BILLINGS — Wolves have been blamed for the deaths of two yearling heifers on a ranch near the southern Montana town of Absarokee, prompting state wildlife officials to set snares near the cattle carcasses.
The Billings Gazette reports that the cattle deaths were reported Friday. Director of Montana Wildlife Services John Steuber says the wolves are believed to be from the same Rosebud pack that killed a yearling on a neighboring ranch in January. The pack has also been held responsible for the deaths of two calves last year.
Wildlife Service killed two of the wolves after the incident earlier this year, and plans to eradicate the entire pack.
According to Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 44 cattle were killed by wolves in Montana last year and 14 were injured.