Andrew Ottoson - sports/outdoors reporter
May 24, 2011
GRANGEVILLE--At its quarterly meetings last week, May 17-20, in Lewiston, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission said it will manage the state's wolf population along the lines of a plan that passed muster at both the state and federal levels in 2002. While the wolf's legislative delisting earlier this month pleased most Idaho County residents and elected officials, the prospect that Idaho will now manage the wolf as a big game animal remains unpopular.
Idaho County commissioner Skip Brandt said he would rather see the level of legal protection for the wolf reduced to that of the coyote.
"The wolves were wiped out for a reason and ideally we'd wipe them out again," he said. "But we're happy that Fish and Game has stepped up to do what should have been done 10 years ago."
Before the quarterly meetings, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) last week empowered its officers and two local deputies to kill wolves that threaten Elk City. Elk City deputy Mike Chlebowski said that he and Stan Denham have the power to eliminate wolves "right in our area."
"The paperwork is done," Chlebowski said. "We're going to do what we can to curb problems here in the vicinity of town. When people see or hear wolves, we want them to call dispatch so we can get after them."
Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik attended the May 17 public hearing at the Fish and Game commission's quarterly meeting in Lewiston. Chmelik reported that a Fish and Game representative said that "we don't want people lobbing shells 400 yards, but you do have the right to defend yourself."
Chmelik told the Free Press: "If I see a wolf 150 yards away, I'm feeling threatened. If I have a clean shot, I'll take it."
While the legislative delistment has given IDFG latitude to implement its own plan to manage wolves, the requirement to manage--rather than eliminate--is still backed by federal law. Brandt said that if Idaho's wolf population dropped below 150--the number spelled out in the state's management plan--the Endangered Species Act would again take force. But he still thinks treating wolves as big game is too cautious.
"I think if we treated wolves like coyotes, shoot on sight, we'd never take them down to 150," Brandt said. "But IDFG is in a learning process."
The Idaho Fish and Game commission's framework builds on the 2002 plan. The 2002 plan provided for at least 15 packs of wolves--a number necessary to "ensure viable, self-sustaining populations"--and can be downloaded at http://goo.gl/TvW37.
The 2002 goals also provided for Idaho's wolf packs to "interchange with wolves in adjacent states" and to be treated as a native big game animal with a legal status similar to bears.
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Idaho Fish and Game Commission's framework for wolf management
The broad strokes of Idaho's plan to manage wolves were announced at the quarterly meeting of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, May 19, in Lewiston:
ÃManage wolves in a manner that will ensure wolves remain under responsible state management in conjunction with the rest of Idaho's wildlife.
ÃManage wolves as big game animals consistent with the goals and objectives of the 2002 Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management plan approved by the Idaho Legislature and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep wolves off the Endangered Species List.
ÃControl wolves where they depredate on livestock and other domestic animals or threaten human safety.
ÃControl the population of wolves and other predators as needed to address areas where elk or other prey populations are below management objectives.
ÃDevelop wolf hunting season recommendations for consideration at the Commission's July 2011 meeting and develop trapping recommendations.
ÃConduct additional species management planning as appropriate.
The commissioners also agreed to support Idaho's legal defense of challenges to state management and urge Congress to continue to fund monitoring, control and depredation compensation.
