Wolf plan under federal review

BOISE – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun an environmental review of whether the Idaho Department of Fish and Game should be allowed to take over management of wolves in northern Idaho.

Officials say the change would not affect how the wolves are managed, but simply change who manages them.

“It’s a wonderful idea,” Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator with the federal service, said Thursday. “It’s good for the wolves and it’s good for the people who have to live with them.”

“For the wolves and the people there really should be no difference in what’s going on,” said Steve Nadeau, statewide large carnivore manager for Idaho Fish and Game.

The review period ends July 3, and Fish and Wildlife officials are accepting public comments up to that time.

Idaho already manages wolves south of Interstate 90 in northern Idaho that are listed as “experimental, nonessential” under the Endangered Species Act. That population of wolves was reintroduced into the area, starting in 1995.

Wolves there can legally be killed under a greater range of circumstances, including by private citizens, without first getting permission from Fish and Wildlife, which is required for wolves north of I-90.

Those wolves are considered to be naturally occurring and are classified as an endangered species. Killing one of them must first be approved by the federal agency. If Idaho’s request is approved, Fish and Game officials would take over that responsibility.

It is legal to kill any wolf in self-defense, officials said.

Nadeau said part of the reason behind the proposed change is Idaho has more resources to manage wolves than the federal government.

“We have a wolf management program and a plan in place,” said Nadeau. “We have people on the ground, we have experts in the field, and all the equipment and gear and airplanes, everything that’s required in wolf management. The Fish and Wildlife Service currently doesn’t have that.”

Bangs agreed.

“The state has a much better organization to deal with these issues than the Fish and Wildlife Service,” he said. “Idaho already manages all the wolves in southern Idaho. There’s no reason they shouldn’t manage the wolves in the Panhandle as well.”

At the end of 2005, there were 59 wolves and six breeding pairs in northern Idaho. In the entire state, there are an estimated 512 wolves and 36 breeding pairs.