U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lethally controlled the remaining five members of the Whitehawk Pack following the depredation of a domestic calf on Friday, April 5. The depredation incident occurred on private land in the East Fork of the Salmon River near Clayton, Idaho; it was the third livestock kill by members of the Whitehawk Pack in one week in that area.
The gray wolves, three yearlings and the alpha pair, were killed after the livestock death was confirmed as a wolf kill by USDA Wildlife Services. The Whitehawk Pack has been involved in chronic livestock depredationsin the East Fork. Gray wolf recovery managers from the Service and the Nez Perce Tribe do not believe any members of the pack remain in the East Fork.
The lethal control action was issued after non-lethal means of controlling the wolves failed. Carter Niemeyer, Idaho Wolf Recovery Coordinator said, "We attempted to use many preventive measures with the Whitehawk Pack, including radio-activated guard units ("RAG boxes"), helicopter hazing, electric fencing, ground pursuit and harassment. These non-lethal means of control did not deter the wolves
