03/13/09

For several days now, Wood River residents have been seeing new visitors to their back yards. A pack of wolves have set up camp in an area just north of Hailey and has some people worried.

Recently a pack of wolves known as the phantom pack have migrated south from around Galena Summit to just north of Hailey.

Billy Morgan, a wild life photographer and hunter says they've been watching the pack since they've made their way so close to homes.

Fish and Game officials say the wolves are doing what predators do, follow the food supply, something area residence are keeping a close eye on.

Ward says, "These wolves have been coming every night and running elk off the ridge into the subdivision and making a kill amongst these homes."

What has some people worried is how close the pack of 10 are coming so close to homes, with in hundreds of yards; it has prompted the Department of Fish and Game to issue a warning.

Regional Wildlife Biologist Regan Berkley says, "We are advising folks never to approach a wolf defiantly stay back from the wolves, and certainly one of the concerns is with dogs and other pets."

Berkley with Idaho Fish and Game says people should keep an eye on their pets and livestock; but some still think the wolves are too close for comfort and are getting a little too use to people being around.

According to Ward "This pack does not have fear of people. We’ve been within a hundred yards, people talking, the wolves come in they'll eat on these kills, this subdivision might not have a little kid , not a of kids right now, but a lot of neighborhoods do in the south valley. We don't want wolves in our neighborhoods."

The situation brings up the hot-button issue of how wolves should be treated in Idaho. And it has strong opinions on both sides.

Lynn Stone, a wolf advocate says she isn't worried about a wolf coming into contact with people or their animals, she says they're still afraid of humans.

Stone says, "If you don't want wolves around your face clap your hands and yell at them, they're going to run these wolves got a little use to people and I think fish and fame need to come out here with cracker shells and scare them out of here."

Fish and Game says it is certainly watching the situation very closely. Berkley says they'd have to take more drastic measures if the wolves were to attack a pet or livestock.