It begins again, more wolf cattle kills 2018

[KFhunter]

It also seems a bit dramatic to imply that wolves in Washington will lead to a catastrophic disruption in the food supply making this a national security issue. Unless the wolves are actually North Korean spies sent to disrupt the food supply and weaken the US population, making it easier to invade us.......

A national security issue would be forcing the Hammond's off their range so the Clinton's can sell Uranium to Russia. 

[jasnt]

No one wants a hand out.  We want to protect what’s ours with out Repercussions

[Special T]

I'm wondering if higher voltage electric fencing will be come the norm around the home pasture....

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[Ridgeratt]

I'm wondering if higher voltage electric fencing will be come the norm around the home pasture....

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I would guess with liability issues from tourists getting hung up in it. Most likely not. 

[jasnt]

I would bet electric fence could be a viable way to protect private land....till the ground gets too dry. Then not so much

[Ridgeratt]

I would bet electric fence could be a viable way to protect private land....till the ground gets too dry. Then not so much

Perhaps if it was field fence and not a 4 wire. Neighbor put up the field fence to keep the coyotes out and ran a strand of barbed on the top and bottom. But they can still dig under if they are inclined.

[bearpaw]

A cougar killed 1 calf and 4 lambs at a ranch near Colville. The lambs were killed in and drug out of the back yard! 
Same rancher had cattle chewed up by wolves last year!

This massive increase in livestock predation over the last two decades is a direct result of a lack of predator management. I'm saying it again, this rests squarely on the shoulders of politicians and wdfw management who refuse to manage predators in Washington and pander to the anti-hunting groups.

It's against forum rules for me to say what I what I think about some of the pathetic comments I've read in this topic! None of these ranchers had serious problems until predator numbers were allowed to explode. Maybe every business in America should have to allow thieves to roam their stores and take whatever they like, that would just be a change in society that all businesses should have to deal with! WOW 

[bearpaw]

Radio just said this last wolf attack is the third predation by the Togo pack in the last 7 months.

I think it's time for another heli-hunt!

[idahohuntr]

A cougar killed 1 calf and 4 lambs at a ranch near Colville. The lambs were killed in and drug out of the back yard! 
Same rancher had cattle chewed up by wolves last year!

This massive increase in livestock predation over the last two decades is a direct result of a lack of predator management. I'm saying it again, this rests squarely on the shoulders of politicians and wdfw management who refuse to manage predators in Washington and pander to the anti-hunting groups.

It's against forum rules for me to say what I what I think about some of the pathetic comments I've read in this topic! None of these ranchers had serious problems until predator numbers were allowed to explode. Maybe every business in America should have to allow thieves to roam their stores and take whatever they like, that would just be a change in society that all businesses should have to deal with! WOW 

No, it's more like some business owners recognize theft could be a factor in profits, and so they invest in ways to minimize those losses.  Other businesses might turn a blind eye to theft and say its the governments responsibility to always protect them from any theft so they don't lift a finger.  If theft becomes a major problem...who do you think remains in business?

[pianoman9701]

A cougar killed 1 calf and 4 lambs at a ranch near Colville. The lambs were killed in and drug out of the back yard! 
Same rancher had cattle chewed up by wolves last year!

This massive increase in livestock predation over the last two decades is a direct result of a lack of predator management. I'm saying it again, this rests squarely on the shoulders of politicians and wdfw management who refuse to manage predators in Washington and pander to the anti-hunting groups.

It's against forum rules for me to say what I what I think about some of the pathetic comments I've read in this topic! None of these ranchers had serious problems until predator numbers were allowed to explode. Maybe every business in America should have to allow thieves to roam their stores and take whatever they like, that would just be a change in society that all businesses should have to deal with! WOW 

No, it's more like some business owners recognize theft could be a factor in profits, and so they invest in ways to minimize those losses.  Other businesses might turn a blind eye to theft and say its the governments responsibility to always protect them from any theft so they don't lift a finger.  If theft becomes a major problem...who do you think remains in business?

Cattlemen hardly want to look to the government for help. They're forced to because of the ridiculous regulations keeping them from protecting their assets. The government is hardly their protector in all of this. Rightfully, they should be able to shoot on site, trap, or poison those thieves without being required to obtain government intervention or permission.

[bearpaw]

A cougar killed 1 calf and 4 lambs at a ranch near Colville. The lambs were killed in and drug out of the back yard! 
Same rancher had cattle chewed up by wolves last year!

This massive increase in livestock predation over the last two decades is a direct result of a lack of predator management. I'm saying it again, this rests squarely on the shoulders of politicians and wdfw management who refuse to manage predators in Washington and pander to the anti-hunting groups.

It's against forum rules for me to say what I what I think about some of the pathetic comments I've read in this topic! None of these ranchers had serious problems until predator numbers were allowed to explode. Maybe every business in America should have to allow thieves to roam their stores and take whatever they like, that would just be a change in society that all businesses should have to deal with! WOW 

No, it's more like some business owners recognize theft could be a factor in profits, and so they invest in ways to minimize those losses.  Other businesses might turn a blind eye to theft and say its the governments responsibility to always protect them from any theft so they don't lift a finger.  If theft becomes a major problem...who do you think remains in business?

The government took away all the effective methods of reducing livestock predation, nice try at side stepping. 

FYI: The rancher I mention has fully cooperated with CNW and WDFW with all the recommended deterrents. He's one heck of a nice guy, a good businessman, and will do whatever he needs to do to stay in business and meet government requirements. Flashing lights, flagging, and range riders, he does it all and will likely continue to do what they say he needs to do!

I feel bad for him, he is a model rancher for working with the system yet he is stuck swallowing huge losses. This whole mess is a farce put forth by the anti-hunters to end hunting and ranching and swallowed hook line and sinker by WDFW, politicians, some of the public, and even a few hunters!

[pianoman9701]

This program was a complete fraud from the start. Had private citizens lied to Congress and defrauded the people the way that the USFWS and WDFW have, they'd have been thrown in prison for a great many years.

[yorketransport]

You took a general zoology class a couple decades ago, and youre typing from your keyboard 300+ miles from the wolf problem.  Maybe you should just shut your mouth.

This just seems unproductive. What viable solution do you propose do deal with the wolves? I just pointed out that wolves are a native species, not an invasive species. If WDFW were introducing something like hyenas this would be a different issue since they're non-native.

A cougar killed 1 calf and 4 lambs at a ranch near Colville. The lambs were killed in and drug out of the back yard! 
Same rancher had cattle chewed up by wolves last year!

This massive increase in livestock predation over the last two decades is a direct result of a lack of predator management. I'm saying it again, this rests squarely on the shoulders of politicians and wdfw management who refuse to manage predators in Washington and pander to the anti-hunting groups.

It's against forum rules for me to say what I what I think about some of the pathetic comments I've read in this topic! None of these ranchers had serious problems until predator numbers were allowed to explode. Maybe every business in America should have to allow thieves to roam their stores and take whatever they like, that would just be a change in society that all businesses should have to deal with! WOW 

I understand where you're coming from with this, but what do you propose as a solution? I agree that predator management is an issue and I get why ranchers and others, like yourself, who are financially impacted by the issue are so passionate about it.

I fully support hunting as a method of controlling predator populations. Fairly often I'll here the "kill 'em all" line from folks though and that's an unrealistic perspective. The wolves aren't going to go away entirely and I think it's foolish to believe that will ever be a realistic expectation. So if there's always going to be conflict between ranchers and wolves, what's an acceptable percentage of loss that the ranchers should be expected to absorb?

When I worked as a department head/buyer for a small grocery store I was responsible for monitoring "shrinkage" for my department, not including scrap loss from perishable items. The obvious goal was have that number come in at zero but that wasn't realistic. 1.5-2% was considered acceptable and anything over 2.5% was a serious issue. A certain percentage of loss was expected as a part of doing business. I'll admit to being ignorant when it comes to the finances of running a large cattle operation, so I really am curious what's the percentage of gross revenue being lost to predators (specifically wolves)? Does that number factor in reimbursement (if any) provided by the state to help offset some of the loss? More importantly, what are realistic profit margins for a cattle operation when averaged out over 5 years to account for market cycles? I assume they operate on a pretty low margin so a loss of 2% every year could be crippling if a good year is only a 10% profit to begin with. But if they're operating on something like a 30% margin under normal circumstances then that 2% loss is much easier to absorb if the owner is really serious about staying in the ranching business or "life style".

[wolfbait]

This program was a complete fraud from the start. Had private citizens lied to Congress and defrauded the people the way that the USFWS and WDFW have, they'd have been thrown in prison for a great many years.

 P-Man, the wolf program is working out just the way it was suppose to, driving ranchers off public lands, and in some cases driving ranchers out of business and the end of hunting.



15 Years Experience Dealing With Wolves on Montana Ranch

http://tomremington.com/2013/10/09/15-years-experience-dealing-with-wolves-on-montana-ranch/


Wolves’ Economic Bite On Cattle Goes Way Beyond Predation

http://www.beefmagazine.com/pasture-range/wolves-economic-bite-cattle-goes-way-beyond-predation


Wolf attacks have long-term impact on cowherd

http://www.beefmagazine.com/grazing-systems/wolf-attacks-have-long-term-impact-cowherd

[wolfbait]

WDF&wolves and Washingtons Wildlife


While we ponder what to do about wolf/livestock predation……. out in the brush

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