The Idaho Statesman
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A southeastern Idaho ranch lost 176 sheep as the animals ran in fear from two wolves that chased through a herd of about 2,400 animals south of Victor.
Sheepherders for the Siddoway Sheep Co. heard the wolves at about 1 a.m. Saturday, but didn't know the extent of the damage until they saw the sheep piled up on each other at daybreak.
Idaho Wildlife Services State Director Todd Grimm says it's the greatest loss by wolves ever recorded in one instance in the state. About nine years ago, wolves killed 105 sheep on one night.
Wolves are ruthless, efficient killing machines...and they do it for sport.
This incident happened not too far from where my in-laws live, about 300 miles from here. Of these 176 dead sheep, one was mostly eaten, 10 were mauled to death, and 165 SHEEP WERE ASPHIXIATED by the wolves. Most died from being jammed together upon each other in their panic.
Idaho has a wolf hunt season now and it has been expanding. In some counties it is year round. In most counties it runs from August of one year through the end of June of the next.
Wyoming and Montana also now have wolf hunts.
IMHO, these animals should be on an open season, no limit hunt list. No license required where the State or County pays a bounty for their hide. They are doing great harm to the commerical livestock industry, they have decimated the deer and elk herds, they take pleasure in running down and killing any domestic dog they see...and they will attack humans..
Idaho Wolf Problem grows - Extremely Large Wolves