August 14, 2010 in Outdoors, Idaho

Idaho officials to cull up to 80 wolves

Lolo-area population would be kept at 20 or 30

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BOISE – The Idaho Fish and Game Department released a plan late Friday to kill 70 to 80 of the 100 or so wolves in the Lolo elk management zone, and keep that zone’s wolf population at just 20 to 30 for the next five years to reduce pressure on elk herds.

With wolf hunts off the table since a federal judge reinstated endangered species protection, the Fish and Game plan calls for officials to conduct the wolf removal, rather than hunters.

“Idaho Fish and Game would prefer to let hunters help manage the wolf population. But until the wolves are delisted and turned over to state management, Idaho has decided to pursue the best option available under the Endangered Species Act,” the department said in a news release.

The Lolo zone, one of 29 in the state, is the only one targeted because of “unacceptable impacts on the elk population by a wolf population that has recovered biologically.” Fish and Game is opening a two-week public comment period on the plan; at the close of the period, it’ll be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for final approval.

Fish and Game spokesman Ed Mitchell said the Fish and Game Commission will discuss details of the plan on Monday at its meeting in Idaho Falls. That’s the day the commission had planned to set wolf hunting seasons and limits for the next year, but the federal judge’s recent ruling changed that.

Fish and Game estimated that the wolf-kill plan for the Clearwater drainage would remove about 7 percent of the estimated minimum of 835 wolves that were in the state at the end of 2009.

Deputy Director Jim Unsworth said the move would not affect overall wolf recovery efforts for the state, but it could improve elk numbers. Unsworth described the department’s plan as a “science-based proposal.”

Suzanne Asha Stone, Northern Rockies representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said, “We certainly agree wolves should be managed, but they shouldn’t substitute a political agenda for the science behind it.” She said her group believes other factors have impacted Lolo elk herds besides wolves.

Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

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  Vernon on August 14 at 10:17 a.m.

  I am glad the Fish and Game Professionals in the field have quickly taken the position necessary to ensure Professionals remain Professionals doing what has to be done; not becoming mere lackeys of the often yayhoo - agenda driven - individuals of the court system.

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  Sabres452000 on August 25 at 2:38 p.m.

  First of all..wolves use to roam that part of North America long before those greedy ranchers took over that land to let their cattle roam around on it….to feed. Secondly, Idaho should not be trying to circumvent the ruling to now have the Fish and game go in and do the hunters dirty work…basically….its just one group of people replacing another and going in on a Kill festival. People are the problem…too many people…all people think…that everything is for them…How many poachers go out and kill and leave a carcass to rot….isnt that a waste….a wolf may do that on occasion…but people by far…waste more than any wolf does….the wolves will primary take down the sick and cull the herd of too many numbers. Personally….I could give a Rats…you know what…if a hunter doesnt have an elk to shoot….its not like he is going without food…im sure he is getting his groceries down at the local supermarket to stock his fridge…for him and his rugrats to eat…. Lets see there are over 310 million americans in america…and about 1500 wolves….Hmmmm lets see…which population needs culling……. sounds like the two legged version needs a good thinning out…maybe fish and game…can get that assignment and starting culling the masses…too…… Stop the insanity…the wolves are not the problem….. its the people….. Its time to get to the facts….It appears the sports hunters associations, ranchers are paying off the politicians and F & G to get the job done for them……………. shame on all of you …in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. I live in PA…all of you just suck…..all of you do. Your all backwards….republicans rednecks…who think your still in the 1850’s frontier land……the Earth is going to Hell in a handbasket everywhere you turn do to human greed, overpopulation, loss of habitat and species extinction to name a few of the problems humans have caused and continue to cause……..Some people out in that area need to prevail with common sense on this issue and keep the right wing whackos from hijacking this issue out there by spreading un-necessary fear…and false misleading info…..