Idaho considers wolf hunt rules. By Todd Dvokak. Associated Press writer.
Update May 7. Defenders: meetings not scheduled in pro-wolf areas on purpose. By Jason Kauffman. Idaho Mountain Express Staff Writer
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Contact: Niels Nokkentved 208-334-3746
For Immediate Release
Fish and Game Sets Meetings on Wolf Hunting Rules
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has scheduled a series of public open house meetings around the state to get comments on proposed seasons and rules for Idaho’s first ever wolf hunting season.
Meetings have been set in all seven Idaho Fish and Game regions.
Panhandle Region: Meetings begin at 7 p.m. For information call 208-769-1414.
Send comments to Idaho Fish and Game, 2885 Kathleen Ave., Coeur dAlene, ID. 83815.
Tuesday, May 13, at Sandpoint Community Center, 204 First Avenue, Sandpoint.
Wednesday, May 14, at Silver Lake Motel & Convention Center, 6160 N. Sunshine St. Coeur dAlene.
Thursday, May 15, at St Maries Federal Building, 7th & College, St. Maries.
With the end of the weekly federal wolf reports, Idaho is now putting out its own weekly report.
Twenty wolves died in Idaho in the first month of delisting. Twelve were control and 2 illegal killings.
Ralph Maughan
- - - - - -
IDAHO WOLF MANAGEMENT
WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORT
To: Idaho Fish and Game Staff and Cooperator
From: IDFG Wolf Program Coordinator, Steve Nadeau
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management, Week of April 27 to May 2, 2008
Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) were delisted on March 28, 2008. The USFWS successfully recovered and delisted the population with the help of state, federal, tribal and non government partners. Management of these wolves now resides with the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The 2002 legislatively approved Wolf Conservation and Management Plan along with the March 2008 Idaho Fish and Game Wolf Population Management Plan, as well as the laws and policies of the state now govern wolf management in Idaho. Wolves are now listed as a big game animal in Idaho and protected under the laws and policies of the State of Idaho.
The Assocated Press says that Idaho Fish and Game has released its recommendations for maximum allowed wolf mortality in 2008.
The proposal is a total mortality cap of 328 wolves in Idaho. That total includes wolves killed by hunters and state managers, and those killed in accidents or by natural causes. I assume illegal mortality then is part of the cap.
AP said “The total is in line with Idaho’s overall plan for managing the carnivores. The state plan approved in March calls for maintaining a population level between 500 and 700 wolves for the first five years after delisting.”
My speculation is that this cap will result in a population of about 500 wolves because the growth rate of wolves in Idaho is no longer 20% a year. Last year it had dropped to 8%.
National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, in partnership with several conservation and tourism organizations (click here to see full list ), most notably Wyoming Travel and Tourism have launched a giant “geotourism” program for the Greater Yellowstone Region (click here for the main page of the project website). The effort is intended to “celebrate and help sustain the world-class natural and cultural heritage” of the Greater Yellowstone region (click here for the press release).
The project’s centerpiece is, “a community based process will create a National Geographic ‘Geotourism MapGuide’ for the region centered on Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and including communities and private and public lands in the three partner states.” In sum, National Geographic and their partners intend to give Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho an economic shot in the arm, in the form of well-heeled tourists, many from Europe, visiting the Greater Yellowstone region. Clearly, these three states couldn’t be more deserving, right?
Anti-Wolf Petition Drive Falling Short. From Huckleberries Online.
Greater Yellowstone Coalition Idaho Office bashes lack of charges in Ashton wolf kill case. AP. Casper Star Tribune.
It’s clear Idaho’s new law makes it so anyone can kill a wolf standing on their property, and in the Ashton case, you can apparently kill the wolf on someone else’s property as well. All you have to say it is that the wolf was molesting — “lying in wait,” etc.
No one can prove you wrong under Idaho’s law because the definition of molesting depends on the wolf’s supposed mental state.
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) have introduced federal legislation to line the pockets of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana in their efforts at compensating livestock producers for animals probably maybe killed by wolves.
Senators seek to compensate owners for livestock killed by wolves
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