IDAHO – The wolves in Idaho will stay under state management despite a federal judge’s recent ruling that could reopen discussions about their endangered status.
The court has directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit its decision not to re-list wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act.
Idaho Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks emphasized the state’s success in maintaining a healthy wolf population for decades. The latest estimate shows more than 1,200 wolves in Idaho, exceeding the recovery goal of 150.
Fredericks believes that wolf management should remain a state duty instead of a federal one. In a statement, he recognized wolf management as a “polarizing” issue but stressed Idaho’s capability in maintaining sustainable wolf populations in various areas.
“Idaho maintains sustainable wolf populations in many areas and should be trusted to make its own decisions,”Fredericks said.
The situation might affect Idaho in the future, depending on the response of federal officials to the judge’s order. Federal officials consider the wolves across the West as one large population, while Idaho advocates for the separate treatment of Northern Rocky Mountain wolves.
