Ninemile Chronology, September 6-8

The Ninemile pack is once again being targeted and have suffered more lethal control measures. Officials are saying that they are not planning on taking the rest of the pack out, but it seems likely at this point since there are only 4 members left. Federal officials have killed 7 Ninemile wolves since the beginning of the year....all with the "special permit" that Ed Bangs got from Helena to allow them to kill endangered species. This area is sounding more and more like the SNRA where the entire Whitehawk pack was taken out earlier this year, following at least 3 other packs lethally removed from there.

Below is the tragic chain of events that transpired over the weekend of Sept. 6-8.

Federal officials say wolves will be killed
Associated Press

MISSOULA (AP) - Federal wildlife officials said Friday they hope to chase down and kill the wolves that killed four sheep in the Ninemile Valley west of here.

"I want to stop this. It is a chronic problem," federal wolf biologist Joe Fontaine said.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said they hope killing two wolves from the six-wolf pack would stop attacks on livestock. The Ninemile pack is suspected of killing 11 sheep, seven llamas and a horse in the past 11/2 years.

Wolf recovery coordinator Ed Bangs said he has urged Ninemile Valley residents to take extra precautions, including installing higher or electric fences and putting stock into barns at night.

Three of the wolves in the Ninemile are fitted with radio collars. One of them, a black female, was in the lower part of the valley Thursday night. Fontaine said that wolf, tagged with No. 389, likely killed the sheep.

The wolf was seen harassing llamas in an electric fence-enclosed area Wednesday.

Fontaine asked a wildlife agent to shoot the wolf from a helicopter Friday and a second wolf, especially if it was traveling with No. 389. Wildlife officials have killed five wolves in the Ninemile Valley this year.

The pack lived in relative harmony with valley residents until 2001. During the previous 11 years, only six calves and several domestic dogs were killed.

"We don't know what makes them flip-flop from natural to domestic prey. But once they do, it gets into the pack and just continues," Fontaine said. "If you don't lethally remove animals, it continues."

He said there are no plans to kill the entire pack, although the agency has taken out entire packs in other instances. "I don't want to do that, but if I'm forced to do it, I will do it,"Fontaine said.

2 wolves killed by officials
Associated Press

MISSOULA (AP) - Two wolves caught raiding sheep herds west of here were killed Friday by federal hunters.

Wildlife managers caught six wolves, known as the Ninemile Valley pack, returning to carcasses of several sheep they'd killed Thursday night.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said Saturday morning that they found the remains of a fifth sheep killed by the pack during a recent feeding spree.

The Ninemile pack is suspected of killing 11 sheep, seven llamas and a horse in the past 11/2 years.

Trappers working for the agency shot a gray colored adult male, and a black adult female. The female was collared, and was suspected of killing other livestock in the area this past year.

Officials hope that by killing the two animals, the rest of the pack will steer clear of livestock.

Federal wolf biologist Joe Fontaine said there are no plans to kill the entire pack, although the agency has taken out entire packs in other cases.

The skulls and other parts of the dead wolves will be used as educational tools by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency said.

Officials tried to haze the other four wolves back into the woods, but officials said the animals remained in the area Saturday.

Officials have asked landowners to keep their sheep locked up at night, and suggested that landowners install higher or electric fences.

Officials kill two Ninemile wolves
from The Missoulian
Sunday 8 September, 2002

MISSOULA - Two wolves caught raiding flocks of sheep west of here have been killed by federal hunters.

Wildlife managers caught six wolves, known as the Ninemile Valley pack, returning to carcasses of several sheep they'd killed Thursday night.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said Saturday morning that they found the remains of a fifth sheep killed by the pack during a recent feeding spree.

The Ninemile pack is suspected of killing 11 sheep, seven llamas and a horse in the past 1 1/2 years.

Trappers working for the agency shot a gray-colored adult male and a black adult female on Friday. The female was collared, and was suspected of killing other livestock in the area this past year.

Officials hope that by killing the two animals, the rest of the pack will steer clear of livestock.

Federal wolf biologist Joe Fontaine said there are no plans to kill the entire pack, although the agency has taken out entire packs in other instances.

The skulls and other parts of the dead wolves will be used as educational tools by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency said.

Officials tried to haze the other four wolves back into the woods, but said the animals remained in the area Saturday.

Officials have asked landowners to keep their sheep locked up at night, and suggested landowners install higher or electric fences.