The Spokesman-Review Reported 1st: Despite allowing hunting and trapping for wolves, Idaho has far exceed federal gray wolf recovery levels of 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs for 16 consecutive years, the Idaho Fish and Game Department’s top official says. “The bottom line is that Idaho has a healthy, sustainable wolf population that is over seven times higher than the federal recovery goal,” said director Virgil Moore in a media release.
Following is Moore’ assessment of the state’s management since wolves were reintroduced in the state by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1995 and 1996.
When Idaho Fish and Game took over wolf management in 2011, the wolf population had grown unchecked for more than a decade after reaching federal recovery levels of 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves eleven years earlier. This was due to repeated lawsuits that stalled delisting and delayed transfer of wolves to state management.
As a result, wolf conflicts with livestock and elk populations were rampant in most parts of Idaho north of the Snake River and livestock producers and hunters grew increasingly frustrated.
After five years of state management of wolves in Idaho, we’re seeing positive results:
- In 2010, the year before wolves were delisted, there were 109 confirmed wolf depredations on livestock in Idaho. Now livestock depredations by wolves are down by almost 50 percent (59 in 2015).
- The most recent livestock attack by wolves occurred last October. We haven’t had a depredation-free stretch last this long since 2004.
I’m also pleased to report Idaho’s elk herds are rebounding too, but there are still some places in Idaho where predation impacts are unacceptable. Conflicts are decreasing because regulated wolf hunting and trapping seasons are helping us balance predator and prey populations.
As I write this, Fish and Game scientists are conducting the latest wolf population surveys. While these are not yet complete, it’s obvious we far exceed federal recovery levels of 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs, and have met these levels for at least 16 years in a row. Continue reading – http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2016/jan/25/idaho-wolves-exceed-minimums-16-years/