The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently ordered the destruction of the Castlerock and Halfway gray wolf packs in Montana in response to the killing by members of the packs of a bull on one ranch and a cow and calf on another.

"It's pretty rare that adult cattle are killed," USFWS Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator Ed Bangs told a Helena Independent Record reporter. "The main reason that we're removing these packs is because it indicates to me that they are familiar with cattle. Killing adult cattle indicates they consider them another prey item. It indicates a serious behavioral instinct."

USFWS marksmen will use radio signals sent from collars on the wolves to find the animals.

Authorities have not yet made a decision about charging a rancher who admitted to violating the Endangered Species Act by shooting and killing a member of the Castlerock pack that approached the carcass of the bull.

After the two packs are destroyed, the only wolves remaining in the area will be the six members of the Great Divide pack, which lost its alpha female in September when she was struck by a car.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to:
 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml