Marty Durlin

Online Editor

Again, the Idaho Anti-wolf Coalition, led by Ron Gillette, is seeking to rid the state of wolves. The Twin Falls Times-News reports that the group has until April to gather 46,000 signatures for its petition, which calls for Idaho to back out of the recently released Fish and Game wolf management plan and to refuse cooperation with the federal government.
At a meeting December 4 in Twin Falls, hunter Tony Mayer described the situation of wolves in Idaho as “a crisis. This is a despicable situation. It’s an epidemic. It’s a problem.”

The coalition says wolves are decimating the wild elk population.

A Fish and Game official, Dave Parrish, said earlier this week that removing wolves from the state is not possible. “That train left the station a long time ago,” he said. The agency plans to keep at least 100 wolves in Idaho and maintain population numbers through controlled hunts.

Gillette said Idaho’s rugged terrain makes it impossible to control the wolves, who will retreat into the mountains and continue to feed on elk.

Government officials expect wolves to be delisted in February.