Rest of Hog Heaven pack targeted

By NICHOLAS LEDDEN / Daily Inter Lake

What's left of the Hog Heaven wolf pack - deemed responsible for multiple attacks on livestock this year - has been scheduled for extermination, wildlife officials said Friday.

Most recently, Hog Heaven wolves killed a 2-year-old bull last week in the Browns Meadow area near Kila.

Confirmation of the killing prompted the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services division to eliminate the pack.

"I know we've had a lot of problems with that pack," said John Steuber, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services division in Montana.

Trappers have yet to begin removing the targeted wolves, Steuber said.

Hog Heaven wolves also are believed to be responsible for killing three llamas on Aug. 6, a calf on Sept. 16, two breeding-stock heifers on Sept. 23, a calf on Sept. 25 and another calf on Oct. 8.

"They've shown us that this is chronic behavior," said Kent Laudon, a wolf management specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "They're habituated to killing livestock."

At least seven Hog Heaven wolves already have been killed in response to depredation incidents in their territory west and south of Kalispell. Wildlife officials had hoped to eliminate the offending wolves and reduce the pack's nutritional demands.

"But our incremental approach wasn't really working," said Laudon, noting that the decision to take out the rest of the pack was based both the wolves' documented attacks on livestock and their potential for future depredation.

Laudon, who estimated in early October that the pack had at least 10 wolves, said be believes there are at least five wolves remaining.

"In hindsight, likely there are more," he said.

During the past few months, radio-collar data allowed Laudon to monitor the pack's movements as far south as the Little Thompson River drainage - making it likely Hog Heaven wolves were responsible for two attacks on llamas in that area.

A wolf killed in connection with the deaths of three llamas - a wolf previously believed to be from the Salish pack - may actually have been from the Hog Heaven pack, whose range has been found to extend to Niarada and Lonepine.

Wolf sightings can be reported by calling (406) 752-5501 or going to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Web site at: www.fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/wolf.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com