Dogs, firecracker shells, other methods keep four-year losses under 20

By JOHN O'CONNELL

Capital Press

Fewer than 20 of 40,000 sheep that grazed at the heart of Blaine County's wolf country were lost to predators throughout a four-year demonstration project that concluded in late October, according to organizers.

That compares to 20 killed by wolves in the year prior to the start of the project.

The demonstration, spearheaded by Defenders of Wildlife with support from Blaine County and several agencies, utilized nonlethal measures to protect livestock from predation throughout a 500,000-acre area.

Suzanne Stone, Northern Rockies representative with the wildlife group, said the project's steering committee has opted to conduct the demonstration for a fifth year to include cattle.

Three of the state's largest sheep ranches participated: Lava Lake, Plateau Farms and Faulkner Land and Livestock. Stone said the ranchers initially doubted their losses would be curbed.

"There's been years with zero losses," Stone said. "We've been able to prove you can have wolves and sheep on the same public land if you use the right tools, and our tools are cost-effective."

Protections in the demonstration included adding guard dogs, firecracker shells to startle predators, shining spotlights, removing dead livestock, range riders, predator tracking, radio collars and turbo fladry -- a portable barrier that emits a shock.

The only losses reported took place when poor communication left the animals unprotected, Stone said.

The project costs $30,000 a year. Defenders of Wildlife have contributed $25,000 annually, with the remainder coming from the county and the producers.

Blaine County has allocated $1,800 annually for the demonstration since its inception and has budgeted the same funding for the fifth year.

Commissioner Larry Schoen believes such demonstrations help in understanding the economics of nonlethal options. He said lethal controls can never be taken off the table but should be the option of last resort.

"The goal here is to avoid the losses up front and not wait until livestock are killed and try to find the offending animal," Schoen said.

Lava Lake ranch supports expansion of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's wolf radio collaring program to better track packs. They've found that nonlethal deterrents work best in combination.

"The nonlethal program has been very effective, and we've learned a lot working with all of the partners involved," said Lava Lake official Tess O'Sullivan. "We intend to continue using nonlethal methods to protect our sheep."

Participant John Faulkner found the turbo fladry worked better for neighbors with flat land than on his steep terrain. He'll continue using spotlights to ward off wolves.

"They've done us some good, there's no question about that," Faulkner said. "The main thing that helped was (Defenders) had people out there who stayed up there all night."

The group offers training for ranchers in nonlethal tools and has started an outreach effort to popularize them throughout Blaine County.

John Peavey, owner of Flat Top Ranch in Carey, will furnish cattle for the next demonstration but remains skeptical.

He's had the government shoot wolves among his sheep in the past and has lost as many as 30 animals in a single attack.

Defenders plans to provide additional range riders to watch over Peavey's cattle.

"They're scattered over big, big areas. It's very difficult to protect the cattle part of it," Peavey said.