Idaho Wolves Update

Idaho Wolves Update

I’m KayDee Gilkey with today’s Open Range.

Unlike in bordering states of Washington and Oregon, Idaho’s wolf population has been delisted and is no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Although in Idaho wolves are not protected, there is still a significant amount of conflict and livestock depredation occurring. One of this year’s legislative focuses for the ICA was on trying to replace the gap in funding of the Animal Damage Control account after a large cut to federal funding.

Idaho Cattle Association Executive Vice President Wyatt Prescott says that the bill that was championed by ICA and the industry was a self-funded solution requesting the ability for the industry to charge an assessment to livestock producers in prone wolf areas. When that bill died, Prescott was told lawmakers didn’t feel it fair for the industry to have to pay the price for the federal funding cut to the program.

So House Bill 0278 was created and was passed both the house and senate and now awaits the Governor’s signature. It amends existing law to revise provisions relating to the transfer and use of certain moneys from the Expendable Big Game Depredation Fund.

Prescott says while he appreciates the effort, the previous bill allowed greater flexibility.

Prescott: “I’m still a little bit discouraged about the original bill that was killed. Just from the standpoint that it allowed the industry some flexibility. It didn’t actually raise the assessment yet, it enabled a mechanism that the industry could initiate that assessment if they felt it was necessary. So I think that would still be a good component to the whole issue. Then obviously we are still pushing on the federal side to make sure we restore some of that money from the federal side as well.”