Wolf depredation confirmed near Two Dot, Montana

[Len Backus]

BILLINGS — Wildlife officials have confirmed that a wolf killed five sheep and injured five others in the Two Dot area this week. A landowner saw a black wolf leaving his flock on Wednesday, March 5, and reported the depredation. USDA Wildlife Services officials investigated and confirmed that the sheep were killed by a wolf.

It was not known whether the wolf was alone or in a group, although there was no other evidence of wolves in the area.

Since no known wolf packs have been documented in the Two Dot area, wildlife managers planned to capture the wolf, fit it with a radio collar and release it. The animal had not been captured as of noon Friday, March 7.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department officials communicated with the landowner about regulations for eliminating the threat to livestock, if necessary.

To learn more about Montana’s recovered wolf population, visit FWP online at Wolf Conservation - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, where visitors can also tell FWP when they see wolves or wolf sign. The information helps to verify the activity, distribution, and pack size of Montana’s recovered wolf population.

[Buffalobob]

Well now just who would have believed a wolf would kill some sheep. I bet killing sheep is to a wolf kind of like prairie doggin or ground squirrel shooting is to some people. He just wanted to see some blood on the ground and they were handy. Somehow I just got to admire a wolf who strikes out on his own and don't give a dam about any fence nor any boundaries but just decides to travel and see the country and do some hunting along the way and have a little fun, perhaps drink some whiskey and chase the girls a while. Sometimes I feel that way myself. Of course I don't much like cold snowy places so I would prefer to be a Mexican wolf where it is warmer.

I bet they don't catch him because he is traveling and having fun and ain't going to hole up any time soon.

[grit]

He's already buried Jim.

[Buffalobob]

Thats funny, but its all right too.

I spent my whole life working on improving rivers and streams. Now that I am retired, I only take the consulting projects that I enjoy. I was out with my daughter today on a project. We inventory all of the different kinds and amounts of trash per hundred feet of stream so we wind up wading about 10-12 miles of streams every three months and tallying trash. It was just a beautiful day to be out today with the weather sunny and about 55-60 degrees and suddenly I got chest pains. My only concern was if I fell over dead that my daughter would be very distressed for her Dad to just up and die. I had no problem dying doing the thing that I love most in life. Of course we finished all of the work we had scheduled and I didn't fall over dead but, that is the only way to go out of this world in my mind, doing the stuff you enjoy.

Certainly neither me nor the wolf just wish to die of old age and arthritis. Much better to go with your boots on enjoying yourself.

[grit]

Amen!