Court challenges by environmental groups anticipated
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service files rule to de-list wolves
On Feb. 21, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service filed the rule that would remove gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains from the federal endangered species list. The rule will be posted in the Federal Register on Feb. 27 and will take effect March 28, unless legal action by environmental groups causes a delay in the effective date.
In 1924 the last wolf pup was killed in Yellowstone Park. By the 1930’s wolves were mostly gone from the Northern Rockies, with only a few lone wolves known to inhabit the region. In 1974 the gray wolf was placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.
Twenty years later, in 1994, an Environmental Impact Statement and Federal Register Notice were published to begin reintroduction programs in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
The reintroduction began in 1995. In only seven years, threshold goals of 40 breeding pairs and 300 individual wolves had been met for the region. Today more than 1,500 wolves are living in the Northern Rockies region.
Once the rule takes effect, Idaho will assume full management responsibility for wolves. To that end, Idaho Fish & Game has developed a draft Wolf Population and Management Plan. The Idaho Fish & Game Commission is expected to consider and act on the plan during its meeting in Boise March 5-6.
According to Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Lynn Scarlett, “The wolf population in the Northern Rockies has far exceeded its recovery goal and continues to expand its size and range. States, tribes, conservation groups, federal agencies and citizens of both regions can be proud of their roles in this remarkable conservation success story.”
Each state has pledged to maintain at least 15 breeding pairs of wolves and 150 individual animals. The federal delisting rule allows for numbers to dip as low as 100 in each state before re-listing under the ESA would be considered.
And while environmental groups contend that states will take the wolves to the bare minimum, Idaho Fish & Game large carnivore manager, Steve Nadeau says the wolves will be managed well above the minimum allowed. “That is not the goal for the Fish and Wildlife Service or the state Fish & Game,” he says. “That was to show how low low is. We are going to be managing for much higher numbers, particularly over the first few years.”
The last thing the state wants to see is the wolves back under federal management, which would happen if there are less than 10 breeding pairs or 100 individual wolves.
Idaho’s wolf management plan calls for a population of at least 15 breeding pairs and 150 total wolves. Hunting will only be allowed when there are at least 20 breeding pairs in the state. Nadeau said it is likely the state will aim for a population of 500 to 700 wolves, roughly 100-300 fewer than are now in the state.
The state’s plan calls for most hunting to occur in areas where wolves are in conflict with other wildlife populations or with livestock.
The state’s plan does not specify bag limits or legal methods of take. Those will be determined by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.
Fred Trevey, who represents the Clearwater region on the commission, says the state will take an adaptive management approach to managing the wolf population and hunting.
“There is really no difference than any of the other critters (we manage). The only difference is the lack of history,” he said. “That is the reason we are going to be adaptive, so we can learn, and we are starting conservatively.”
An outline the department will present to the commission allows wolf hunting concurrent with deer and elk seasons. Harvest would be regulated through quotas, with the season closing as soon as quotas are met. Hunters would be required to report wolf kills within 24 hours and to present the wolf or its hide within 10 days. The use of dogs, bait and electronic calls would not be allowed in 2008. Recovery of meat would not be required.
Unless there is a legal injunction stopping Idaho, Montana and Wyoming from taking control of wolves, hunting would start this fall.
Even if anticipated legal action by environmental groups occurs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved new wolf management rules that will be in place as long as the wolves remain under federal protection. Those rules make it easier for states to kill wolves preying on deer and elk. They also allow people to kill wolves attacking their pets or stock animals.
The rules were written in anticipation of lawsuits that could delay actual delisting for months or years. They will take effect at the end of the month.
“This rule would remain in effect while the delisting issue is being resolved,” according to Ed Bangs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife wolf recovery coordinator for the lower 48 states.
The new rules would change the criteria states must meet to kill wolves deemed to be having too much of an impact on big game herds. Although Idaho’s deer and elk herds are doing well in other parts of the state, the herds in the Clearwater River Basin are struggling. Under the new rules, Fish & Game officials would only have to prove wolves are a major reason for elk and deer herds not meeting population objectives before they can be killed.
The new rule would allow people to kill wolves in the act of attacking pets or stock. Each kill must be investigated and there has to be physical evidence at the site showing individuals did not just meet a wolf and shoot it. Safeguards will be in effect to prevent abuse.
Environmental groups have sued to block the new rules.