Idaho’s wolf plan elicits lively input

BOISE – Idaho’s proposed wolf management has drawn anger and shouting at a series of meetings across the state, but laughter was heard at one of the last public sessions.

An even number of wolf advocates and opponents attended the Idaho Fish and Game meeting to discuss the wolf plan Friday in Boise, the Idaho Statesman reported Saturday.

The federal government may lift protections from northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves by March, but state wildlife managers expect conservationists’ lawsuits over the management plan to delay legal wolf hunts.

Wolves received Endangered Species Act protections in 1973 after being hunted to near extinction in the lower 48 states. Since they were reintroduced to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming in 1995, their numbers have increased to more than 1,500 in the region, with about 800 of those in Idaho.

After nine December meetings about the proposed wolf plan, the state is taking public comment through Dec. 31.

At Friday’s meeting, Jon Rachael, the southwest region wildlife manager for Fish and Game, moderated with a humorous, laid-back style and people on both sides of the issue were respectful while opponents raised questions.

Wolf advocates fear that Fish and Game will allow private and federal hunters to kill as many wolves as they can. They focused on the department’s flexibility in determining when a conflict between wolves and livestock or game will trigger wolf kills.

Hunters said the plan underestimates the number of wolves, who continue to feast on livestock, elk and other wildlife.

Rachael explained that the plan, written in a manner similar to plans for cougars, bears, elk and other big game, is general. Biologists and the Fish and Game Commission will use it to guide decisions on setting seasons and dealing with specific situations that come up after the state takes full control.

Most of the issues are social ones, he said.

“This isn’t a magic scientific equation,” Rachael said.

The department is going to have to adapt and learn as it goes, he said.

Wildlife biologists estimate there are 41 breeding pairs in Idaho, in 72 packs.

The state’s plan calls for maintaining wolf numbers at more than 15 breeding pairs, above the level of 10 pairs that could trigger fresh federal intervention. Measures to reduce wolves would include hunting them in areas where they clash frequently with livestock and have made significant dents in big game populations.

Rachael has said manipulating the wolf population will need to be modified from year to year, in part because wolves likely will become more difficult to find once they learn people are shooting at them.

“I suspect after a year when they’re shot at, we’re not going to see wolves walking along the road looking into your windshield,” Rachael said.