Coalition calls for removal of reintroduced wolves

10/4/03

Idaho Statesman

BURGDORF — The Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition is pointing to the slaughter of dozens of sheep near Burgdorf as a reason to remove reintroduced wolves from the state.
Sheep rancher Mick Carlson said he discovered last month that 55 of his sheep were killed by wolves, more than a dozen more were maimed and as many as 30 were still missing after a wolf attack.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed the attack, and Carlson estimates his loss at more than $10,000.

“It is overwhelming to view sheep carcasses and see how cruel and vicious this ordeal was,” Carlson said.

He said that only four of the 55 sheep killed were eaten, and the rest were killed for sport.

Fish and Wildlife officials say that until this incident, wolves had killed only a handful of livestock in Idaho, and that wolves kill fewer sheep than other animals such as coyotes, bears or cougars.