CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wildlife officials say they've never seen anything quite like it: A pack of wolves killed 19 elk in a herd in western Wyoming and didn't stick around to eat.

State officials pointed to the attack Tuesday night as an example of their ongoing inability to do much about major losses of elk to wolves while wolves remain protected in Wyoming as an endangered species.

The killing happened at an elk feedground where state wildlife managers put out hay to help elk survive the winter. Seventeen of the elk killed were calves born last year.

John Lund with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says there's little Wyoming can do to prevent such losses while wolves remain protected.

Environmental groups say Wyoming's plans for managing wolves would put wolves at risk.

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