Shutdown Stalls Wolf Relocations

The federal effort to bring more wolves to Idaho, slowed last year by opposition from ranchers and others, this year the furlough may slow it.

Plans called for the second release of 15 Canadian wolves in Idaho on Jan. 14. But the staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been locked out since Dec. 16.

The program will go forward, though, because of efforts by private environmental groups - including The Wolf Education & Research Center of Boise.

Teams of Canadian biologists, using helicopters chartered by the environmental groups, have been fitting radio collars onto wolves.

With that work done, Fish and Wildlife Service officials say, federal biologists will be able to quickly find the packs and capture 30 wolves for Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho.

Money for the relocation probably will come as the furlough is lifted. Otherwise, private donations could keep the program on track.

The wolves, who give birth in the spring, must be moved in the winter.

The recovery plan also called for 15 more wolves to be moved into Yellowstone.

The Defenders of Wildlife, the Yellowstone Natural History Association and The Wolf Education & Research Center began their fundraising effort last fall when congressional Republicans announced plans to remove all wolf-recovery funds from the federal budget.

The legislation would cut that budget by one-third, instead - from $600,000 to $400,000 - leaving enough money for the wolf program. The environmental groups contrib uted about $10,000 for radio collars and receivers and $30,000 for helicopter contracts.