Anti-wolf group wants to sue the feds
by Anna Means
The Central Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition is headed to court as soon as
it raises enough money.
The coalition issued a press release this week stating their
intention to sue the federal government for violating Idaho’s
sovereignty when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) brought
Canadian gray wolves into Idaho.
Coalition Chairman Ron Gillett, an outspoken critic of the
reintroduction program, predicts his group will raise $50,000 in
their August fundraiser in Nampa. In the press release Gillett
said, “Something must be done because the wolf population has
exploded to the point of decimating Idaho’s big game herds. The
wolves are ruining Idaho’s heritage, our economic base, our way of
life and most importantly, the wolves are killing our native
wildlife.”
Gillett told the Messenger the Canadian gray wolf is an exotic
species to Idaho. He said FWS actually introduced the wolves rather
than reintroduced them. The coalition wants to raise $100,000 then
take a lawsuit against the federal government.
Gillett told the Messenger that the coalition has hired an
environmental policy researcher, Helen Franklin out of North Bend,
Oregon, who has been reviewing the FWS Environmental Impact
Statement. He said she’s found several violations. He said, “There’s no
doubt we have grounds for a lawsuit.”
The lawsuit, according to the press release, will claim Idaho’s
wildlife is being decimated. Gillett said there’s no doubt they will be in
court before the year is out. His long standing claim that wolves are
destroying wildlife will be part of the argument. Gillett said they don’t
have specific research data to support that claim, but said, “My eyes are
just as good as Fish and Game.” Gillett lives in Stanley and said he goes
out a few nights every week to look at the elk. Two nights ago he saw 45
cow elk and only two calves. Earlier in the month he saw 48 cows at Cape
Horn and only four calves. This, he said, spells disaster for herds since
it’s a commonly held notion that every 100 cows should have 25-30
offspring in tow to support a healthy herd.
Gillett said it’s not only him, but people across the state watching the
herds who have seen carcasses and diminishing cow/calf ratios.
Gillett said he’s extremely unhappy with Fish and Game staff for
saying it’s too soon to say how wolves are impacting herds.
He said he and others of the same mind live in wolf country, pay
taxes and are trying to survive in “this rural economy.” He said
wolf supporters live out of the area and can endorse wolves because
it doesn’t affect them, but they have no idea how it is for people
living around the critters. “If this was so good for us wouldn’t we
be the first to say thank you?”
Butch Otter, representing Idaho’s first congressional district in
Washington, D.C., is on the coalition’s side. In their press
release, the coalition quoted Otter as saying, “In 1776, King George tried
to impose his will on the 13 colonies by taxation without representation.
Today, the federal government is acting like King George by forcing the
citizens of Idaho to live with Canadian gray wolves without their consent.
Make no mistake, Canadian gray wolves are a clear and present danger to
the rural Idaho economy and the big game herds that Idahoans love.”
Mark Warbis with Otter’s office said the congressman probably made
that statement in the Idaho Outdoor Life radio program aired by AM
station KIOV. Warbis said Otter supports the principles behind the
movement and if they’re successful, “More power to them.” Otherwise,
Warbis said, Otter supports “at the very least” state management.
The coalition fundraiser is set for August 22 at the Nampa Civic
Center. There will be dinner, speeches and an auction. Festivities
begin at 6:00 p.m.