01/20/06 Idaho wolves

Idaho Wolves Idaho will be able to manage wolves on the state level in January 2006. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back with some details. On January 5, 2006 Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Secretary of Interior Gale Norton signed a wolf management agreement. This signing puts into effect a federal rule that allows Idaho and Montana to have more control of wolf management in their states. Wolves were reintroduced in these states in the 1990's and managed by the federal government as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The new federal rule will now allow ranchers to go to state officials to rectify wolf problems. State officials can issue permits to kill wolves preying on livestock. The states will in turn have to petition the federal government for permits to kill wolves that are causing excessive harm to big-game herds. States will have to provide studies that show wolves are the major threat in depleting animals. Idaho is already working on one such study. Wolf poaching will still be investigated and prosecuted by the federal government. Reports show that wolf numbers have grown from the original 35 animals to an estimated 500 wolves in Idaho. This exceeds recovery goals but Idaho still can't get wolves removed from federal protection until a wolf management plan is approved in the three states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Idaho and Montana have such plans, but not Wyoming. Seems like there's always a catch to the Endangered Species Act. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter/AP 12/21/05