Idaho game commissioners frustrated over delays
By The Associated Press – 11/05/06
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners continue to express frustration at the federal governments refusal to quickly remove wolves from endangered species status.
There is some real frustration, said commission chairman Cameron Wheeler of Ririe. The problem is we have responsibility with no authority.
At the commissions meeting in Lewiston on Thursday the group pressed state wildlife biologists to work within the framework of federal rules to thin wolves in areas where elk herds are lagging, The Lewiston Tribune reported.
Commissioners said that wolf populations continue to grow by 20 percent each year. They complained of the states stalled attempt to get permission to kill wolves in the Lolo Hunting Zone near the Montana border.
They directed the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to update and resubmit their request to kill 43 wolves in the Lolo mountains, while also aggressively pushing the federal government to remove wolves from endangered species protection.
Commissioner Tony McDermott of Sagle wants to push federal regulators.
I think its time we take some drastic measures as a state, he said. Im tired of not finding any elk in the Lolo.
McDermott suggested that Idaho should issue wolf hunting tags and move ahead with a program to land helicopters in wilderness areas while collaring wolves.
As part of its wolf monitoring program, the department wants to dart wolves from helicopters and then land in wilderness areas to place radio collars on the sedated animals, but that plan has been stalled because motorized vehicles are not allowed in federal wilderness areas.
In 1996, 35 wolves were reintroduced into central Idaho. Since then the predators have thrived and there are likely more than 600 wolves in 70 packs in the states backcountry.
Last January the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave the state partial authority to manage wolves, but without federal permission it cannot kill them to boost elk herds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared wolves to be biologically recovered. Idaho and Montanas attempts to remove wolves from federal endangered species status have been rebuffed because Wyoming has resisted passing a wolf management plan that meets federal standards.
Federal officials are considering delisting wolves in Idaho and Montana, while leaving those in Wyoming protected.
Meanwhile, the request in the Lolo mountains remains stalled.
They havent said yes and they havent said no, said Jim Unsworth, chief of the departments wildlife bureau.
Commissioners said they continue to hear from angry hunters who see wolves and wolf tracks, but few elk.