Wolves attack, kill Washington cattle
STEVENS COUNTY, Wash. -- Ranchers in northeastern Washington say they're under attack from wolves.
The Diamond M Ranch in north Stevens County said it lost more than 40 head of cattle in the last year to wolves.
For many it's presumed wolves were driven out of that region in the 1930s by homesteaders and ranchers but it wasn't until Labor Day weekend of 2007 near the original homestead on the Diamond M Ranch that wolves returned, killing two calves, the first documented kill in Washington in decades.
In a pen on the ranch, Diamond M Ranch partner Len McIrvin looks over two injured calves.
"It had an area as big as a soccer ball taken out of it and now it's starting to fill in," said McIrvin, inspecting the hind quarter of a smalL calf.
Attacked by wolves, one may live, the other probably won't be so lucky.
"This is a cattle-killing pack of wolves and total elimination is the only answer," said McIrvin.
McIrvin's family has been ranching the Diamond M for five generations. Wolves haven't been a serious problem until the last couple years, killing 16 head of cattle last year.
"(I) see wolf tracks all over. See them everywhere," said Greg, one of the Diamond M cowboys.
But paw prints and dead cattle are the only signs they're leaving.
"They're ghosts," said Greg. Even if McIrvin caught a wolf killing a cow he couldn't do anything. Wolves in Northeast Washington are protected by the state.
"All the wolves that are here have come here on their own either from Idaho, Montana or British Columbia," said Dave Ware, game division manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Ware says he's surprised how fast wolves are recolonizing the region and recognizes this pack of at least eight need to be destroyed.
"Couple of different groups of hunters up there. We are conducting trapping operations as well," said Ware.
But McIrvin said he needs his hands untied to protect what was given to him by his father.
"It's not the wolves we are fighting. Wolves do what wolves do, they are killers. It's the beaurocracy, the regulations and the restrictions," said McIrvin.
Senator Bob Morton, who represents this district, agrees.
"And we've made this a choked up situation. We've got to unchoke it and give these people an opportunity to raise some of the best beef in the world," said Morton.
So for now McIrvin has to rely on fish and wildlife hunters and hope his cowboys keep some wolves at bay.
"Just try and have a presence out there which is impossible when you are talking 40,000 acres," said McIrvin.
The Diamond M Ranch says if nothing is done about the wolf problem this year they'll have problems sustaining their production into next year.
The Diamond M Ranch in north Stevens County said it lost more than 40 head of cattle in the last year to wolves.
For many it's presumed wolves were driven out of that region in the 1930s by homesteaders and ranchers but it wasn't until Labor Day weekend of 2007 near the original homestead on the Diamond M Ranch that wolves returned, killing two calves, the first documented kill in Washington in decades.
In a pen on the ranch, Diamond M Ranch partner Len McIrvin looks over two injured calves.
"It had an area as big as a soccer ball taken out of it and now it's starting to fill in," said McIrvin, inspecting the hind quarter of a smalL calf.
Attacked by wolves, one may live, the other probably won't be so lucky.
"This is a cattle-killing pack of wolves and total elimination is the only answer," said McIrvin.
McIrvin's family has been ranching the Diamond M for five generations. Wolves haven't been a serious problem until the last couple years, killing 16 head of cattle last year.
"(I) see wolf tracks all over. See them everywhere," said Greg, one of the Diamond M cowboys.
But paw prints and dead cattle are the only signs they're leaving.
"They're ghosts," said Greg. Even if McIrvin caught a wolf killing a cow he couldn't do anything. Wolves in Northeast Washington are protected by the state.
"All the wolves that are here have come here on their own either from Idaho, Montana or British Columbia," said Dave Ware, game division manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Ware says he's surprised how fast wolves are recolonizing the region and recognizes this pack of at least eight need to be destroyed.
"Couple of different groups of hunters up there. We are conducting trapping operations as well," said Ware.
But McIrvin said he needs his hands untied to protect what was given to him by his father.
"It's not the wolves we are fighting. Wolves do what wolves do, they are killers. It's the beaurocracy, the regulations and the restrictions," said McIrvin.
Senator Bob Morton, who represents this district, agrees.
"And we've made this a choked up situation. We've got to unchoke it and give these people an opportunity to raise some of the best beef in the world," said Morton.
So for now McIrvin has to rely on fish and wildlife hunters and hope his cowboys keep some wolves at bay.
"Just try and have a presence out there which is impossible when you are talking 40,000 acres," said McIrvin.
The Diamond M Ranch says if nothing is done about the wolf problem this year they'll have problems sustaining their production into next year.
These idiots have their cows on PUBLIC land. They have NO right to shoot wolves on that land. I say we should be able to shoot their cows in return.
It is time for cattle to go. They do huge amounts of damage all for the profit of one family. Get with the 21st century. The public, who is suppose to own this land needs to stop this now. Everyone needs to speak up. Remember the slaughter of horses to protect public lands. Yeah right!!!
Why the hell are there cows on public land? So what if wolves kill a few cows, there are lots of cows, more than we need.  We should have more wolves on public land and less cattle. Tell the ranchers to go to hell and stay off public land.
 @Donacita That is one of the most incoherent rants I've ever read...
So how many head of cattle do they have? What percent has been killed?
I believe that a rancher should have the right to protect his animals. Â If the State of Washington will not allow him to protect his herd, and manage the threat from the wolves, then they should compensate him for his losses due to the protected wolves. Â
The headline seems to anthropomorphize wolves somewhat ... what they in fact do is hunt their prey (cattle), kill their prey, and then eat their prey ... sounds like a very normal wolf-like activity. Â "Attack" and "kill" makes it sound like the wolves are on some sort of premeditated murder spree. Â The state and wildlife supporters have worked long to get the wolves back to their native territory, and this call for 'total elimination' of the pack is overkill indeed (dark humor). Â Give the wildlife and wolf experts time (and funds) to handle this in a humane way, not open season again on these animals who are doing what they were born to do.
Time to SSS.
Are the cattle being killed on private land or public land? What does "near the original homestead" mean? As I have said before, if on public lands, the wolves are doing what they evolved to do. If they are on private land then the rancher has every right to blast away, after giving the State time to trap or remove them on their terms. Or the State should reimburse the ranchers the full value of the cattle.
While I understand why the ranchers would be upset about it, they have to remember that the wolves were there first. I suppose it's another one of those I AM MAN, TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN, HEAR ME ROAR type of things.. oh well. It's bound to happen anyhow, we are killing off everything that we can't just adapt to or deal with in another fashion. Why not just take them by form of transportation and move them to another part of the state, or another state that is NOT over-run by wolves? I know it costs money, but technically the wolves didn't do anything wrong.
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/rant off. I am not some animal freak, i just think wolves are beautiful creatures, and they wouldn't have to worry about getting rid of them in the first place if people didn't push them out to begin with, so I guess that's why I find it ironic.
 @Rsills82 You realize of course that everywhere man lives, basically animals lived there first, except maybe space. So the "animals were there first" concept is pretty weak. The wolf issue is complex. Yes there were wolves there and were eliminated in the past. Now they have reintroduced another similar species of wolf to repopulate the area. There was nothing wrong with the areas in question mind you some people just wanted wolves. They used the endangered species act to do it. Keep in mind the wolf they introduced to the lower 48 numbers nearly 50,000.  This goes on and on . The point is its complicated and those who decided they wanted to hear wolves howl in the night didn't do it for for all the greatest reasons or with the most ethical tactics. Given the negative impact of the wolves on the other animals things are not looking good. The lack of food has driven mountain lions and bears down next to and into populated areas to find food and its only a matter of time before someones kid is eaten due to it.Â
Heres some info:
1. An information clearing house on wolves:Â http://www.pinedaleonline.com/wolf/
2. The opposing view:Â http://www.lobowatch.com/
 @SeattleJoe I totally get that, and I agree with everyone elses' points and all that, I just wish there was another way I suppose.. but it is what it is. When it comes down to humans being in danger, obviously there's not a whole lot left for people to do. I just always thought of wolves as some majestic creature (similar to that of a tiger or lion), and it just seems somewhat cruel to just kill them off, especially to save cows. (Now we're talking over-population!) haha.  I think the real solution is, people need to stop breeding! There'd be room enough for everyone that way, and we wouldn't need to worry about so many mouths to feed from Welfare, as well as the unemployment rates.. (kidding of course). .. (sorta) .. :)Â
 @Rsills82  @SeattleJoe "When it comes down to humans being in danger, obviously there's not a whole lot left for people to do."
Â
Well, we certainly give a lot more latitude to dogs. As I've said many times before on this and other forums, look up the statistics on dog attacks on humans, wildlife and livestock, just to put things in perspective. I do like dogs, but they are probably more of a threat to people, wildlife and livestock than wolves are.
@Rsills82 -- I don't think this type of solution would work. Wolves are some of the most fiercely territorial creatures on the planet...right up there with, you guessed it, humans! However, I agree that killing them for hunting (and they are hunting...this isn't an "attack" as is reported) seems a little cruel. Then again, if a human were to encroach on the wolve's stomping grounds, what would the wolf do? Answer: probably kill you.
 @Jac Wolves have been successfully relocated in the past and I definitely think relocation should at least be attempted before they are killed for simply doing what is natural for them.
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http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/in-the-valley-of-the-wolves/the-druid-wolf-pack-story/209/
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http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/R1/3397E2EC-ACAA-4FB2-9484CE3A123D83FA.html?CFID=1891758&CFTOKEN=26860432
 @Jac You're welcome :-)
@alaska_dreamin -- Thank you for posting those. Knowing this, I don't understand why relocation isn't being considered an option. Killing off the entire pack should be the last resort, always.
 @Jac  @Rsills82 Humans HAVE encroached on their hunting ground.Â
@WAmomof4 @Rsills82 -- I agree. And wolves have killed people for it. I was attempting humor with that statement. Maybe I need to work on it some more before I dilute myself with the assumption that I'm actually funny.
 @WAmomof4  @Jac  @Rsills82 How so?