Here's a link to our full story on Gov. Butch Otter's decision yesterday to back away from wolf management in Idaho, turning that task over to federal authorities. In practical terms, Monday’s pronouncement means state employees won’t monitor wolf populations, investigate suspicious or illegal killings or take part in culling wolf packs that prey on livestock. Any tips will be turned over to federal wildlife officials, writes S-R reporter Becky Kramer.

Asking state wildlife managers to enforce unpopular federal mandates, including no taking of wolves, isn’t fair or safe for employees, Wayne Wright, chairman of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, told the Spokesman-Review. “There’s a lot of anger and angst out there on the part of sportsmen with the whole judicial process,” Wright said. “It would be very difficult for us to put our officers in harm’s way.”