By The Associated Press Friday, June 15, 2007

A Bitterroot Valley, Mont., rancher who lost several calves to wolves spent the night in his car to guard his herd, and shot a wolf as it moved among his cattle.

"There were all these black shapes, cows running everywhere," said Ed Cummings, who was awakened at 4:30 a.m. on June 5 by his dog's growling. "And right in the middle of them, just sort of trotting around, is this wolf."

Cummings lost his shoe while trying to get out of the compact car, keep an eye on the wolf and grab the rifle he'd borrowed.

"I didn't make a very good shot, but I hit it," he said Monday.

Federal officials shot another wolf the next day.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks issued Cummings a permit to kill two more wolves, although he does not need permission to shoot those attacking, chasing or harassing his livestock.

After two more wolves are shot, by Cummings or wildlife officials, the shoot-on-sight permits will be revoked.

Vivaca Crowser, information officer for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said other cows on Cummings property were killed June 6 and 7. Officials with the federal Wildlife Services agency attributed the deaths to wolves.

Meanwhile, about 30 miles southwest of Dillon, Wildlife Services has confirmed wolves killed six sheep and injured five others last Friday and Saturday.

"There are no known wolf packs in this area," Liz Bradley, wolf management specialist for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said Monday. "Wildlife Services is trapping right now in an attempt to collar any wolves that are caught and determine whether a pack or individual wolves are responsible."

Carolyn Sime, wolf program coordinator for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said she realizes ranchers are frustrated, but the agency must determine whether it is dealing with a pack of wolves or an isolated attack, before taking action against the wolves.

"I can understand where that's a source of frustration for people when we would say, 'Sorry there's a loss of livestock here, but we need to get more information before we can make informed management decisions,"' Sime said. "That certainly doesn't mean there couldn't be lethal control in the future if there are additional depredations."

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