11/29/06 Cattlemen want wolf delisting now

The Idaho Cattle Association says a decade after wolves were reintroduced into the state its time for the federal government to delist the species. The ICA's Lloyd Knight says his organization feels it's longer overdue. KNIGHT "So that the state can have complete control on how they manage those wolf populations. These are predators that are having an impact, a very serious impact, a very costly impact and we think its time for the federal government to get off the dime and get them delisted." Idaho and Montana have developed plans to manage wolves and those plans have federal approval. Wyoming does not have such a plan and the feds say nothing will happen until Wyoming submits the correct management plan. Knight says that's a major part of the delisting delay but he also blames the Endangered Species Act. KNIGHT "The ESA is I think is very visibly flawed when you have a species that is doing as well as wolves are now and you can't get the darn things delisted." The federal government's goal of ten breeding pairs of wolves has been exceeded, to the point that wolves are now on the threatened list. ICA wants no list. At their annual meeting this month Idaho Cattle Association members voted to ask the state to file a lawsuit against the federal government for its inaction. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott