Feds OK killing wolves near Hammett

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved its authorized representatives to kill three wolves in response to livestock depredations on private property near Hammett.

The wolves, both uncollared and not from any known pack, killed three calves and an adult cow in the past week on private land, said Carter Nierneyer, wolf recovery coordinator for the Service's office in Boise.

Two wolves were killed last Friday by agents of the U. S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

Using non-lethal control was not an option in this case because of the large number of cattle in the area, said Niemeyer.

"Livestock losses in Idaho haven't been that high," said Niemeyer. "Any loss is significant to the rancher, and its our policy to remove wolves that continue to kill livestock."

Last week the state Department of Fish and Game had indicated it might not be necessary to kill the wolves, after the first report of a cow and a calf being killed by the pack, but the additional predation of two more calves almost immediately afterward indicated that the pack had begun transferring its attention from the deer and elk that are its normal food supply to local cattle.

Thirty-five wolves were reintroduced to Idaho between 1995 and 1996, and the population has grown to approximately 370 in the state. Seven wolves were killed in Idaho last year in response to livestock depredations of 13 calves, 118 sheep and six herding dogs.

The three-state recovery area of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming contained about 761 wolves at the end of 2003.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing wildlife and plants and their habitats and administers the Endangered Species Act.

Last week Gov. Dirk Kempthorne announced that the US Department of Interior had agreed to allow greater flexibility in the management of the state's wolf population and to begin discussions about Idaho's eventual control over wolf management.

"For nearly a year, Idaho has been diligently working toward this significant agreement with our partners at the Department of Interior," Kempthorne said. "This will provide Idaho with the opportunity and responsibility to address wolf predation on livestock and our big game herds, while providing a framework for the state's eventual control of the wolf management program."

The agreement will result in a change in federal regulations regarding wolf management through an Endangered Species Act 100) amendment.

Last year, Gov. Kempthorne signed legislation that allowed the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to work in partnership with the Governor's Office of Species Conservation on wolf management, formulating Idaho's commitment to appropriate wolf management.

"This agreement is the culmination of a lot of good work on behalf of the people ofldaho," said Fish and Game Director Steve Huffaker. "'The state wolf management plan can now move forward, and the transition to state management of these wolf populations can now begin in earnest."

"This announcement only hastens our resolve to work with Wyoming and Montana towards a final delisting of wolves -- our partnership with our neighboring states remains unaltered," said Kempthorne. "I thank President Bush and Interior Secretary Gale Notion for their trust in empowering two states on this difficult Endangered Species Act issue. I look forward to continued discussions with Secretary Norton on additional state responsibility to gain even greater flexibility in managing wolves."

In order to complete de-listing of the Idaho wolves from threatened status under the Endangered Species Act, Idaho, Montant and Wyoming all must have wolf management plans approved by the federal government. Idaho and Montana have had their plans approved, but Wyoming has not.