5-17 SS Hunting Wolves

 Had a fabulous conversation with Mike Keckler,  Communications Bureau Chief, Idaho Fish and Game.  “Hunters are our primary mechanism for wildlife management.  They have been for over 100 years In the state of Idaho and we see that they are beginning to have a positive impact in the sense that they are helping to bring this wolf population into balance with other species. There is a place for the Wolf on the landscape but it has to be balanced with other species and it has to be balanced with the needs and occupations of humans also. There are people out there trying to make a living on the landscape. It is important for us to manage the species in a way that hopefully will mitigate some of the impacts that might otherwise happen. We did see a little bit of a spike last year on some of the livestock depredations and these seemed to be isolated incidents for the most part but since we began hunting and trapping wolves, for the most part attacks on livestock have decreased. We believe the Wolf is getting wise about this. They recognize the fact that it is not a good idea to hang around livestock because where there are livestock there are humans and they recognize that humans are a threat. The hope is, and we believe this will happen, that as time continues on, the wolf  will recognize that humans mean danger and they will stay further away from them and that is a good thing. They are able to stay out of trouble that way.