Rubber bullets: Ouch factor eyed in wolf control

So far in Fiscal Year 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Program has confirmed that 11 cattle and 35 sheep have been killed or attacked by wolves

July 7, 2000
Web posted at: 11:57 a.m. EDT (1557 GMT)

By Environmental News Network staff

Ranchers and wildlife officials in Idaho may soon have a non-lethal tool to help manage wolves.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently approved the use of rubber bullets as a means of non-lethal predator control.

The method, still in the provisional phase, could dim mounting criticism about wolf management from livestock producers in Idaho and at the same time benefit the wolf recovery program.

Between 1995 and 1996, 35 wolves were released into central Idaho as an experimental population under the Endangered Species Act. Today, there are 11 packs of wolves in the reintroduction area and somewhere between 150 and 175 animals. They are managed under special rules that allow managers to relocate or kill wolves that harm livestock, depending on the wolf population's size and stability.

So far in Fiscal Year 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Program has confirmed that 11 cattle and 35 sheep have been killed or attacked by wolves.

"Last winter we saw our control efforts not having the effect I thought they would have," said Roy Heberger, the Idaho wolf recovery leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In March, the service authorized the killing of five wolves in central Idaho after they became accustomed to killing livestock.

To discourage wolves in the area, the service trapped the wolves and relocated them to habitat near the Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness Area, about 150 miles north of their normal range.

But wolves often find their way back to a reliable meal. Those that become too habituated to livestock have to be removed. Lethal control is the last resort.

"Nothing ultimately stopped the wolf depredation in the White Clouds," Heberger said. "Rarely do we know which animal was responsible for killing the livestock. This makes it difficult to stop depredation. If we had had a better management tool we would not have had to use lethal control in the white clouds."

In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized the killing of five wolves in central Idaho after they became habituated to killing livestock

Under the proposed plan, ranchers could shoot at wolves that approached their livestock with a shotgun containing rubber projectiles.

The idea is that the wolves would be conditioned to associate ranching areas, cattle and sheep with pain.

"Rubber bullets put an aversive conditioning tool into the hands of the rancher, Heberger explains. "If used properly, the method will sting wolves but it will not harm them. "

"This tool would provide negative conditioning," Heberger said. "It would be similar to training a dog."

"I think it is worth a shot," said Cindy Hillemeyer, the assistant pack handler for captive wolves at the Wolf Education Research Center in Winchester. "(The method) is fairly non-invasive in terms of the effects on pack dynamics and the animal's welfare.

Rubber bullets may appease ranchers who have complained about being left out the state's predator control efforts. "According to Heberger, "the main benefit may be on a social level, not a biological level."

"This could be an inexpensive easy way for ranchers to be pro-active rather than reactive," Hillemeyer adds. "It gives them much more freedom than they have had in dealing with the government."

But Hillemeyer also raised concerns about the improper use of rubber bullets. "This could cause potential health problems," she said. "An injured animal is a less effective hunter and may be more likely to take down livestock, which is easier prey."

While the service has not yet established exact criteria for issuing permits, Heberger said ranchers would become a part of an ongoing study to test the control method. He expects the experimental program to be in place by next winter in time for calving season.

"Hopefully we could reduce control action that ends up being lethal," Heberger said. "This could be a win-win situation, benefiting livestock producers and the recovery program."

Copyright 2000, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
   •The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Home Page
U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Wolf Education Research Center
The Defenders of Wildlife Wolf Recovery Programs
The Idaho Cattle Association

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