Wolf Control Actions Authorized

In response to several livestock depredation incidents in July, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has authorized several wolves to be removed. Under federal rules that changed in 2005 and an agreement between Idaho and the federal government signed in January, Idaho took over day to day management of reintroduced wolves in Idaho protected under the Endangered Species Act. That includes authorizing the lethal control of wolves to protect domestic livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services carries out the control action at the request of Idaho Fish and Game. On July 22, Wildlife Services captured and killed a black, sub-adult, female wolf of the Steel Mountain pack. Traps remain set, with the hope of removing another three individuals from this pack. On July 24, Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves had killed five lambs on Trapper Creek about 40 miles northeast of Idaho City on the Boise National Forest. After consulting with Idaho Department of Fish and Game, officials were unable to determine which, if any, of five nearby packs were responsible for the depredation. Fish and Game authorized killing one uncollared wolf. Traps were set, and on July 28, Wildlife Services captured and killed a gray, sub-adult male wolf, completing this control action. On July 25, a group of cowboys in Copper Basin shot several times toward a large, dark gray wolf in a pasture close to their livestock, and successfully harassed it from the area. On July 27, Wildlife Services during an aerial control action, shot one black adult or sub-adult wolf in Copper Basin. Trappers also captured and collared a gray male pup that morning. A gray male pup from the Blue Bunch pack was collared on July 26 and on July 27; Wildlife Services recaptured the pack's alpha female and put a new radio collar on her. While trappers were collaring her, two gray female wolves showed up. A sub-adult was shot and killed and the other was harassed away, ending the control action.