A wonderful Friends of the Clearwater member, Christine Gertschen, sent us this letter to the editor they submitted.

"In 2023, the Idaho Wolf Control Board approved proposals to allocate $140,000 to hire private contractors to use aerial gunning to kill wolves on federal lands, grazing allotments and private property, the Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, and International Wildlife Coexistence Network, petitioned the U.S. Forest Service to use its authority to prohibit aerial gunning by private contractors on Idaho’s national forests, asking that USFS use its authority to “to protect wildlife, public safety, recreational interests, and wilderness values by issuing an order for … regulations that ban aerial gunning and predator control by private contractors on Idaho’s national forests”.

The same ranchers and legislators are back with House Bill 630 which authorizes the Dept. of Agriculture to issue free permits for AERIAL GUNNING of native wolves, coyotes and foxes.  This bill replaces Section 22-102A that prohibits aerial gunning by private contractors.  APHIS/Wildlife Services has been using aerial gunning to kill entire packs of wolves each year in the Lolo.  HB 630 expands upon this to allow aerial hunting by nearly anyone on any grazing allotment in Idaho.

IDFG authorizes and supports hunters and trappers in killing of hundreds of wolves, foxes, and thousands of coyotes each year by nearly any means.  Indiscriminate traps and snares kill thousands of other native species each year.  HB 630 would increase the killing what remains of our biodiversity.      

During hunting season our public lands are full of humans on motorized vehicles armed with a variety of high-powered weapons patrolling the backcountry to kill the wildlife that belongs to all Idahoans.  HB 630 would remove all protections on native wildlife and poses a threat to all of us and our native wildlife that we love so much.  House representatives must vote NO on HB 630.*"

Christine Gertschen

Hailey, Idaho

*Unfortunately, HB 630 passed through Idaho's House of Representatives shortly after the writing of this letter to the editor. Please contact your Idaho Senators TODAY and tell them to VOTE NO on this incredibly harmful and inhumane practice.

Find your district's senator here to contact them!