Ranching With Wolves
I recently had a nice chat with a rancher and quarter horse breeder whose property is now in what is known as wolf country, and because of that he has changed the way he ranches, I’m Susan Allen for today’s Open Range, I’ll be back after the break. When you think of wolf habitat, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho come to mind but Oregon and Washington ranchers have had to adapt to wolves reintroduced as well. I was surprised to learn that one rancher who raises cattle and horses in the Okanogan near the Canadian border no longer uses cow dogs to gather . It’s his theory that by using border collies and other breeds that crouch and creep he is desensitizing both his cattle and young horses to wolves . Due to the fact he now has a protected wolf pack in his area, he says even though it’s more work he’s vows to not condition his animals to become prey. In that same vein, the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association website has posted a letter decrying what they say are several years of broken promises of delisting wolves. While ranchers have made every effort to live and work within the strict Endangered Species guidelines the actions of recent environmental activists and again just one judge, have “driven a figurative stake through the heart of conservation through cooperation.” Until we walk a mile in their boots most folks have no clue the sacrifices the ranching community makes because of well funded activists and liberal courts.
