Wolf Conflict Facts
While the details of wolf predation on livestock and game make for juicy newspaper headlines, the data collected by wildlife biologists over the past decade tell a far less lurid story. What’s more, understanding this data has led to workable solutions for ranchers and hunters across the West. We believe an understanding of the facts can help the states create fair, balanced plans for managing our native wolves.
Conflicts with Livestock
Yes, wolves kill livestock, but not to the degree extremists would have you believe. For example, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2005 wolves killed 244 sheep in Idaho. In 2006, 237 sheep in Idaho were killed by wolves, while in 2007, 185 sheep were killed by wolves across the state.
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Compare those numbers to other causes of death for sheep in Idaho in 2004 (the last year for which complete statistics are available):
Overall sheep deaths were reportedly due to:
- digestive problems: 1,600
- respiratory disease: 1,300
- birthing problems: 1,100
- miscellaneous health problems: 3,200
- predators (all combined): 12,100*
- harsh weather: 600
- poisoning: 800
*Sheep deaths due to predators represented 55 percent of overall losses.
Predator depredation deaths included:
- coyotes: 7,100 sheep
- dogs: 1,400 sheep
- bears: 1,100 sheep
- mountain lions: 400 sheep
- wolves: 270 sheep
In short, less than one percent of sheep losses in Idaho were caused by wolves. Sheep losses in the other states were similar.
Okay, But What About Cattle?
Interestingly enough, the same basic numbers hold true. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2006, wolves killed 54 cattle in the state of Wyoming, while in 2007, wolves killed 55 cattle statewide. Let’s compare those numbers to other losses. In 2005 (the year for which we have the most recent detailed data), not including cattle that were slaughtered at market, 42,000 cows and calves died from all causes in Wyoming.
These losses were reportedly due to:
- digestive problems: 7,700
- respiratory disease: 8,700
- birthing problems: 7,800
- miscellaneous health problems: 1,600
- lameness and injuries: N/A
- predators (all combined): 4,000
- harsh weather: 7,000
- poisoning: 1,500
- theft: 600
Cattle deaths due to all predators represented less than 10 percent of overall estimated losses. These depredation deaths included:
- coyotes: 2,300 calves
- mountain lions: 500 calves
- dogs: 100 calves
- wolves: 54 calves/cattle
Again, the numbers for all three states were quite similar, with wolves being responsible for less than one percent of cattle losses in each. What’s more, most livestock owners who experience verified depredation losses to wolves both seek and receive compensation for those losses.
Compensating Ranchers for Their Losses
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 more than $1 million in the Northern Rockies for their livestock losses to wolves; the Bailey Fund celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2007. Since the program's inception in 1987 (shortly after the first pack was established in Montana) through 2007, Defenders has paid for more than 90 percent of all verified livestock losses.
Undetected or Unreported Losses
Most wolf-related livestock deaths are documented by federal and state agencies, but what about losses that aren't found? By modeling for undetected losses under a worst-case scenario (e.g., heavy vegetation, remote location, infrequent human supervision of livestock), researchers determined that from 0 – 8 additional wolf depredation losses remain undetected annually. Even under the worst-case scenario (e.g., all cattle grazing in densely-forested remote areas with little or no human supervision), this estimate still represents only about one percent of total cattle losses.
>> Sources
Predation of Game Species
Elk are a prime food source for wolves. While wolves are impacting elk in a few hunting districts, these are the minority, as elk populations throughout the tri-state area remain high:
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Wyoming1
- 95,161 elk estimated statewide, 14 percent above objective
- 19 herds were over objective, one under, and seven herds at objective
- Calf:cow ratio of 35:100 (G&F objective is 25:100)
Montana2
- 130,000 – 160,000 elk estimated statewide, 14 percent over objective
- 60 percent of elk management units are above population management objectives
Idaho3
- Estimated population: 103,160, at or slightly above objective statewide4
- Wolves are thought to be significantly impacting elk populations in only two of the 29 game management units in Idaho, although it is uncertain that wolves are the primary cause of reduced elk populations in these units.
- Calf:cow ratio of 29:100.5
So, although some hunters in the Northern Rockies have reported that locating elk is more difficult since the return of wolves, it is not because there are fewer elk. Rather, as documented by researchers and experienced by sportsmen, the return of wolves has caused elk to modify their behavior. Elk tend to linger less in open areas, may seek out more hidden locales at higher altitudes, or may even move from one valley to another to avoid wolves.
While all of this may change how and where hunters find elk, hunter harvest of elk continues to increase in all three states, in some cases approaching record highs. For example, Wyoming hunters had another great year in 2007, leading the region with a 40 percent success rate. What’s more, wolves help keep elk herds strong and healthy by preying upon the most vulnerable, sick or old animals.
12007 Wyoming G&F data
22007 Elk Summit data
32007 Idaho F&G Elk Report
4Avg. of both elk surveys
5Avg. of both elk surveys
62007 Idaho F&G Elk Report
72007 Wyoming G&F data
8Lukens, Jim. "Eleven Years with Wolves - What We've Learned" News release, Idaho F&G, April 25, 2006
