Extermination of wolves [I would like to know what threat are wolves to Idaho, that gives the state the NEED to kill all of them? What are your reasons for exterminating 300 wolves last year and wanting to exterminate 500 this year?]

Idaho Fish and Game is managing wolves under the State of Idaho's 2002 wolf management plan adopted by the Idaho Legislature and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  That plan calls for a statewide wolf population of 150 wolves with 15 breeding pairs.  After reintroduction in 1995, the wolf population increased dramatically in Idaho and so did the number of attacks on livestock.  Fish and Game wildlife biologists say the growing population also impacted other big game species such as elk, in the central and northern parts of our state.  It is important to note that Fish and Game also manages other big predators such as mountain lions and black bears and both species have healthy populations in Idaho.  For more information about wolves in Idaho, please visit our wolf management page on the Idaho Fish and Game website.