up to 3600 now)

How many died during the roundup, moving and off loading and stress involved with the move (X2)
how much man hours
fuel there and back
range lease?
how many lost on the trip home?
how many lambs never get paired and lost?
lambs trampled?

It wasn't cheap to move those sheep back and forth, but the wolf advocates will praise him for doing it and use it as leverage to get others to do the same.

I guess I don't see the problem with folks looking for ways to reduce conflict with wildlife.  Frankly, I wish more landowners had this attitude...particularly with elk and deer herds. 

As far as the cost it seems pretty logical that he was ahead to move them or he wouldn't have done it. 

[KFhunter]

I'd be interested to know the cost break down on moving 1800 to birth and then moving the pairs back (up to 3600 now)

How many died during the roundup, moving and off loading and stress involved with the move (X2)
how much man hours
fuel there and back
range lease?
how many lost on the trip home?
how many lambs never get paired and lost?
lambs trampled?

It wasn't cheap to move those sheep back and forth, but the wolf advocates will praise him for doing it and use it as leverage to get others to do the same.

I guess I don't see the problem with folks looking for ways to reduce conflict with wildlife.  Frankly, I wish more landowners had this attitude...particularly with elk and deer herds. 

As far as the cost it seems pretty logical that he was ahead to move them or he wouldn't have done it. 

A lot of landowners do have this same attitude.  The ranchers are changing up things for the calving season,  I know some ranches moved their herd for calving.

It's expensive though, and not everyone has the capability or place to move their herds.


What about the little guy raising a few critters for their own use?  They can't move their animals 20-30 or 200 miles away to keep them safe for wolves. 
The bigger operations might have more options available, but the family raising a couple horses with a foal or two, or a few head of beef/sheep whatever won't be able to uproot their little homestead to keep things out of the wolves mouths.

We need aggressive management and be able to shoot wolves 24/7 365 in residential areas. 

[jasnt]

153 sheep and three calves in the Flat Top Ranch area in 19 incidents.    Thats 8 animals per indecent.  That's some spendy losses! Last sheep we bought where $200 each 
That's over $30,000.

[idahohuntr]

I'd be interested to know the cost break down on moving 1800 to birth and then moving the pairs back (up to 3600 now)

How many died during the roundup, moving and off loading and stress involved with the move (X2)
how much man hours
fuel there and back
range lease?
how many lost on the trip home?
how many lambs never get paired and lost?
lambs trampled?

It wasn't cheap to move those sheep back and forth, but the wolf advocates will praise him for doing it and use it as leverage to get others to do the same.

I guess I don't see the problem with folks looking for ways to reduce conflict with wildlife.  Frankly, I wish more landowners had this attitude...particularly with elk and deer herds. 

As far as the cost it seems pretty logical that he was ahead to move them or he wouldn't have done it. 

A lot of landowners do have this same attitude.  The ranchers are changing up things for the calving season,  I know some ranches moved their herd for calving.

It's expensive though, and not everyone has the capability or place to move their herds.


What about the little guy raising a few critters for their own use?  They can't move their animals 20-30 or 200 miles away to keep them safe for wolves. 
The bigger operations might have more options available, but the family raising a couple horses with a foal or two, or a few head of beef/sheep whatever won't be able to uproot their little homestead to keep things out of the wolves mouths.

We need aggressive management and be able to shoot wolves 24/7 365 in residential areas.

Different circumstances = different solutions.  My point is I applaud folks who find ways to reduce conflict without demanding all the public's wildlife be killed...again, I'm far more concerned about deer and elk herds being affected than wolves. 

[KFhunter]

I thought you said wolves aren't detrimental to deer/elk,  did you change your mind?


I know you don't care about livestock producers one iota, but you have no qualms about forcing them to avoid conflict with wolves,  for the wolves sake!

[idahohuntr]

I'm talking about when we kill off deer and elk herds because they cause conflict with ag producers...that is far more concerning to me for the sake of future hunting than whether a rancher or gov. agency kills some wolves because they are killing livestock.

I have never made some blanket statement that wolves are not detrimental to deer/elk.  In fact, depending on scope and scale, a wolf can be extremely detrimental...like if you are the elk being eaten!   

[Romulus1297]

No sense and double talk..as usual..

More useless chatter from someone who contributes nothing to the conversation...as usual.

Flagged

[jasnt]

Back to the topic:

bigger operations might have more options available, but the family raising a couple horses with a foal or two, or a few head of beef/sheep whatever won't be able to uproot their little homestead to keep things out of the wolves mouths.

I agree kf. If the wolves where to hit or farm we'd be broke over night.  Alot of small farms in my area and most are already having enough trouble as it is.  We have a dozen cows +caves and about as many goats, chickens, and pigs. But it's no booming business.  It wouldn't take much to loose alot.  We already have coyote and cougar troubles.  This farm could not afford to move our livestock.

[pianoman9701]

I'd be interested to know the cost break down on moving 1800 to birth and then moving the pairs back (up to 3600 now)

How many died during the roundup, moving and off loading and stress involved with the move (X2)
how much man hours
fuel there and back
range lease?
how many lost on the trip home?
how many lambs never get paired and lost?
lambs trampled?

It wasn't cheap to move those sheep back and forth, but the wolf advocates will praise him for doing it and use it as leverage to get others to do the same.

I guess I don't see the problem with folks looking for ways to reduce conflict with wildlife.  Frankly, I wish more landowners had this attitude...particularly with elk and deer herds. 

As far as the cost it seems pretty logical that he was ahead to move them or he wouldn't have done it. 

Of course you don't see the problem because you have nothing at stake. You want the wolves at any cost (to someone else, not you), and you've made that abundantly clear. But regardless of your inability to see it, the problems are the added expenses, which this farmer doesn't need. Farmers are in enough trouble in this country and even without adding expenses, many don't make a profit. The cost in transportation, time, and lost animals drives the price of his domestic lamb higher, making the purchase of NZ lamb more affordable to consumers and drives US ranchers out of business.

[AspenBud]

I think some of you are missing the greater point here. Idaho uses some of the most aggressive wolf management techniques in the lower 48 and this guy still feels he needs to move his animals away. 

[pianoman9701]

I think some of you are missing the greater point here. Idaho uses some of the most aggressive wolf management techniques in the lower 48 and this guy still feels he needs to move his animals away.

No one is missing that point. The point that you're missing is that with "some of the most aggressive wolf management techniques in the lower 48" being used, the wolves are still wreaking havoc on our ranchers. They're uncontrollable. This has gone way beyond a manageable level because they don't belong here.

[jasnt]

That's a good point aspenbud. And if the wolves did find his new birthing area then he will be back in the same boat.it is not uncommon for wolves to migrate with there food source