Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Ranchers complain about increasing wolf attacks on herds

Ranchers in southwestern Alberta say they have seen more wolf attacks on their herds than ever before. At last 17 cattle have been killed in the Porcupine Hills area since November, twice as many as the year before, and the ranchers say wolves are costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lifetime Porcupine Hills rancher Clay Chattaway is calling for a cull, saying the wolves seem to be getting braver, moving in closer and becoming more aggressive. "Only part of the wolf problem is the ones that they kill," he said. "The other part is the harassment. If cattle aren't happy and settled, they're definitely not gaining weight, and if they're really harassed, they're probably losing weight, and we make our money on weight gain." "There is no doubt they have to be managed, and culling is one of the management tools."...CBC News

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