“J.C. Siddoway of Terreton says almost all of the sheep died from asphyxiation. About 10 died of bite wounds and one was partially consumed.”
I guess they piled up on each other as the wolves ringed them? Unless the rancher piled them up after and that is what the pic is. Or do agitated sheep just keel over after a while?
Freegards
I’m guessing the rancher piled them up (to burn them?).
Asphyxiation? I don’t know - do sheep huddle around each other so close in fear and do nothing except huddle closer and then die of blocked airways because of the wool? Could be. While a few sheep on the outskirts, perhaps even “brave” sheep try to fight off the wolves but die? (Hmm - no wonder some are called “sheeple”.)
Agitated sheep will drop dead when being chased, but judging from the picture they asphyxiated while crowded together while being worried by the wolves.
Thats how wolves mostly do it. Clamp down on their windpipe until it is over. My daughter has a wolf mix. I have had to rescue a goat from her before.
The scene described is more like what a pack of domestic dogs would do.
A pack of Wolves would have consumed all of one sheep to regurgitate to the pups back at the den.