Idaho approves bill that could kill 90 percent of state’s wolves

‘These wolves, there’s too many in the state of Idaho,’ claims Republican state senator Mark Harris

The Idaho Senate has approved legislation that will allow the state to hire private contractors to kill around 90 per cent of wolves in Idaho, with the aim to protect cattle and other agricultural interests.

Idaho’s Wolf Conservation and Management plan, which is backed by members of Idaho’s agriculture industry, was approved by the Senate on Wednesday with a large majority of 26-7.

Supporters of the bill have claimed that there are too many wolves in the state attacking wildlife including sheep and cattle, and said that this legislation would help protect the animals and Idaho’s agriculture industry.

“These wolves, there’s too many in the state of Idaho,” Republican state senator Mark Harris said on the Senate floor on Wednesday before voting for the bill.

He then described a “gentleman rancher” whose livelihood was put into doubt after a pack of wolves scared off his cattle, adding: “They’re destroying ranchers; they’re destroying wildlife.”

Mr Harris said that the latest figure suggests that there are around 1,500 wolves in Idaho, while the bill would aim to cut the population down to just 150.

In order to cull a majority of Idaho’s wolf population, the bill would provide the state’s Wolf Control Fund with an additional $190,000 (£136,818) on top of a previously allocated $400,000 (£287,998) to hire private contractors to kill the animals.

The legislation will also remove the limit on the amount of wolves that a single hunter is allowed to kill in the state.

The bill was criticised by a minority of Idaho state senators who voted against it on Wednesday, with Michelle Stennett, a Democrat, saying that it is dangerous as “there is very little control over what” the contractors will do.

Ms Stennett said that she would have preferred the funds being allocated to other policies, adding: “I just wished we’d had 1 per cent of that to give to tourism or recreation or something.”

Wolves used to be under federal protection in both Idaho and Montana up until 2009, when it was removed following years of studies into the states’ populations of the animals. The move was criticised by environmental groups.

Governor Brad Little, a Republican, signed a bill last year increasing the funds for private contractors to kill wolves. The Independent has contacted the governor to get confirmation on whether he will sign the new bill into law.