By Alex Soloducha

Rancher loses over 30 calves to wolves in Duck Lake

Jun 23, 2014 | 12:14 PM

Ranchers in Duck Lake are frustrated as more and more calves are killed by wolves in the area.

Robert Zerebeski has been dealing with wolves– which he said come from the provincial forest– to attack cattle on the fringes of his farmland. 

“I would say we lost 30 calves last year,” he said. “It’s quite a hit to be taking.”

He said he’s worried how this year will go, as six calves have already been killed. 

“I am really scared that it’s going to be probably way worse than last year,” said Zerebeski. “I’m forecasting a very bad year for calf survival.”

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That’s why he said he wants some action taken as soon as possible. 

“There have been all sorts of talk by the government about doing stuff, and no action. It’s frustrating,” he said, adding that he feels like people are just waiting around, making him want to give up.

On the website for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, they state that they will cover animal losses to predation, and Zerebeski said he’s been reporting calf deaths to them. Sadly, there is a catch. 

“To be eligible, you have to have proof that the wolves ate them, but, what we find is, I’ve seen wolves kill last year, and the next morning you can’t tell that there was a calf even there. They lick the grass clean,” he said. “There’s literally nothing left.”

Zerebeski’s theory is that, unable to provide evidence, they’ll never be reimbursed. 

“I’m thinking the government knows about wolf attacks, that they clean up that good, so then they’re not worried about paying out because there’s usually no evidence,” said Zerebeski. 

Shawn Jaques, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Crop Insurance, said for predation claims to be valid they look at evidence of a kill sight or remains of the animal that was killed. 

“The reason we ask for that is so that we can determine what type of predator caused the lost. In those rare cases when there is no evidence left, we ask the producer if they are able to take some pictures of a site before we get out there,” said Jaques. “We’re as flexible as we can and we try to work with the producer in determining what those losses are.”

He said they try to get adjusters to a site as soon as they’re notified. Then those individuals decide if a predator control officer should be sent out.

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance implemented the Predation Compensation Program in 2010 along with predation prevention. There are no deadlines, it’s offered year round, and Jaques said processing is done quickly.

In situations where predators are present in a certain area, predation specialists will guide producers and possibly remove predators from the area. 

“We try to target prevention when there are losses occurring,” said Jaques.

According to Zerebeski the wolves have also been reported to Saskatchewan’s department of natural resource, and overlooked.

“The solution would probably to get active trappers in the forest,” he said. 

Trappers are reluctant to trap wolves, Zerebeski said, because they are more time consuming to trap than other animals, and aren’t worth much more money. 

“They’re too much work, they’re too hard to catch, too much trouble, and meanwhile there’s easier money to be made by doing something else with trapping,” he said. 

The physical and emotional toll of the wolf attacks is difficult for Zerebeski to stand, he said. 

“You feel sorry for your animals, your cows too. They’re always being chased, they’re always trying to defend their calves, it’s almost cruel,” he said. “You’ll be looking at your calves and they’ll be tails that are chewed off.”

On the weekend, he was told by a predator control officer that another calf of his was limping because of an injury and had bites on the leg. 

Zerebeski said he’s been taking pictures and video footage of his findings. 

“It’s sickening to see the calves that you’ve raised, and been fighting to raise getting eaten alive a lot of times.”

He said there have been other hidden costs as well. 

Dropping conception rates have been studied in the United States, something that Zerebeski said he’s been researching. He said the rate has gone down because the bulls are busy hiding from the wolves, and the cows are scared. He said he also has to be much more careful handling his cattle, something that takes more time. 

“The issues, they’ve just ballooned. Probably the biggest thing is the stress on the cattle. You’ll go into the pasture and there will be two or three cows bawling, running around the pasture away from the herd with no calves,” he said.

“Especially when you’re attached to the cattle, and it’s your livelihood, it’s disgusting to swallow when you see calves that have been eaten.” 

asoloducha@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha