Wolf Recovery Leader Fired Officials Concerned Over Future Of Federal Program

Sun., March 15, 1998

Associated Press

Lemhi County commissioners are concerned about the future of the federal government’s wolf recovery program now that a second lead biologist on the management team is gone.

A Nez Perce tribal official confirmed Friday that Tim Kaminski, the project’s leader for the last 18 months, was fired recently.

Kaminski was part of a team put together by the Nez Perce tribe to manage and monitor wolves that were reintroduced into central Idaho in 1995.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contracted with the tribe after the Legislature, angry that wolf recovery was being forced on it by the federal government, refused to authorize the state to manage the program through its Fish and Game department.

Tribal secretary Carla High Eagle said county officials should not be concerned.

“Mr. Kaminski functioned within a team that’s still there,” she said.

“We still feel real comfortable that the program will continue as is.”

High Eagle would not say why Kaminski was dismissed.

“This is a private employee action and is confidential,” she said, adding that “Tim was a very dedicated worker.”

Lemhi County Commission Chairman Heber Stokes and others have asked Gov. Phil Batt and legislators about having the state take over the recovery program from the tribe.

Stokes said the governor indicated the state will some day be involved, but probably not until the species is removed from the endangered list.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials met with Nez Perce tribal officials Friday to discuss the future of the program without Kaminski.

The service has no plans to discontinue its $300,000 a year contract with the tribe, which runs through 2000, said Bob Ruesink, area supervisor.

“I think, to this point, they have done a tremendous job,” he said.

Ruesink said the tribe is ahead of the time line established for reaching the goal of 10 breeding pairs and 70 to 75 wolves in central Idaho.

At the end of 1997, there were estimated to be six breeding pairs.

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