"Since the wolf restoration began in central Idaho and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 1995, 65 cattle were confirmed to have been killed by wolves (as of the end of 2000). An additional 83 cattle were confirmed killed in the NW Montana recovery between 1987 and 2000. It is known that there are also unconfirmed losses, which we can generously say ‘one additional lost for every one confirmed."(1)

"Dr. Doug Smith told me his hypothesis why so few cattle are killed- cows don’t act like prey."(2)

"Cows usually react to wolves with the same indifference they react to your rig as it comes upon them on a backcountry road. The cows stand and look at you, and grudgingly move as your bumper brushes by them."(2)

"Wolves naturally are interested in animals that run from them. Wolves try to set elk running, for example, to look for those individuals that look vulnerable."(2)

In Tom Miner Basin, "Smith said the wolves would trot up to a cow, and the cow did nothing but stare at them. I call it that blank, indifferent bovine stare. The wolves would then just trot on."(2)

"I suspect the few losses that do take place are skittish calves that get separated from the herd, and which do run, sometimes attracting the wolves’ interest and pursuit."(2)

"Secondly, Smith said that wolves have a hard time figuring out where to grab a cow because cows are so fat. Unlike elk, the legs and neck are too thick. The few times an adult cow is killed, the wolves attack the "webbing" where the cows leg attaches to the abdomen."(2)

UPDATE 8/31/2001

"USFWS can confirm the death of just one adult cow to wolves! 4 or 5 yearlings have been however, and these weighed 400-600 pounds."(1)