[Vision2020] Wolves and Livestock

[Friends of the Clearwater]

Roger,

You raise an important issue. Here are the facts about livestock 
predation by wolves.

Wolves cause less than 1% of livestock losses statewide. That 
includes sheep. In fact coyotes and dogs take far more sheep than 
wolves do. Please also read about rancher compensation below.

Will
FOC


WOLVES AND LIVESTOCK

MYTH: Wolves are devastating Idaho's sheep industry.
REALITY: Wolves are responsible for less than 1 percent of all sheep 
losses in Idaho, even less for cattle.
DETAILS: According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2005 
wolves killed 244 sheep in the state of Idaho.
Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service 
(http://www.fws.gov/mountain%2Dprairie/species/mammals/wolf/annualrpt05/table5b.pdf).

How does that compare with other causes of losses? In 2004 (the most 
recent year data is offered by NASS), not including sheep that were 
slaughtered at market, 22,000 sheep died from all causes in Idaho but 
only 270 sheep (less than 0.2 percent) were confirmed killed by 
wolves. Overall sheep deaths were reportedly due to:
  Digestive problems (1,600);
  Respiratory disease (1,300);
  Birthing problems (1,100);
  Misc. health problems (3,200);
  *Predators (all combined) (12,100)
  Harsh weather (600); and
  Poisoning (800).

Sheep deaths due to predators represented 55% of overall losses. 
These predation deaths included coyotes (7,100 sheep), dogs (1,400 
sheep, bears (1000 sheep) mountain lions (400 sheep) and wolves 
(270). Source: 
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/sgdl/sgdl-05-06-2005.pdf

In 2006, wolves killed 173 sheep in Idaho. Source: Steve Nadeau, 
Statewide Large Carnivore Manager, Idaho Fish and Game, 600 S. 
Walnut, Boise, ID 83707.

WOLVES AND RANCHING

MYTH: Ranchers are not reimbursed for their losses to wolves.
REALITY: Most livestock owners who experience verified depredation 
losses to wolves do seek and receive compensation for their losses.
DETAILS: In 1987, Defenders of Wildlife (Defenders) initiated the 
first privately funded, livestock compensation program of its kind to 
reimburse livestock owners for wolf caused losses while wolves are 
under federal protection. To date, [The] Bailey Wildlife Foundation 
Wolf Compensation Fund, named in honor of its largest contributor, 
has reimbursed ranchers almost $700,000 in the Northern Rockies for 
their livestock losses to wolves and celebrates its 20 year 
anniversary in 2007. Since the program's inception in 1987 (shortly 
after the first pack was established in Montana) through 2005, 
Defenders has paid for more than 90% of all verified livestock 
losses. In addition to Defenders' compensation program, the Idaho 
Office of Species Conservation administers a secondary compensation 
program that reimburses Idaho livestock owners for the remaining 
losses and also compensates for missing and unverified livestock 
losses.

Sources: 
http://www.fws.gov/mountain%2Dprairie/species/mammals/wolf/annualrpt05/table5b.pdf; 
http://species.idaho.gov/list/wolves.html; and 
http://www.defenders.org/wolfcomp.html
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