The numbers are huge when you talk about how many sheep and lambs in our region are taken by predators annually. In Wyoming, the number of sheep and lambs lost to predation was 22,600 in 2009. In Montana, that number was 18,800.
In the Big Sky State, this was a 3,600 head increase from the previous year. Looking to the bottom line, the losses by predators totaled an estimated $1.3 million. This was up 23% from 2008.
The most destructive predators, by a long shot, were coyotes. Foxes came in a distant second.
In Wyoming, the 22,600 sheep and lambs lost represented a 10% increase from 2008. Similar to Montana’s numbers, coyotes were the most active. While the losses in that area are picking up, total sheep and lamb losses in Wyoming continue to decline.
For more information from Montana, visit the Montana NASS website.
More Wyoming information can be found on the Wyoming NASS website.
* Both images from the respective state NASS offices.
Posted by Haylie Shipp