http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/fish-and-game-appointment-sparks-wolf-concerns/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:09:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/fish-and-game-appointment-sparks-wolf-concerns/comment-page-1/#comment-32420 Social Conflict over Wolves: The Predator Pendulum Revisited « Wildlife Conservation Science & Policy Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:33:05 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=2124#comment-32420 [...]  Yet, while many now are comfortable with the notion that wolf populations in the Northern Rockies have met the criteria set up for wolf recovery, there remains considerable ambiguity as to whether wolf populations in the Northern Rockies will remain “recovered” once state management plans are implemented.  Both Idaho and Montana have made it clear that they will attempt to use regulated public hunting and other forms of lethal management to significantly reduce wolf populations; moreover, Wyoming (now set to delist as well) has stubbornly clung to the nuisance/pest classification for wolves in >80% of the state–meaning wolves can be killed by any legal means at any time in these areas.  In Idaho, the actions of politicians continue to cast doubt on the state’s intentions.  For example, in 2009 the governor of Idaho announced that he favored a plan that would kill all but 100 of Idaho’s wolves; in April of 2011, Idaho’s legislature passed and governor signed into law, HO 343, which declared a state of emergency as a result of wolves and holds that Idaho’s citizens  “are immediately and continuously threatened and harmed by the sustained presence and growing population of Canadian gray wolves”; Idaho has also repeatedly passed legislation such as House Joint Memorial 5, which called on the FWS to immediately remove all wolves from Idaho by any means necessary.  Perhaps more concerning are the statements made by Idaho commissioner Tony McDermott, that raise questions about his commitment to maintaining wolves.  When pressed by Idaho Senator Siddoway over wolf management,  McDermott noted that the commission had resisted more aggressive management for fear of a pending federal court decision: “The reason that Idaho Fish and Game has been cautious in wolf depredation and hunting limits, McDermott said, was to ensure that the state maintains control over wolf management. A federal judge will issue a ruling in a few months that could potential put wolves back on the federal endangered species list…” (Idaho Reporter). [...] [...]  Yet, while many now are comfortable with the notion that wolf populations in the Northern Rockies have met the criteria set up for wolf recovery, there remains considerable ambiguity as to whether wolf populations in the Northern Rockies will remain “recovered” once state management plans are implemented.  Both Idaho and Montana have made it clear that they will attempt to use regulated public hunting and other forms of lethal management to significantly reduce wolf populations; moreover, Wyoming (now set to delist as well) has stubbornly clung to the nuisance/pest classification for wolves in >80% of the state–meaning wolves can be killed by any legal means at any time in these areas.  In Idaho, the actions of politicians continue to cast doubt on the state’s intentions.  For example, in 2009 the governor of Idaho announced that he favored a plan that would kill all but 100 of Idaho’s wolves; in April of 2011, Idaho’s legislature passed and governor signed into law, HO 343, which declared a state of emergency as a result of wolves and holds that Idaho’s citizens  “are immediately and continuously threatened and harmed by the sustained presence and growing population of Canadian gray wolves”; Idaho has also repeatedly passed legislation such as House Joint Memorial 5, which called on the FWS to immediately remove all wolves from Idaho by any means necessary.  Perhaps more concerning are the statements made by Idaho commissioner Tony McDermott, that raise questions about his commitment to maintaining wolves.  When pressed by Idaho Senator Siddoway over wolf management,  McDermott noted that the commission had resisted more aggressive management for fear of a pending federal court decision: “The reason that Idaho Fish and Game has been cautious in wolf depredation and hunting limits, McDermott said, was to ensure that the state maintains control over wolf management. A federal judge will issue a ruling in a few months that could potential put wolves back on the federal endangered species list…” (Idaho Reporter). [...]

]]> http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/fish-and-game-appointment-sparks-wolf-concerns/comment-page-1/#comment-1203 Fish and Game survey shows declining Lolo elk population « Idaho Reporter Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:57:09 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=2124#comment-1203 [...] Idaho lawmakers in favor of lowering Idaho’s wolf population and expanding the state’s wolf hunt in the future have referenced the declining Lolo elk population in their arguments against wolves. “The hunters are no longer able to hunt in those areas,” Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, said on the Senate floor Feb. 4 during a debate on the appointment of a fish and game commissioner. [...] [...] Idaho lawmakers in favor of lowering Idaho’s wolf population and expanding the state’s wolf hunt in the future have referenced the declining Lolo elk population in their arguments against wolves. “The hunters are no longer able to hunt in those areas,” Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, said on the Senate floor Feb. 4 during a debate on the appointment of a fish and game commissioner. [...]

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