The cattle were probably on open range on our public National Forest land. Ranchers get practically free permits to run cows out into the forest. They de-horn the poor cows and leave there, unprotected, and don’t even bother checking on for weeks at a time. Then they complain when something happens to them (especially if it involves a natural predator). When wolves come across cows who are on National Forest land, far away from any house or sign of humanity, they logically assume the cows are part of the native wildlife.
UPDATE:August 22, 2012
Great response everyone, keep calling and emailing. Let’s try and save this pack! This is an outrage!
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So much for Washington State being progressive on wolves. As soon as a wolf looks sideways at a cow the ranchers start squawking and fish and game comes running. No matter ranchers lose thousands and thousands of cows each year to non-predation.
In 2010 for example, 37, 300 cows keeled over or were stolen in Washington. But of course ranchers don’t get reimbursed for any of the following conditions that regularly claim the lives of cattle and calves every year.
Digestive problems …………………………………………………..
Respiratory problems ………………………………………………..
Metabolic problems …………………………………………………..
Mastitis …………………………………………………………………..
Lameness/injury ……………………………………………………….
Other diseases ………………………………………………………..
Weather related ……………………………………………………….
Calving problems ……………………………………………………..
Poisoning ………………………………………………………………..
Theft ………………………………………………………………………
(NASS)
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Exposing the Big Game 
If it is determined that the cows were on National Forest then it should be a potent argument that cows on National Forests do not displace wildlife, and ranchers ranch at own risk on such land.
I used to live in that part of state and work on the national forest. I saw cattle allotments everywhere, except in the highest wilderness areas, above the treeline.
This is a video from 2009 of a rep from Fish and Wildlife. Although a few years old i’m guessing they haven’t strayed far from their goal. If you want to hear a real crock…check this out.
If anyone doesn’t think that the ranchers are running the show, guess again. Infuriating.
Right, they’ve been dictating anti-animal policy ever since they first drove their “livestock” out onto the plains. Thanks for the link…