Hundreds of wolves slated to die in Idaho

Rocky Mountain News

Friday, January 26, 2007

As soon as wolves come off the Endangered Species List, the state of Idaho intends to sell tags for $26.50 and cull the numbers from 650 to 100, the Associated Press reports.

The animals still are under endangered species protection, but once the federal wildlife officials delist them, they will come under the control of the state and it intends to bring their numbers down drastically.

The price for a wolf tag will be the same as a tag to kill a cougar or a black bear as set by the state Fish and Game Commission. For nonresidents it will be $256.

In 1995, 35 wolves were introduced into central Idaho as part of a federal recovery program that included about the same number in Yellowstone National Park.

Since them, the population has grown to an estimated 650 wolves in 71 packs including more than 41 breeding pairs.

Once delisted from federal protection, the state must maintain at least 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves.

The reason for the regulations now for killing wolves is it would be embarrassing if the state wasn’t ready to accommodate hunters as soon as delisting occurs, game and fish commission spokesman Niels Nokkentved told The Spokesman-Review of Spokane.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said he would be eager to bid for the first tag and suggested that hunters be allowed to kill all but 100 of the state’s estimated 650 wolves.

Suzanne Stone, Northern Rockies representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said her environmental group is unhappy with the prospect that the panel could authorize the shooting of most of the wolves in the state, the AP reported.

"I guess the biggest concern we had is the auctioned tags," Stone added. "That seemed a little perverse."

Montana also has a plan to work with the wolves as soon as Wyoming’s plan is accepted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service so delisting can take place.