Wolves are being both legally and illegally shot in Idaho.

Update. The Idaho Mountain Express now has this story. F&G investigates wolf killing near Clayton. Black wolf was member of Morgan Creek wolf pack. By Jason Kaufmann.

Most of the focus has been on Wyoming, and the hatred some of the locals have of anything wild and free; but then there’s Idaho too.

We just saw a case of doubtful case of justice in Ashton, but there’s more . . . at least two wolves have been illegally killed in East Central Idaho this week. One was left tailess. For everyone’s edification here is the other. There are probably more out there.

Photo © copyright Lynne Stone.

Stone wrote “I found a black wolf that was shot on the morning of April 3, 2008 from Highway 75 near Peach Creek in the Salmon River canyon (closest town is Clayton Idaho). Peach Creek is about 20 miles down river from Stanley. The black wolf was a male, collared and known as B160, from the Morgan Creek Pack. He was probably about six years old. His teeth were worn. He had been shot through the femur and the bullet(s?) came out his stomach. The wolf was still warm when I walked out to it, laying about 70 yards from the road. I took photos, then went and found IDFG law enforcement who happened to be nearby, picking up a dead elk.”

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I’m no more offended by the blood than I was by the series of photos circulated by Save Our Elk. It’s the poaching and Idaho’s toothless wolf plan that makes my blood boil. Ralph Maughan

Contacting Info

ynp4me took the time to gather information about who to contact in Wyoming. It was sent as a comment, but due to the work involved, I am moving it to a post.

Ralph Maughan

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I made a quick list of people to contact for Yellowstone.net and then thought I’d add this here too! ~ Vicky

Send letters, make calls, etc about the Wyoming Wolf Killings!

It is very easy to see Yellowstone and avoid spending money or giving tax money $ to Wyoming. Don’t buy any gas in Wyoming or Yellowstone. Fill up with gas everyday in Montana or Idaho.

Lodging in the park creates tax money for Wyoming. Consider lodging outside of YNP. Let Xanterra know why you change your reservations. There is lodging in Montana in the gateway towns of West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Jardine, Silver Gate, and Cooke City.

Buy all trinkets, t-shirts and such in Montana gateway towns.
It will save you money (usually same items but are less expensive than in the park and in towns with resort tax- it’s less than WY tax).

Young man with cell phone camera catches Pocatello area poachers

This is a local story (I live in Pocatello and know the field where this incident took place).

This was a brave young man (the way he confronted poachers in the act of poaching). It also shows the uses of technology in controlling poaching and similar outdoor violations.

A longer version of this story appeared in the Idaho State Journal, but it is not on-line. Associated Press story.

Arrest made in blatant antelope killing

Arrest made in blatant antelope killing. By The Associated Press. Billings Gazette.

Entire wolf pack of rare Mexican Wolves Missing in Gila National Forest

Wolves Missing In Gila Forest. By Rene Romo. Copyright © 2007 Albuquerque Journal; Journal Southern Bureau

Update: Governor Richardson: Disappearance of wolf pack is ‘disturbing.’ KVIA.com. As we know, Governor Richardson is running for President. One way to show leadership in the area domestic terrorism would be to clean up the long-term trouble-makers in the area. The Catron County area has been dangerous for a long time, which threats and assaults on federal land management officers, local conservationists, violation of grazing, ESA and other public land laws.

Terry, Montana rancher fined $15,000 for eagle deaths

This guy set out an illegal poison for skunks and raccons. Coyotes ate the poisoned skunks and raccoons and died. Eagles ate the dead coyotes and died.

It was kind of like 1920.

He was fined for the value of the eagles; nothing about the use of an illegal poison.

Man told to pay $15K for eagles’ deaths. By Clair Johnson. Billings Gazette.

Terry, Montana has been in the news in the past.
A lot of wildlife violations at Terry, Montana. April 18th, 2007

 Terry, Montana man admits wildlife conspiracy. June 16th, 2007

Former Controversial Yellowstone Backcountry Ranger Becomes Bison Rancher

Todd Wilkinson conducted a five-part interview of Bob “Action” Jackson, the former Yellowstone Park Ranger who patrolled “the Thorofare,” the most remote part of Yellowstone, which laps over into the equally remote Teton Wilderness area (managed by the Bridger-Teton National Forest). In fact, here, near the Park boundary, is the spot most remote from a road in the lower 48 states of the United States.

As Park Ranger he was tough on poachers and outspoken about the way the Park boundary area was managed, creating friends and enemies within the Park Service, outfitters, and Wyoming politicians. Conservation groups tended to be highly favorable. On my old web page, I posted numerous stories about him.

Since he left the Park Service he has become a full time bison rancher and still has plenty to say, as this 5-part series indicates. He began bison ranching while still a seasonal ranger.

Here is the first interview, which is on-line at New West. Former Controversial Yellowstone Backcountry Ranger Becomes Bison Rancher. By Todd Wilkinson. New West. Here is the last interview. A Bare-Knuckled Poke At Public Bison Herds In the West. Once you go to this link, you will find the links to the rest of the interviews at New West.

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Note: along with Lee Mercer, I wrote a backpacking guide to the Teton Wilderness and the adjacent Washakie Wilderness. It was published in 2000, and is now out of print, but available on-line in places. Getting to the Thorofare is hard 2 days walk for the fittest, but it is plenty crowded during the elk hunt on Teton Wilderness side. . . Ralph Maughan.

Terry, Montana man admits wildlife conspiracy

Here is another case a lot like the Nevada bobcat case, although it involves animals valued much more highly by the authorities.

Terry man admits wildlife conspiracy. By Clair Johnson. Billings Gazette.

In both cases a major factor was violation of the Lacey Act, a federal law that backs up state laws regarding the illegal transport of wildlife across state boundaries.