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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com
Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

Idaho Fish and Game Hosts Wildlife Summit

Jess Edberg, information services director — International Wolf Center

 

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The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is hosting a wildlife conference that is open to the public at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho, and six other locations. The conference will also host a live video feed with online participation.

The Idaho Wildlife Summit will be held August 24–26 and features public surveys on wildlife issues, discussions in both large and small group settings and one-on-one access to DFG staff.

Two main questions DFG hopes to address are: What kind of wildlife legacy do we want to leave our children and grandchildren, and how can we work together to create a positive future for wildlife in Idaho?

“The Idaho Wildlife Summit will foster discussion of these questions and others to help Idaho’s hunters, anglers, trappers, bird watchers, wildlife photographers and other wildlife enthusiasts explore their common thread—wildlife. Participants will learn more about the DFG and the challenges it faces in managing wildlife for the future, will hear from nationally-recognized speakers on wildlife conservation, and will be asked to voice their opinions on what is important to them,” according to the DFG Summit Web page.

In an informational video, DFG Director Virgil Moore elaborated on the summit’s purpose as a voice for resident and nonresident consumers and users of Idaho’s natural resources to contribute productive suggestions and comments about Idaho’s fish and wildlife management practices. He noted that as funding sources continue to decrease, wildlife enthusiasts will carry the burden of managing natural resources, and it’s time to invite them to contribute to the process at a more inclusive level.

The summit will feature a diverse group of speakers with the intent of attracting a diverse group of stakeholders. A goal of finding common ground and building support for wildlife conservation includes keynote presentations by Toni Hardesty, director of The Nature Conservancy – Idaho, biologist Shane Mahoney, Jim Posewitz, founder of Orion The Hunter’s Institute, and Dr. Tara Teel, Associate Professor at Colorado State University.

With the DFG’s recent decision to allow year-round wolf harvesting, this may be a healthy step toward bridging the perceived disconnect between DFG and wolf advocates who disagree with the state’s wolf-management policies. However, a history of mistrust between Idaho politicians and wildlife officials and wolf advocates could have long-lasting influences on whether objective and honest communication can be achieved.

With online access, this summit is an excellent opportunity for those with an interest in learning more about and being more involved in wolf management to gain knowledge and perspective on Idaho’s wildlife-management philosophies. This could also be an appropriate opportunity to ask questions about Idaho’s wolf-management policies.

According to the event Web site, seating at the Riverside Hotel is full, but more that 600 additional seats are available at six satellite locations via online registration, which is free. For interested people unable to travel, online participation is also free and does not require advanced registration.

Use the links below to learn more about this free opportunity to become better informed.

Related links

Idaho Wildlife Summit homepage
Idaho Wildlife Summit agenda
Featured speakers
Effective communication skills

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