SB 1211, a bill aimed to manage the growing population of grey wolves in Idaho, has been met with controversy, with animal rights opponents as well as supporters from the agricultural industry.
Many Idaho ranchers view SB 1211 as an opportunity to effectively control population growth of the grey wolf in Idaho, to save livestock. Opponents worry the open season on the wolves will eradicate up to 90% of the population.
Cattle, sheep and other livestock ranches suffer the financial and wildlife effects of wolves killing animals. The purpose of SB 1211 is to revise current laws that control the management of the grey wolf in Idaho. The bill gives additional options in lowering the wolf population, such as hiring private contractors to harvest wolves and hunters being able to purchase an unlimited amount of wolf tags.
Sen. Mark Harris, a Republican from Soda Springs and fifth-generation rancher, said there are several factors that can harm a ranch, such as weather, disease and predators. The wolf population falls under predatory and disease causing.
Ranchers lose out economically when livestock that is intended to be sold is killed. Harris said not only are livestock being killed, but in central and western Idaho, cattle are being chased, losing opportunities to breed.
An additional issue is the disease and spread of Brucellosis. Brucellosis results in pregnant cattle having birth defects or stillborn calves. Harris said Wyoming elk are heavily infected with Brucellosis. Wolves close to the Wyoming boarder chase the infected elk into the open ranges, infecting cattle.
Harris mentioned the reintroduction of the grey wolf by the federal government into Idaho in 1995. He said Idaho was hesitant to the insertion of the wolves, but they were brought anyway to 61% of federal land to roam freely. Since then, there have been many interactions with livestock.
Cameron Mulrony, vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association, said the grey wolf population has been an issue for the cattle industry.
“We’ve known that for a long time, but we’re looking at a way or trying to find a way to effectively manage the population,” Mulrony said. “There is a correlation with the higher population or depredation on livestock.”
Roger Phillips, a public information officer for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, said since the SB 1211 passed, the leadership in the legislature has reached out to the IDFG to smooth out details for the restrictions and regulations. SB 1211 leaves the management under the IDFG commission. Phillips said they are currently working together to set seasons and differentiate between snares and traps, that could affect wolves.
Harris and Phillips said the 90% eradication figure circulated after the bill was passed, even though it would be nearly impossible to rid that number of wolves. The figure is not actually written into the bill. Mulrony said the goal isn’t to eliminate 90% of the wolves, but to reduce depredations in ranches.
“From our standpoint as an association is to help control deprecating and be able to reduce the number of depredations on livestock,” Mulrony said.
Harris said IDFG counted around 1,500 wolves in 2020 with 500 being harvested that year. The wolf count for 2021 was estimated around 1,550 wolves.
“SB 1211 has given the state another tool to control and manage wolves,” Harris said.
Although, the opposition cites the bill as a vehicle for the wolves’ extinction. A change.org petition was started by Olly Paradiso with the goal of stopping the bill to protect the grey wolves, collecting almost 180,000 signatures with a goal of 20,000 more remaining.
“The real purpose of this bill is to defend one group of people in particular: ranchers,” the petition states.
The petition elaborates that wolves and livestock can live in harmony. Wolf capture and release programs were also emphasized as an alternative to SB 1211.
Several conservation groups, including the Western Watershed Projects have spoken out against the bill. In a press release, the WWP voiced its disappointment in the lack of exploration of nonlethal removal methods for the wolves.
“Research from Yellowstone National Park shows that wolves play a critical role in ecosystem health, affecting everything from birds, to scavengers, to willows and aspens in what has been called a ‘trophic cascade,’” WWP stated. “Wolves also help protect the health of elk and deer herds by culling diseased animals from herds.”
Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected]
Vincent Campbell
Sierra, You took the easy way out and wrote a story with only one side's view. Your bias is apparent as you lead off as essentially a spokesperson for the ranching industry with the vast majority of your story in apparently in support of the bill. Do some research and try and come off a little balanced. For one thing show verified numbers of cattle losses to wolves and not just what the ranchers claim
I.A. Sawyer
We need to remember that the Animal rights agenda is the only philosophical movement in history. Started in the Socialist Fabian Society when Henry Salt wrote the first book on socialism and then started the Humanitarian League and wrote the first book "Animal Rights in the title.
Monte G
Kill the man-eaters. Yes, they kill cows too.