Idaho anti-wolf legislation stampeding toward a vote, The Wildlife News, Western Watersheds Project

[Beringia]

Photo by Ken Cole

April 23, 2021

Guest opinion by Adam Bronstein, Western Watersheds Project‘s Idaho Director

http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2021/04/23/idaho-anti-wolf-legislation-stampeding-toward-a-vote/

In a painful example of why states can’t be trusted to manage gray wolves, the Idaho Legislature seems to be fast-tracking Senate Bill S.1211, which aims to slash Idaho’s wolf population by as much as 90 percent. The bill would inappropriately transfer the traditional roles and responsibilities of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to the Legislature, where management would be strictly politicized and any pretense of science thrown out the window.

If passed into law, 1211 would allow an unlimited number of wolf tags per hunter, no restrictions on methods of take, establishment of year-round trapping seasons on private lands, and allowing the state Wolf Depredation Control Board to hire independent contractors to kill wolves. The bill would allow wolves to be killed using any method available for other wild canids–including aerial gunning and, potentially, deadly poisons. And it allows wolf tags to be used for hunting, trapping, or snaring in any unit when seasons are open at the time of take. This proposed legislation comes on the heels of newly expanded wolf hunting and trapping seasons for much of Idaho adopted by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in February.

The use of wolves as a political pawn is an affront to science-based management of wildlife, and only proves that state management of wolves and other predators without federal oversight is a recipe for extinction. Idaho’s wolf population was removed from Endangered Species Act protection by legislative rider in 2011, and wolves were removed from Endangered Species Act protection nationwide just last year. There is no valid justification in all of wildlife management for this kind of radical reduction of a native species, so far below the natural carrying capacity of the environment.

In Wyoming, wolves can be killed without license or bag limit, at any time of year, across 85 percent of the state. This Idaho proposed legislation adopts many of the same management-free wolf killing provisions, and seems to be aiming for the same result: extirpation of wolves across most of the state. This is the opposite of sound wildlife management; it’s a free-for-all.

If S.1211 were to pass, it would put further pressure on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Idaho gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act, as well as undermine the agency’s rationale for nationwide wolf delisting. Over 500 wolves were killed in Idaho in 2020 — approximately half of the 2019 year-end population. The state seems bent on making the case that wolves need to be listed as endangered in Idaho once again.

Western Watersheds Project is a nonprofit conservation organization with over 12,000 members and supporters dedicated to protecting and conserving the public lands, natural resources and sensitive wildlife of the American West



Another article Associated Press

https://localnews8.com/politics/idaho-politics/2021/04/21/idaho-senate-oks-bill-to-kill-up-to-90-of-wolves-in-state/?fbclid=IwAR3gw4Dt1arbJkpnP6SlsHbXvj_PaiMogjlQHBJtPvAXI0ZYhdzg6KKg4L0

[Phoenix61]

1. I guess they'd rather have coyotes because that's what

they’re going to get. Coyotes’ range has increased due to killing native apex predators. Coyotes are opportunistic and readily adapt to suburban areas.

[Beringia]

2. The point is about their dislike of wolves. I'm sure they dislike coyotes just as much

[2naSalit]

4. But they can kill coyotes without...

regulation. And since "the libs" love wolves, they think they are owning the libs.

[Beringia]

5. Well I chose Coyote as my first and foremost wild animal, so I am partial to them

[2naSalit]

7. Cool.

Wolves were a major topic on my after college life, still are since I live in their territory. This has been such a big, stupid mess for over a century and needs to be resolved. The killer kkklass seem to think everything is disposable and at their determination no matter how important to everyone these living beings are.

[Beringia]

8. It is one big tug of war. Ranchers and hunters are the ones who live near the wilderness

areas though in the greatest numbers.

[2naSalit]

3. Montana is lining up right behind them too.

It used to be that Montana was the sane state of the three in the DPS tri-state area. Now all three are overrun by these "jus kill it" kkklans.

I guess they think they are owning the libs while they kill the biosphere that supports their own lives. Fucking imbeciles.

[Beringia]

6. There was a good exchange just on that subject in the replies

(Adam Bronstein is the author, but I guess Greta posted the article).

Anja says:

Thanks Greta, but why was Montana not included in your article ?
Bill after bill has been passing through e most right-wing, anti-science and anti-predator legislature in our state. Governor Gianforte has already signed two Bill’s making trapping of wolves legal as well as extending the wolf trapping season by 4 weeks! 900 wolves (!) could be killed in Montana because the state is only interested in avoiding federal listing under the ESA. Governor Gianforte just made headlines for illegally killing Max/1155, a black wolf who had wandered out of his safe home range- Yellowsrone NP– into a likel baited trap before being shot.
The Montana Outfitter Association, supported by the Safari Club Internation and other wolf and predator-hating trophy hunting clubs, are driving these horrific bills … Gianforte will sign them all … hundreds of wolves will be shot and killed in traps. This is only a snapshot of what’s happening here. As the saying goes, “what’s happening in ID will happen in MT,” this time around though, MT is in the lead with sportsmen, legislatures and the Governor already salivating at the thought of an imminent massacre of wolves and other predators.


Adam Bronstein says:

Hi Anja,
WWP is horrified about what is happening in Montana and we are working to counter all of the bad bills there. This article is specific to Idaho to inform the public about S.1211. This is a multi-front battle and all of the bad news is heartbreaking and overwhelming. ID and MT are demonstrating that they cannot responsibly manage their wildlife. Sweeping new federal protections are warranted and these dark times might very well be the catalyst for positive change.

-Adam

[2naSalit]

9. She's right...

And so is Adam. I know some of the WWP folks and I am in favor of their efforts. The truth is that all three states are and have always been opposed to any predator protections and they really don't give a shit about the landscape with few exceptions. Those would be something that limits theory ability to trash the public's lands at little to no cost by running their cattle on it to eat vegetation that wildlife need to survive. All Wildlife is to be moved or removed to fit their business model, that those very species are what created favorable but fragile conditions in the first place is beyond their concern.

All three states, as has been the case for a few decades, need watching since the trumpeteers have taken over the state legislatures again. The only times these three states move beyond the 1870s is when Democratic governors and legislatures are in the majority.