State Plan Would Allow for Massive Depredation Hunts on the Clearwater The
State of Idaho is planning large agency sponsored hunts to kill dozens of
wolves in the name of a state Harvest Plan. Please Read on and send your
comment in by Dec. 31 Read the plan in full [1] Idaho wolf fact sheet and
myth buster [2] Talking Points 1) This is a wolf control plan couched as a
harvest plan. The difference: a harvest plan is normally based on population
surplus. There is no wolf "surplus." In fact there have been no efforts to
estimate the number of wolves the ecosystem can support 2) This plan may go
into effect even if wolves stay protected. Agency sponsored "depredation
hunts" like the Lolo Wolf Slaughter, which would kill 75% of the wolves in
the Upper Lochsa/North Fork, are planned to commence early next year as part
of this draft plan 3) Predators like the wolf are self-regulating and need no
active population control efforts like the Idaho plan suggests. Unlike a deer
or elk whose populations balloon without predation, wolf populations closely
model those of their prey 4) This plan's aggressive control levels will
fragment packs and create instability within the population, leading to more
conflicts 4) The plan suggests reducing wolf numbers in the Lolo and Selway
areas to between 1-3 breeding pairs, far less than this high quality habitat
should support. In addition, Fish & Game states that conflict in these areas
are high, without defining conflict, and with no data on wolf numbers in the
Selway 6) All wilderness and roadless areas should serve as high quality
"source" habitat for wolf populations (Lochsa Country--Fish & Hungery Ck) 7)
Having wolves in Clearwater is one of the best things that can happen for elk
demographics (wolves tend to select older & weaker animals, improving herd
health) Send email comments to: jcrenshaw@idfg.idaho.gov And join us for the
December 11 meeting (next Tuesday). Wolf Meeting Announcement [3]
[1] http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/surveys/draftwolf/
[2] http://www.friendsoftheclearwater.org/node/193
[3] http://www.friendsoftheclearwater.org/node/456
Bookmark/Search this post with
Big Wild Bi-Weekly
FOC All New Content
FOC iCal File