Spokane7
65°
April 19, 2011 in Idaho
Otter signs wolf disaster bill into law
BOISE - Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has signed into law a measure to allow the state to declare a disaster due to wolves and take emergency measures to comabt the animals.
Otter said Tuesday that he signed HB 343 despite deep concerns about the constitutionality of the bill, which he detailed in a two-page signing letter.
“My concerns with the legislation are not whether it is an appropriate response to the devastation that wolves have caused,” Otter wrote. “I understand and share the frustration of Idahoans over the impact wolves have had across our state in the past 16 years. However, I am concerned that H343 is largely unnecessary, and it unintentionally infringes on the statutory authority of the governor to declare disasters.”
Nevertheless, he signed it into law. Otter said in his letter that the Legislature “has agreed to work with me next session to fix the provisions that infringe on the authority vested in the governor to declare disasters,” and, he said, “portions of this bill may prove useful in the future if state management is revoked or the species is relisted under the Endangered Species Act.”
Under a rider in a major congressional budget-cuts law authored in part by Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson and signed into law by President Barack Obama last week, wolves are being removed from endangered species protection in Idaho.
Otter said he’s asked the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to “focus on resuming state management of wolves pursuant to our state management plan.”
Otter said the bill he’s now signed into law provides no additional protections for Idaho citizens against wolves. “Idahoans should know they have always been able to kill a wolf in self defense or in the defense of other humans. That has not changed, nor is this legislation or a disaster declaration necessary for anyone to protect themselves or other people from wolves in any part of the state,” he said.
When Idaho last controlled management of the gray wolf, it held its first-ever state-sanctioned wolf hunt in 2009-10; the state hopes to do that again in the fall.
Recent stories by Betsy Z. Russell
Mussel infestation threatens NW waters May 30, 2012
- Invasive mussels on the move toward Northwest May 29, 2012 5
- Unique artifacts confirm indelible link between Idaho, Lincoln May 27, 2012 1
- Eye on Boise: Idaho backs Montana’s campaign spending fight May 27, 2012 1
- Dems control Idaho tax panel May 26, 2012
Seagraf on April 19 at 4:40 p.m.
Idaho, the Arizona of the Northwest, passes yet another outlandish piece of legislation based upon fairy tales and barbershop legends. And yet major problems go unsolved. And that’s another…….LEGISLATIVE FAILURE!
ManleyPointer on April 19 at 4:55 p.m.
“Fairy tales and barbershop legends”? Are you kidding me? Tell that to the ranchers in Idaho and Montana who lose stock to the wolves. Check out the decimated elk herds in areas where wolves range. I think you need to understand that wolves aren’t some mystical, magical “spirit of the wilderness” that inhabit your fleece blankets and black-light posters. They are a “major problem” to many people.
polistra on April 19 at 4:55 p.m.
Idaho is at least trying to solve the major problem of education, while most states are just throwing more money into the same old broken system.
As for the wolves, governments are supposed to help protect people and property from wild animals. That’s EXTREMELY BASIC. Most states and the federal “government” have turned this basic concept backwards, protecting the wild animals and letting the people rot.
Idaho is the sane one.
johnclarke on April 19 at 5:21 p.m.
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/wood-river/article_64d3fe91-1afd-5794-b5a0-62129c6f11ca.html
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005113772
http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/25/rockybarker/whats_worse_idahos_wild_elk_chronic_waste_disease_or_wolves
Facts and data anyone?
Sorry, this stinks of politics. When a rancher loses stock to a wolf, he is paid by Uncle Sam. Elk herds are not being wiped out by wolves. Nice to see where Mr Otter’s priorities lie. Campaign contributions.
johnclarke on April 19 at 5:23 p.m.
Biologists found that wolves killed significant numbers of collared elk in only one area, the Lolo zone along U.S. Highway 12 in north Idaho. Over the three years, the report claims wolves killed 20 percent of the Lolo sample, or about six elk. Three-quarters of the collared elk survived, less than Fish and Game’s survival goal of 88 percent.
White said deteriorating habitat in the Lolo zone has contributed to declining elk numbers since at least 1988, before wolves entered the picture.
Six elk proven to be killed. Six.
Lizon on April 19 at 5:40 p.m.
Why not pass the same bill except scratch out the wolves and put it against the drug dealers or people out there that harm out children. We need to protect ourselves and our childrem more from them then wolves.
And elk are not being wiped out from wolves.. It’s disease, poachers and depending where the herds are like that herd on idaho state line. Trains and vehicles
lowtechmaster on April 19 at 5:59 p.m.
The only reason for such a policy is that hunters want to kill wolves for their own satisfaction and trophies!! Left alone, the wolves and the elk would be fine. Nature has a way of balancing out predators and prey, without human interference. Idaho’s policy is DISGUSTING!!
yamahastacy on April 19 at 6:20 p.m.
Some of you people forget about those people whom actually live out where we are being “infested” with wolves. These transplanted wolves have no fear of humans and aren’t shy like their ancestors. These wolves are being seen close to our homes, our livestock, and our pets on a more and more regular basis. I can hear them howling while i lay in bed. As far as the fairy tales and barbershop legends, I don’t want my family be the proof needed to make you people see the truth. It seems to me, that the people that are the most vocal about protecting
these vermin, aren’t the actual people who live among them. So please, leave your city, pack some granola, and come camping…… I would lend you my dog, but the wolves killed her about a month ago…. I hope this new dog is luckier……
P.S. I’m sure that teacher that was a “confirmed” wolf kill, would love to give her opinion!
Sweetfire on April 19 at 7:14 p.m.
Seagraf…Obummer signed the bill, complain to him.
John Clarke…your avatar next to your name is very blurry, cant tell what you are trying to represent…along with all your www posts, they are blurry also. Have you been anywhere where wolves are a threat to the people besides Lolo? Do somemore homework. Wolves are killing more than elk.
Lizon, you need to get out more and see more of Idaho not just Hwy 53.
lowtechmaster…your name says it all clueless and…lowtech.
yamahastacy…you have got it right on. Thank you for your comment.
Kadah on April 19 at 7:15 p.m.
Not to mention Hydatid Disease that is transmitted by wolves to ungulates, dogs and humans; that was never in the United States, in the sylvatic form, until the Canadian Gray Wolf was introduced. Now coyotes have got it; ungulates have got it; the Idaho Wilderness area is being infested with it. So all you environmental whack-jobs, who think wolves are so cool, please, take a trip into the Idaho wilderness area. Drink out of that stream; sleep under those trees; wander around; sit on the ground and that rock. With every move you make, you will be at risk of becoming infected. But you won’t know it for many years. If one of the cysts bursts, you will likely die of anaphylactic shock. But please, do go out in the Idaho wilderness area and commiserate with nature! We are sure you won’t mind catching a disease that is often fatal!
ManleyPointer on April 19 at 7:56 p.m.
Wonder what happened to the elk herd in the Bob Marshall Wilderness?
johnclarke on April 19 at 8:03 p.m.
Sweetfire, that is the logo for a USAF SERE instructor. That should answer your other question as well. Yeah, I’ve been to the woods amigo. Here is something that should interest all the experts here tonight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giardia_lamblia
Guess where that comes from? Cows. That’s right, all the cows on federal lands. Giarda infects literally every stream in the Northwest, compliments of ranchers. Guess we better start killing all the cows, right ?
I’m going to have to go with the evidence there Sweetfire, as opposed to what is flowing from your mouth. If you would take the time to follow the links I posted you will find more answers.
Just because I don’t live in the middle of a wolfpack doesn’t mean I can’t read. Clearly some of you choose not to.
johnclarke on April 19 at 8:17 p.m.
Pointer, have you considered disease? Simply blaming wolves and killing them seems right in line with Idaho’s thinking these days. Go GOP. What a group of uneducated slobs.
Wouldn’t it be like super ironic if ranchers were a key reason this disease is spreading? You do realize that (CWD) is exactly like Mad Cow right? Gee, I wonder what those ranchers are feeding those captive Elk ?
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005123724
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16889366
http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/CC3B8CA9-7A56-41B6-B132-A0204B963C5A/0/Epidemiology_of_CWD_JWD.pdf
Oh look everyone, it’s all over the country…guess we can’t blame that on wolves.
johnclarke on April 19 at 8:18 p.m.
Like my new logo? Thanks for the heads up thar Mr. Fire.
nowolves on April 19 at 8:30 p.m.
Why is it that the local people that live with the animal have such a clear hate and distain for this high maintenance animal. Idaho counties declaring disaster & the northern Wisconsin co board passing resolutions, Michigan ranchers suing the Feds….. They are the ones having there pet killed & mauled, their livestock so stressed that they are aborting, loss of game from their favorite hunting area…… on and on. Wolves are not like other animals…..& this killer can’t be treated as such!
ManleyPointer on April 19 at 8:45 p.m.
You got me, Mr. Clarke. I guess I’m just an uninformed, uneducated slob. I’ll keep my opinion to myself, I suppose, until I start reading the same sources you read and get the real truth.
yamahastacy on April 19 at 9:42 p.m.
@ John Clark,
Who writes all of these articles that you hold gospel? Are they the same extreme environmentalists that are trying to hug these forests so tight, that they themselves are choking and killing them? It’s all fine and dandy to throw articles written by more people who don’t actually live here, but they hold as much weight to me as does your opinion of my back yard because you work in the woods on occasion…..
I have to hand it to the state of Idaho….. It seems to be still lead with some common sense and the caring that is needed to sustain our way of life. These wolves you are trying to protect have even killed off the wolves that we already had here. These new “immigrants” are almost twice the size of the local timberwolves that still maintained a secluded population. These new wolves not only effect the local people, but they also effect everything from our local elk and deer population, to our coyote and cougars. They are changing the habits all of the way down the food chain. They are making these other predators more desperate and dangerous. I can personally call foul to several of the “myths” these articles hold gospel. These new wolf packs are HUGE and multiplying at an alarming rate. I, myself, saw a pack on 20 in our lower field last fall chasing horses. Yet, they say that a pack of 10 is max…… These new wolves are simply not playing by the rules of nature, because naturally, they don’t belong here. And seeing them going into a sheep pen and killing 100 sheep, just for the fun of it, is tragic! Do you think that the government reimbursing some of the cost makes it even? You are very callous! I don’t pretend to come into your city and solve your crime problems, please don’t pretend to know what is best for my home……… You may seem booksmart with your articles held tight, but you seem to lack the common sense needed to shut me up………
yamahastacy on April 19 at 9:48 p.m.
P.S. John, I do find it amusing that you are using articles from newspapers as facts…… Anybody should know that the media is far from fair or factual……. But, that’s just what common sense tells me
johnclarke on April 19 at 10:20 p.m.
Manly, you know I respect your opinion so stop pouting.
yamahastacy, freakin google it yourself ! Look up your own sources. What is a better source ? People that say “wolves ate all the wildlife” ? Do you have proof ? For all you know, UFO’s are taking the Elk.
Yeah ok, keep voting GOP. Kill all the wolves. Ignore the scientific data. Ask me if I care.
yamahastacy on April 19 at 10:36 p.m.
It’s not all about the wildlife John….. It’s about THESE wolves that don’t belong here…. They aren’t following your scientific rules, they are playing out of a whole new playbook…..
As for killing all of the wolves, i doubt at this point that will ever happen, but hopefully, with a little hunting, we will make them fear man, and in doing so, make us both safer. Seeing them stroll by in the middle of the day is a bit unnerving.
And FYI, the wildlife in this area is doing great! There are more moose, turkeys, and skunks than i have ever seen here……. but sadly, the deer and elk have taken a hit…….. and they taste best!
S>S>S
greenlibertarian on April 19 at 10:38 p.m.
Nutcases:
http://www.decalguy.com/pd-smoke-a-pack-a-day-wolf-vinyl-decal-sticker.cfm
backcountryidaho on April 19 at 10:38 p.m.
Wolves surround me, but they are hardly a problem. If facts were ever a part of this issue, we would come to different conclusions. Most people who live, like me, surrounded by wolf packs, wouldn’t know a wolf if it bit them in the… The truth is most of the people around me can’t distinguish between a wolf and coyote and that is the sad truth. And it is important that people be able to distinguish between the two canines, because one of them is responsible for the largest percentage of livestock loss whether it is compared with predators or weather and disease. Anyone care to guess which one causes the most livestock loss in Idaho? Coyotes are responsible for 25 percent of livestock loss in Idaho. Wolves are responsible for one percent of livestock loss in Idaho. Dogs actually kill more livestock per year in Idaho than wolves do, as do bears, mountain lions. Weather is responsible for about 23 percent of livestock loss, disease 11 percent, old age about 6 percent. People come to me to complain about wolves quite often, some even claim they have a photo of the wolf that is terrorizing them. Of the numerous photos that have been sent to me claiming a wolf or wolves are terrorizing their home, family and pets, not one has been a wolf, instead these photos are of coyotes. I question these people and they say they know the difference between the two canines by sight and sound, but when they show the photo it is always an obvious coyote or coyotes in the photo. The one thing Idahoans have a legitimate complaint in this is that wolves were forced on them by the federal government and that was wrong, but that was also 16 years ago and it is time the state’s populace learned to live with the animal and realize they will never be allowed to kill all the wolves like so many Idahoans would love to do. That’s never going to be allowed to happen. Yes, it was wrong for the federal government to force wolves back into the state, but it is high time people got over that wrong and moved on. And it is high time the people of Idaho stopped thinking of wolves from a Little Red Riding Hood perspective and looked at the animal through an appropriate lens.
yamahastacy on April 19 at 10:56 p.m.
Big difference Back Idaho….. 40 lbs and 100 + lbs! And you can tell the difference when they are howling…..
yamahastacy on April 19 at 10:59 p.m.
I do agree however, those coyotes are more dangerous in general….. they have been documented to pack off way more kids……. They move right on into town and these same wolf lovers would gladly protect thier families. Glad they don’t have the protection.
johnclarke on April 19 at 11:01 p.m.
backcountryidaho, thank you very much for your thoughtful and obviously well researched post.
Let’s just all accept the real reasons behind the wolf issue. Money, and politics.
yamaha, until you can prove that it’s wolves then it might as well be UFO’s based on just opinion. The evidence is pretty strong that it’s disease.
yamahastacy on April 19 at 11:19 p.m.
Have you been abducted? You sure like the UFOs…..lol
Patanjali on April 20 at 12:42 a.m.
There are 800 wolves in the entire state. You would think that we could give them some space to live wild and free. Perhaps we could limit the number of deer tags given out and the wolves would then have more deer to hunt and leave cattle alone. But of course money is goint to win out as it always does. Profit for the cattle farmers comes first.
straighttalk on April 20 at 10:04 a.m.
Katad, you need to do some research on the disease.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcosis
That is the technical name for the disease which is contacted according to the article via ingestion of infected organs of wolves or ingestion of eggs via feces. This disease has been around for centuries.
Read the article; you may want to change your comments.
BTW, the governor has not declared an emergency; he has just signed the legislation which allows him the opportunity to do so if and when he choses to. Which is a power he already had so the legislation was duplicative as indicated in his remarks.
I have confirmed with the personnel in the Governor’s office the misconception by many because of erroneous new reports that there has been a declaration of wolf emergency. There is NOT an official declaration by the governor.