Wolf Fight Renewed Chenoweth Wants Feds To Stop Capturing Wolves For Release
Conservative Republican Congressman Helen Chenoweth wants the Fish and Wildlife Service to stop capturing Canadian wolves for release into the central Idaho wilderness or at least delay their release this winter.
In a statement issued as officials captured another four wolves in British Columbia for the second phase of the reintroduction program, Chenoweth accused the Fish and Wildlife Service of proceeding with the wolf recovery project without what she described as “the necessary permit” from the state Fish and Game Department.
The federal agency asked the state department recently about a permit for the release of 15 or more wolves this winter only to be again advised of the state’s official opposition to the reintroduction program. But the governor’s office acknowledged that no permit is required for the release into federal wilderness, which is scheduled in the next several weeks.
Chenoweth, who voiced the same state’s rights views during addresses to the Idaho House and Senate on Thursday, also took issue with the federal decision to allow the Nez Perce Tribe to manage the wolf recovery program in Idaho after the state opted not to participate.
“I am baffled as to why the Fish and Wildlife Service is blatantly disregarding the will of the state by paying the Nez Perce Tribe to manage the wolves,” she said.
“I am requesting that you order the wolf program coordinator to cease all efforts to capture wolves in Canada for release into Idaho until such time as the state of Idaho finalizes its own management plan for the species,” Chenoweth said.
In her remarks to lawmakers, Chenoweth focused on water issues and the importance of Idaho maintaining full control over its water, and despite a deep divisions on a myriad of issues between her and Democrats, Senate Democratic Floor Leader Bruce Sweeney of Lewiston complicated the freshman congressman on her comments.
Sweeney said Chenoweth, often highly partisan in her statements, focused on issues that all Idahoans were concerned with and steered clear of the political rhetoric that he said marked the address a day earlier by GOP Congressman Michael Crapo.
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