Idaho county creates anti-wolf chapter
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) — Residents in Bingham County have started a local chapter of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition, which is collecting signatures to once again try to get an initiative to ban gray wolves from Idaho on the ballot.
The group failed to gather enough signatures to get a similar initiative on the ballot last year.
Coalition Chairman Ron Gillett of Stanley said the group’s new goal is to gather 100,000 signatures. He also has instructed petition carriers to make certain that everyone who signs is a registered voter.
In 2006, the group collected more than 40,000 signatures in six weeks before running out of time and falling short of the required 45,893 signatures. Organizers also learned that many signatures proved to be worthless because the signers were not registered voters.
“If we could get that many signatures in six weeks, I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting the 45,893 we need by April 30, 2008,” Gillett said.
The initiative may be the only opportunity to reverse efforts by the U.S.. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore wolf populations to Idaho, he said.
“Don’t think our Legislature is going to be successful in getting wolves delisted as a protected species and have a hunting season on them, because it’s not going to happen,” he said. “The wolf lovers won’t let it. It’s up to us to save Idaho’s game herds. But we don’t need to let somebody in California or New York tell us what to do in Idaho.”
Earlier this month, the Fish and Wildlife Service opened a 60-day comment period on its proposal to take gray wolves off the endangered species list in the northern Rocky Mountains.
The proposal lays the groundwork for state-managed hunting of wolves in Idaho, Montana, and possibly Wyoming if that state can resolve a dispute with federal officials over its wolf management plan.
A former outfitter and guide from the Stanley Basin, Gillett said the wolves have ruined his business. They should never have been allowed in Idaho, Montana or Wyoming, where hunting is part of the economy, he said.
“Wyoming has the right idea,” he said. “They said if the wolves stick their heads out of Yellowstone Park, they will kill them; and they’re not backing down.”
About 30 people attended an organizational meeting of the new Bingham County chapter last week. Moreland resident Harry Nash, who heads the new chapter, said he has contacted many others who support the effort to rid Idaho of wolves.
Most of those attending were hunters and livestock growers.