Wolves Blamed for Killing Idaho Horse

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Federal hunters are pursuing one or two wolves blamed for killing a horse in central Idaho this month. The Idaho Mountain Express reports a colt belonging to Kevin and Jennifer Swigert was killed Feb. 13. The Swigerts raise horses and hound dogs in a rural canyon west of Hailey, Idaho. In recent years, they've blamed wolf packs for killing not only livestock but also reducing elk herds once prominent in the hills above their home. Todd Grimm, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services in Idaho, said one or two wolves are responsible for the colt's death. Grimm says wolves only rarely kill horses, about one or two annually. Comparatively, dozens of cattle and hundreds of sheep are killed by Idaho packs. Wolves number 680 in Idaho.