Really, Really Bad News For Idaho Wolves!!

Well Wolf Warriors, the gloves are off in Idaho. They’ve drafted legislation that would treat wolves as “predatory wildlife, with a $500 dollar bounty on their heads.”

Frankly I’m so sick of this I have no words to express how I feel tonight. We’ve gone back to the 1900’s, when the feds were paying trappers to exterminate wolves in the West.

Please Stand For Idaho’s Wolves!!

From the Wildlife News:

Final Draft of Idaho Wolf Legislation

February 26, 2011 — Ken Cole

Legislation rescinds the 2002 Wolf Management Plan and calls for $500 per head bounty on wolves.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the post.

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Read it and pray for wolves in Idaho!!  Get ready to cut and paste this “declaration of war against Idaho wolves”. Then email or fax it to the Senate Committee. Call them and let them know what’s in store for gray wolves under “state management”.

Capital Switchboard Numbers give the name of the Senator & you will be transferred to their office. You will then either speak to a staff member, or on the weekend – to voice mail.

1,866.220.0044
1.877.851.6437
1.800.833.6354

Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works

Majority Members (10)

* CALL THESE SENATORS

Chair Barbara Boxer, CA*

Fax: 1-415-956-6701

Max Baucus, MT

Fax: 1-202-224-4700


Thomas Carper, DE

Fax: 1-202-228-2190

Frank Lautenberg, NJ

Fax: 1-202-228-4054

Benjamin Cardin, MD*

Fax: 1-202-224-1651


Bernie Sanders, VT

Fax: 1-202-228-0776

Sheldon Whitehouse, RI

Fax: 1-202-228-6362


Tom Udall, NM*

Fax: 1-202-228-3261


Jeff Merkley, OR*

Fax: 1-202-228-3997


Kristen Gillibrand, NY

Fax: 1-202-228-0282
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Minority Members (8) (Republicans)

James Inhofe, OK

David Vitter, LA

John Barrasso, WY

Jeff Sessions, AL

Mike Crapo, ID*

Lamar Alexander, TN

Mike Johanns, NB

John Boozman, ARK

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ALL US SENATORS CLICK HERE

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Talking Points:

-Call Senators to express your outrage over the radical “Idaho wolf bounty bill” listed below. Cut and paste the bill and fax it to Senators so they can read it for themselves. Or paste it into an email. Congress doesn’t accept attachments. You can link to my blog as well.

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-If the “Wolf Bounty Bill” passes the Idaho legislature there will be mass slaughter of Idaho’s 850 wolves. The  bill effectively nullifies the ESA in Idaho and places a $500 bounty on wolves heads.

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-Let the Senators know you  support wolves and want them protected.

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-Tell Senators to strip  section 1713 from the House Budget bill. This section delists wolves in the Northern Rockies, without judicial review and requires that states only have to maintain a population of just 300 wolves in the entire region. This means over 80% of wolves in the Northern Rockies could be slaughtered.

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-The states of Idaho and Montana should not be allowed to “manage” wolves. Their prejudice against wolves is overriding good judgement and sound science.

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-Section 1713 of the House Budget Bill undermines the ESA and tampers with one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation ever written. Do they want this to happen on their watch?

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-Montana and Idaho politics are dominated by ranching and  hunting interests, effectively drowning out the voices of Wildlife Watchers.

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-There is tremendous support for wolves in the Northern Rockies but many wolf advocates may be afraid to speak out due to the climate of fear and intimidation.

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DRAFT

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-First Legislature

First Regular Session – 2011
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO.
BY REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________________________

AN ACT

RELATING TO WOLVES IN IDAHO; AMENDING TITLE 36, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW     CHAPTER 25, TITLE 36, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A SHORT TITLE, TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS,     TO STATE THE PURPOSE OF THE IDAHO WOLF MANAGEMENT POLICY, TO PROVIDE FOR AUTHORITIES ASSERTED AND CHALLENGED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESCISSION  OF THE IDAHO WOLF CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESCISSION OF ANY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES REGARDING WOLVES, DIRECTING THE DISCONTINUANCE BY STATE AGENCIES OF ALL WOLF RECOVERY EFFORTS, DIRECTING THE REMOVAL BY THE IDAHO FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT OF ALL WOLVES REINTRODUCED INTO IDAHO FROM CANADA AND THEIR PROGENY TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WOLVES AS UNPROTECTED PREDATORY WILDLIFE; ESTABLISHING A $500 BOUNTY FOR WOLVES TAKEN, REQUIRING COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE BY WOLVES HELD IN CAPTIVITY OR WHICH HAVE ESCAPED FROM CAPTIVITY; REPEALING ALL PROVISIONS RELATED TO WOLF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES OR AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF SPECIES CONSERVATION REGARDING WOLVES; REPEALING AUTHORITY OF THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME TO PARTICIPATE IN FEDERAL WOLF DELISTING PROCEDURES AND INTERIM MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THE UNITED STATES; REMOVING WOLVES FROM PROVISIONS RELATED TO SPECIES CONSERVATION AND DELISTING MANAGEMENT PLANS, TO PROVIDE A POLICY FOR FUTURE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND ITS AGENCIES, TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO file     and pursue claims against the United States for damages resulting from wolf predation or infestation, AND INRESPECT TO THE FOREGOING,  AMENDING SECTION 36‑201, IDAHO CODE, TO DELETE REFERENCE TO APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLANS; AMENDING SECTION    36‑714, IDAHO CODE, TO DELETE REFERENCE TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AMENDING SECTION 36‑715, IDAHO CODE, TO DELETE REFERENCE TO TERMS RELATING TO TRANSITION FROM FEDERAL MANAGEMENT OF WOLVES TO STATE MANAGEMENT, TO DELETE REFERENCE TO WOLF RECOVERY PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO MONITORING OF WOLVES, TO DELETE REFERENCE TO THE IDAHO WOLF CONSERVATION AND     MANAGEMENT PLAN, TO DELETE THE REQUJIREMENT TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANNUAL REPORT RELATING TO THE STATUS OF WOLVES IN IDAHO AND TO DELETE REFERENCE TO DELISTING; AND AMENDING     SECTION 36‑1101, IDAHO CODE, TO DELETE REFERENCE TO MANAGEMENT PLANS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Whereas, in 1987, the final U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) recovery plan for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) provided that when “the goal of 10 breeding pairs (approximately 100 wolves) in each of the recovery areas (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming) was established,” the species would be removed from the endangered list. (USFWS 1987:19);

Whereas, in 1995 and 1996, the USFWS “reintroduced” Canadian Gray Wolves into Idaho;

Whereas, the USFWS determined that “in 1998, 12 packs (of wolves) produced 10 litters, and in 2000, 15 litters were produced” (Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management     Plan, page 7);

Whereas, the Findings, Statement of Purpose, and Resolutions of the First Session of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature in 2001 as set forth in House Joint Memorial No. 5, opposed the impostion of the grey wolf upon the citiizens of Idaho as an unconstitutional usurpation of federal power and provided as the official policy of the State of Idaho, inter alia, “that wolf recovery efforts in Idaho be discontinued immediately and wolves be removed by whatever means necessary.”

Whereas, in spite of its policy and in order to avoid conflict and achieve timely “de-listing”, the State of Idaho cooperated with the federal government regarding wolf management and in 2002 enacted the Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

Whereas, the Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan states that its purpose is to protect the rights, safety and  property of the citizens of Idaho as provided under Article 1 Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution;  .

Whereas, now, 16 years after “reintroduction,” the official estimated wolf count wih spring repoduction by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (08-16-06 Resolution of IDF&G) exceeds 100 packs, over 1,000 wolves and the wolves continue to proliferate;

Whereas, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has found (08-16-11 Resolution of IDF&G) that domestic livestock depredations continue to increase and has determined that the gray wolf predation is having an unacceptable impact on wild ungulate populations;

Whereas, the United States continues to fail and refuse to de-list the wolves, with the result that severe depredation of Idaho wildlife and domestic livestock continues and worsens, and that both humans and animals face a serious health hazard of over 30, wolf-borne diseases, pathogens and parasites, many of which are deadly and transmittable to other wild animals, domestic livestock, pets as well as humans.

Whereas, The Constitution of the United States sets forth enumerated powers vested in the federal government created thereby, and reserves all other powers to the people and the states pursuant to Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution;

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States, having delegated to Congress the power to “provide for … general welfare of the United States,” and separately a power “to regulate commerce … among the several states,” does not extend to forcibly mandating, in any form, the management of any game species, ungulate, carnivorous or otherwise in any state.

Whereas, this crisis that threatens the health and welfare of the Citizens of Idaho has been caused by federal actions that have evolved into transmogrifications unrelated to any legitimate exercise of the federal commerce power; and, now,

Therefore the State of Idaho is mandated to act, and does hereby act, under under and pursuant to the reserved powers of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution to protect those “inalienable rights, among which are “enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring posessing and protecting property; pursuing happiness and securing safety” preserved in Article 1 Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution, as follows:  .

Be It enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

SECTION 1.   That Title 36, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby amended     by the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as Chapter 25, Title 36, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

CHAPTER 25
IDAHO WOLF MANAGEMENT POLICY

36‑2501. . SHORT TITLE. Chapter 25, title 36, Idaho Code, may be cited as 15 the “Idaho Wolf Recovery Act.”

36‑2502. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:

(1)The United States has not dealt with the State of Idaho in good faith concerning  the reintroduction of gray wolves in Idaho;

(2) The United States has usurped unconstitutional authority to impose wolves on Idaho; and,

(3) The the Findings, Statement of Purpose, and Resolutions of the First Session of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature in 2001 regarding wolves as set forth in House Joint Memorial No. 5, is and remains the official policy of the State of Idaho;

4) Multiple promises by federal officials regarding deadlines for wolf delisting and shift of full wolf management and control to Idaho have been made with no effective delisting or shift of full management authority;

(5) The continuing uncontrolled expansion of, and predation by, wolves are having an unacceptable impact on livestock production, and on the health and     safety of people engaged in outdoor work and recreation in Idaho, are drastically reducing hunting opportunities and revenues in Idaho, are deleteriously impacting the long standing hunting heritage and culture in this State, and are negatively impacting and threatening the Idaho economy; and,

(6) This is a federally created crisis that is rapidly worsening and threatens to have profound social and economic consequences for the people and communities of the State of Idaho, including the threat of worsening, severe depredation of Idaho wildlife and domestic livestock and the introduction of new, serious wolf-borne diseases, pathogens and parasites dangerous to both humans and animals; and,

(7) The United States is responsible for injuries and losses caused by federally released wolves in Idaho, including but not limited to, any injuries to persons living,     working or recreating in the State of Idaho, the injury to or loss of game animals, livestock, pets, and other injuries to animals in the State of Idaho, and economic damages to the people of the State of Idaho; and,

(8 The State of Idaho must withdraw from any association with federal management or control of grey wolves, rescind the Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, and avoid any complicity with the federal government in the mismanagement of this crises and the social, economic, and legal consequences.

(9) the State of Idaho is mandated to act, and does hereby act, under and pursuant to the reserved powers of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution to protect those “inalienable rights, among which are “enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring posessing and protecting property; pursuing hapiness and securing safety” preserved in Article 1 Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution

36‑2503. PURPOSE. The purpose of the provisions of this chapter is to:

(l) Provide for the health and safety of the people of Idaho;

(2) Protect the stock growers of Idaho from economic loss because of wolf predation;

(3) Prevent the decline of wild game animal populations in Idaho as a result of wolf predation and
preserve the heritage and tradition of hunting and harvesting those game animals for Idahoans;

(4) Prevent the State of Idaho from becoming complicit in, and liable for, social and economic
consequences of the rapidly worsening federally created crisis that threatens to afflict the people and
communities of the State of Idaho, including, but not limited to, the threat of worsening, severe
depredation of Idaho wildlife and domestic livestock, the loss of hunting opportunities and related
revenue, and the introduction of new, serious wolf-borne diseases, pathogens and parasites dangerous
to both humans and animals;

(5) Assert the constitutional rights of the citizens of the State of
Idaho and of the State of Idaho in a federal system of government.

36‑2504. IDAHO WOLF CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN ‑­
RESCISSION. (1) Any gray wolf conservation and management plan heretofore adopted and
implemented by the State of Idaho and in existence on the effective date of this Act is
hereby rescinded, including, but not limited to the Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan of  2002 and all amendments thereto.

36‑2505. COOPERATIVE WOLF MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT ‑‑ RESCISSION.

(1) Any cooperative agreement existing on the effective date of this act between the State of Idaho or any agency of the State and the United States or any agency of the United States for the conservation and management of the gray wolf in Idaho are hereby rescinded, including, but not limited to, the Memorandum of Agreement dated January 5, 2006.

36-2506  BOUNTY IMPOSED ON WOLVES TAKEN IN IDAHO

(1) There is hereby a bounty in the sum of five hundred ($500) per head imposed on wolves taken in the State of Idaho.

(2) The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will pay a bounty in the sum of Five Hundred dollars ($500 for each dead wolf presented to a regional office or the head office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game with reasonable proof that the wolf was taken within the State of Idaho.

(3) Said bounty will be paid by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game from its General Operating Budget for each dead wolf so presented to Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

36‑2507. FUTURE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH THE
UNITED     STATES‑­   CONDITIONS. The following conditions must be met before the State of Idaho
or any agency of the State may enter into any gray wolf cooperative conservation, control and management agreement with the United States, or any agency of the United States:

(1) The gray wolf must be removed from the United States’ list of endangered or threatened wildlife and the state list of endangered species;

(2)The United States agrees in writing that wolves are an unprotected predator in Idaho wherever they are found, whether on federal, state, or private land;

(3)The means of effective management and control of wolves shall be under the supervision and control of the State of Idaho, including the application of appropriated federal funding for such control andmanagement;

(4) Achieving a so called “natural nonhuman predator/prey balance” shall not be a condition of any such cooperative agreement or management plan; and,

(5) The United States accepts the application of the provisions of Title 36 of the Idaho Code to any
such cooperative agreement or management plan.

36‑2508. NOTICE AND USE OF STATE RESOURCES.

(1) On passage and approval of this Act, the Idaho Secretary of State shall     send copies of this Act indicating the effective date to the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

(2) Subject to resources available, the Department of Fish And Game shall make a good faith effort to
bring the management and control of wolves into full compliance with this Act by all available means.

36‑2509. DUTY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(1) The Idaho Attorney General shall file and pursue claims against the United States for damages resulting from wolf predation or infestation, including:

(a) Personal injury inflicted by a wolf or wolves on any person in Idaho.

(b) Economic losses incurred by the State of Idaho or any of its citizens arising from wolf predation,
from wolf-born diseases, pathogens, and / or parasites, or otherwise arising from the presence of gray
wolves in Idaho;

(c) Loss of wildlife, livestock, or pets; and

(2) Claims must be filed in the United States court of federal claims.

36-2510  CONFORMATION OF RULES OF DEPARTMENT.
The rules of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game shall be amended to conform to this Act.

36-2511  SEVERABILITY.
The provisions of this Act are hereby declared to be severable and if any provision of this act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid for any reason, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this act.

36-2512  EMERGENCY.
An emergency existing therefore, which emergency is hereby declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its passage and approval.

SECTION 2. That current Idaho Code Section 36-103 be, and hereby is, amended to read as follows:

36-103. WILDLIFE PDROPERTY OF STATE – PRESERVATION.

(a) Wildlife Policy.  All wildlife, including all wild animals, wild birds, and fish, within the state of Idaho, is hereby declared to be the property of the state of Idaho.  It shall be preserved, protected, perpetuated and managed.  It shall be only captured or taken at such times or places, under such conditions, or by such means, or in such a manner, as will preserve, protect, and perpetuate such wildlife, and provide for the citizens of this state and, as by law permitted to others, continued supplies of such wildlife for hunting, fishing and trapping. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all state agencies shall discontinue any and all wolf recovery efforts in Idaho, and all wolves and their progeny that were “reintroduced” into Idaho by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall be immediately removed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at such time and to the extent allowed by law.  All other wolves shall be managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game as unprotected predatory wildlife.

(b)  Commission to Administer Policy.  Because conditions are changing and in changing affect the preservation, protection, and perpetuation of Idaho wildlife, the methods and means of administering and carrying out the state’s policy must be flexible and dependent on the ascertainment of facts which from time to time exist and fix the needs for regulation and control of fishing, hunting, trapping, and other activity relating to wildlife, and because it is inconvenient and impractical for the legislature of the state of Idaho to administer such policy, it shall be the authority, power and duty of the fish and game commission to administer and carry out the policy of the state in accordance with the provisions of the Idaho fish and game code.  The commission is not authorized to change such policy but only to administer it.

SECTION 3.   That current Idaho Code Section 36-201 be, and hereby is, amended to read as follows:

36-201.  FISH AND GAME COMISSION AUTHORIZED TO CLASSIFY WILDLIFE.
With the exception of predatory animals, the Idaho fish and game commission is hereby authorized to define by classification or reclassification all wildlife in the state of Idaho.  Such definitions and classifications shall include:

(a) Game animals

(b) Game birds

(c) Game fish

(d) Fur-bearing animals

(e) Migratory birds

(f) Threatened or endangered wildlife

(g) Protected nongame species

(h) Unprotected wildlife


Predatory wildlife shall include:

1.  Wolf

2.  Coyote

3.  Jackrabbit

4.  Skunk

5.  Weasel

6.  Starling

Notwithstanding the classification assigned to wolves, all methods of take including, but not limited to, all methods utilized by the United States fish and wildlife service and the United States department of agriculture wildlife services, shall be authorized for the management of wolves in accordance with
existing laws or approved management plans.

SECTION 4.  That current Idaho Code Section 36-712 be, and hereby is, amended to read as follows:

36-712   TATOOING OF WOLVES – WHEN REQUIRED.

(a)  Any wolf that is captured alive to be later released or which is born or held in captivity for any purpose must be reported to the department within three (3) days of the capture or birth or commencement of captivity.  Any person found guilty of capturing or holding in captivity and failing to report the animal as required in this section, shall be punished by a fine not in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each animal the person possesses and which has not been reported as required in this section.

(b)  Each animal reported as required in subsection (a) of this section shall be permanently tattooed in a manner that will provide positive individual identification of the animal. No tattoo is required under this section if the animal is subject to a permanent individual identification process by another state or federal agency.

(c)  Any person holding a wolf in captivity shall immediately report to the department any death, escape, release, transfer of custody or other disposition of the animal.

(d)  Any canine exhibiting primary wolf characteristics shall be classified as a wolf for the purpose of identification. All such canines shall be tattooed, registered and licensed by the department of fish and game. The fee for the license shall be as specified in section 36-416, Idaho Code.

SECTION 5.  That current Idaho Code Section 36-714 be, and hereby is, amended as follows:

36-714. COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANIMALS HELD IN CAPTIVITY – EXCEPTIONS.

(1)  If any wolf that is held in captivity or that escapes from such captivity causes any damage to the personal property of another person, compensation for the damage shall be paid by the person holding or who held the animal in captivity.

(2)  The provisions of subsection

(1) do not apply to those animals captured and released as part of an ongoing game management       program, an ongoing predator control program or as part of a scientific, educational or research program as certified by the department unless the animals have been involved in livestock killing.

SECTION 6.  That current Idaho Code Section 36-715 be, and the same hereby is, repealed.

SECTION 7.  That current Idaho Code Section 36-2401 be and hereby is amended as follows:

36-2401.  DEFINITIONS. As used in this title, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:

(1)  “Best scientific and commercial data available” means that where this chapter requires the use of the best scientific and commercial data available, the state, when evaluating comparable data, shall give greater weight to scientific or commercial data that is empirical or has been field tested or peer reviewed.

(2)  “Candidate conservation agreements” means agreements, entered into with the fish and wildlife service or the national marine fisheries service (services), to implement mutually agreed upon conservation measures for a proposed or candidate species, or a species likely to become a candidate or proposed candidate in the near future, that include assurances from the services that additional conservation measures above and beyond those contained in the agreement will not be required, and that additional land, water or resource use restrictions will not be imposed upon them should the species become listed in the future.

(3)  “Candidate species” means a species, except wolves, for which the secretary of interior or secretary of commerce has on file sufficient information on biological vulnerability and threats to support a proposal to list the species as an endangered species or a threatened species, but for which listing is precluded because of pending proposals to list species that are of a higher priority.

(4)  “Endangered species” means those species, except wolves, listed as endangered pursuant to 16 U.S.C. section 1532(6).

(5)  “Habitat conservation plan” means a plan submitted pursuant to a permit as provided in 16 U.S.C. section 1539, et seq.

(6) “Listed species” means threatened or endangered species.

(7)  “Rare and declining species” means those species, except wolves, in need of additional management consideration due to natural rarity, downward trends in populations and habitats, or other factors, natural or human, that, without additional management, might be listed as threatened or endangered species under the ESA in the future.

(8)  “Recovery plans” means federal plans or conservation programs, referenced in 16 U.S.C. section 1533(f), that set forth the actions designed to assure the continued survival and recovery of the species listed, except wolves, as “endangered” or “threatened” pursuant to the endangered species act.

(9)  “Species conservation assessment” means a state analysis, based on the best scientific and commercial data available, about the status of a rare or declining species, except wolves, throughout its range which describes current and anticipated factors limiting the viability of the species  as it relates to desired goals and objectives and identifies specific research needs relative to the species.

(10) “Species conservation strategy” means a state strategic plan for the management or conservation of a rare or declining species, except wolves, that describes the species needs in terms of habitat needs, population size, distribution and connectivity. The strategy shall include voluntary, landowner-based incentives and measures to achieve the management or conservation goals.

(11) “Species management plan” means a plan which provides for the consideration and management of a species, except wolves, upon its being delisted.

(12) “State conservation programs” means the programs developed, pursuant to 16 U.S.C. section 1535(c), for the conservation of endangered species and threatened species, provided that no such state conservation programs shall be applicable to wolves.

(13) “Threatened species” means those species listed as threatened pursuant to 16 U.S.C. section 1532(20), except wolves.

SECTION 8.   That current Chapter 24, Title 36 of the Idaho Code be, and the same hereby is, amended by the addition thereto of a new Section to be known and designated as Section 36-2401A, to read as follows:

36-2401A  EXCEPTION FOR WOLVES.
Nothing in this chapter shall relate to or be applicable to wolves.

SECTION 9.  That Section 67-818 of the Idaho Code be, and hereby is, amended by the addition thereto of a new Section to be known and designated as Section 67-818A, and to read as follows:

67-818A  EXCEPTION FOR WOLVES.
Wolves are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Office of Species Conservation, and nothing in Section 67-818 shall relate to or be applicable to wolves.

 

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Photo: Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Posted in: Wolf Wars, Idaho wolves

Tags: vicious wolf persecution, relentless attacks on wolves, Idaho, removing wolves protections, predator status, $500 bounty on wolves proposed

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28 CommentsLeave a comment

  1. Ok here are the words that evade me before.

    How does the state of Idaho, specifically its off-the-charts corrupt anti-wolf governor, b.s. perpetuating ID F&G department and horde of bloodthirsty garbage spewing louts expect to get away with this travesty against conservation? This is an outright spit in the face to the Endangered Species Act and a stubborn denial of everything we have learned over the past 15 years. These past few months have been littered with increasingly underhanded cheap political tricks and stunts to get just one species delisted and have a hunt so the status quo can be retained. It has been nothing short of sad to see how low these people will stoop just to get their own way, it can’t be helped I guess because they’ve had their way with little opposition for the past 60 years and kept their many nonsensical slaughters justified with the psudo-science known as Wildlife Management. To hell with the petty notion that hunters fund wildlife and wilderness, that doesn’t buy off the fact they have been at the forefront of exterminating wildlife alongside the livestock production industry – whom they are all too eager to help wipe an entire pack or two out when a farmer cries over his/her little lost lamb.

    This is the exact same policy that wiped out Australia’s thylacine and is now pushing our only native placental mammal carnivore to extinction.
    Consider this a personal perception but, if this debauchery is permitted, the lies will just keep on coming and fairly soon, no matter what is said in opposition, those lies will be made into ‘truths’ just like back in the early 1900’s.

    Like

    • John it’s nullifying the ESA. Not sure how is sponsoring this bill yet but I have now doubt it will pass. The gall that Otter has going to Washington DC to speak to the committee is mind boggling. Why would anyone listen to him? Jerry came up with an idea that we should send questions to Boxer, Carden, et al to ask Otter just how many cattle wolves have actually killed in Idaho this year or last. I know it was 97 cows in Montana in 2009 out of 2.5 to 3 million cows. So absolutely no emergency there. Thousands and thousands of cattle die from non predation every year and the main predator of cattle is the coyote. Also there are almost 400.000 elk in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming…so no crisis there. Except for human poaching. These are all urban legends the haters spreading and people that aren’t informed about the wolf issue believe it.

      N.

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      • It broke my heart to read those , by accident that I read a book about wolves when I was on vacation, I started to google information about wolves and I fall in love with this wonderful creatures, and I realize that these posts were in 2011, whats going on now? I want to do something to help to protect wolves. thank you so much!

        Like

    • Excellent piece.

      Like

    • Maybe the bounty recipients will automatically be eligible for the federal $100,000 fine for poaching an endangered species. It may save the price of a federal investigation.

      Like

  2. I think I’ll go throw up now.

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    • Nabeki has left us with all the information we need to contact the senate democrats on the Environmental committee. Start with boxer and work your way down. Make sure to point out the fact that the two Montana Senators are both from ranching families and that they don’t seem to have the ability to be impartial on this issue. Ranchers haven’t got the news bulletin that the majority of American people do not want a predator free environment to appease the cattle barons

      Like

      • Done. I called everybody on the E&PW committee, plus Senator Tester.

        Like

      • I too called everyone on the EPW Committee and resent emails. I simply cannot believe the this. It is like being in a nightmare, from which you can never fully awaken.

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      • SCWG…we seem to go from one crisis daily to the next. I wanted to do a post on the poor Lookout Pack in Washington that has been devastated by poaching but there is no time. There’s always some new emergency to write about.

        N.

        Like

    • CaptainSakonnna…this is effecting everyone’s health. The constant stress of wolves under siege is getting to all of us. It’s been a two year nightmare.

      N.

      Like

  3. Some days I get very disgusted with this constant onslaught on our wildlife by these ignorant fools. We have to keep fighting or they will win!

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    • Too true william.

      N.

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    • For our Wildlife every day every hour find us to give a difficult fight… The opponents is people that want things that make me sick this WAR will never ends there is no happy ending just some times a few good news… There will be always us or them there will be always life or death but always the victims is our beloved Wolfs they pay the bill for every bad result… And us well most of us have broken hearts we crying and we feel sick for weeks i cant speak just write this words i feel helpless… Please Wolf Warriors we must save the Wolfs no matter what…

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  4. Leave them alone they only take down the sick and helpless they are here for a reason and all yous can think of is to kill them damit leave them alone let them do what they are here for

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  5. Instead of being the caretakers of the world that we inhabit,we are becoming the eliminators and it shoud be the opposite.Instead of being the eliminators of our inhabit,we should be the caretakers of the things that surrounds us,whether man,bird or beast.

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  6. this is so sickening – how dare they – wolves are some of the most beautiful creatures – do they want to extinct them? are they crazy? foolish – what is going on here. Evil – just evil what did this beautiful defenseless creature do to you – how dare they – evil – plain as day evil

    US government should think before they open their big fat political mouths

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  7. All wolves and other wildlife in Yellow Stone,or on PUBLIC lands need to be left alone ! The people trying to rid thmselves of these animals are chasing their tails,(running in circles).kill off–repopulate.Ranchers use public lands…but they forget Americans want wild places,and Americans all own the public lands.I truely hope our government remembers the whole PUBLIC,when making their laws final.

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  8. I must admit I did not read the entirety of this bill as it’s late here, but I do have some questions as I’m a bit confused by the current situation.

    1. Has the anti-wolf provisions hidden in the spending bill in DC actually gone through yet, or might it yet still be euthanised?

    2. If it has not, then is the Idaho bill actually legal? Can the State of Idaho introduce a law that explicitly over-rules the EPA on *FEDERAL* land?

    3. What exactly is meant by “Any canine exhibiting primary wolf characteristics”? Does this mean breeds that “look like wolves”, such as Malamutes?

    *sigh* I guess humans won’t be happy until absolutely every last canid is dead, and thus have to learn how to hunt, herd, fight, rescue, stop smugglers and aid the disabled all by themselves. Respect and let the wolf be for what he is, and even if you can’t understand that, respect and let him be for what his relatives are. If it weren’t for them, humans would never have had livestock in the first place.

    Neb

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    • Neb…I’m going to write a post on this tonight to clear up your questions.

      Basically House Bill 1, section 1713 has not passed the Senate. It has not even been voted on in the Senate. Right how the bill sits in committee, the one I have listed on the front page of the blog, headed by Barbara Boxer. So many things are going on it’s confusing people. A Congressman from Idaho stuck the wolf delisting language in a must pass Houise spending bill. He hid it deep in the bill so nobody would see it. It worked. The House passed it on February 19, 2011. Now it’s up to the Senate to re-write the budget bill and strip that language out of there. The problem is there is not much time. If the Dems and Reps don’t agree on a two week extension, to allow the Senate to address the different budget issues, including the sneaky wolf section, the government is due to shut down on Friday. So that’s one problem.

      The crazy “wolf bounty bill” that Idaho has pending, yet to be introduced, is still just an Idaho bill. I have no doubt that when it starts to move, it will pass. I would put nothing past the Idaho legislature. I think they made a critical error by making this bill public now. It just makes the case that Idaho is not capable of “managing” wolves without extreme prejudice. Wolves would be eradicated in the state and treated like vermin. So we have to watch what they do with that.

      The language of “Any canine exhibiting primary wolf characteristics”? is nebulous. I think it’s aimed at wolf dogs in particular but there are lots of malamutes, huskies and northern breeds that look like wolves, so that is a dumb statement. If they are aiming it at wolf dogs, the dogs would have to be tattooed and licensed with the state but there is already a law on the books that address wolves and wolf dogs, I believe. I think it’s just another form of harassment.

      We are getting a taste of what it was like to be a wolf in America 75 years ago. It’s the same hate, the same persecution. We have been saying this all along. There can be no compromise with the states because their aim is clear, to slaughter wolves and marginalize them or get rid of them altogether. Frankly I’m glad this bill was brought to light…it shows how rabidly wolves are hated by these people.

      N.

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  9. “Treat the earth well, cause it was not given to us by our parents, it was loaned to us by our children”.

    If the planets people continue to destroy what mother nature created, the very presious eco-system will fall apart, and this world will not survive…

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    • Truer words were never spoken.

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  10. The wolf is again maligned for a political agenda. When we all know for sure that Little Red Riding Hood was WRONG, as is Cruela De Palin WRONG!
    The wolf simply is an apex predator that is highly intelligent, highly social, independent of man, iconic, majestic, magnificent, and noble; deserving of our respect and admiration. However, we have to contend with that eternal propaganda machine though, forever churning against the wolf – fueled by unfounded fear, and dare I say jealously of two-legged hunters who look at the wolf as competition, ranchers who bellyache all the time about their sheep, although they are reimbursed for any losses through Defenders of Wildlife.
    It is fair to say that early man would not have been successful in survival without his alliance with the wolves. And how do we repay them? Trapping, poisoning, shooting on ground and from aircraft, gassing and denning their pups. Already wolves are being called, trapped and baited. Underhanded, cowardice trickery!!!

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  11. Laissez les loups vivre en paix, s’il vous plait

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    • Thank you cathala corine for your beautiful message. In French it sounds even more beautiful.

      Let the wolves live in peace, please

      For the wolves, For the wild ones,

      Nabeki

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  12. I just faxed my senators and Obama with the letter on Care2. I think, if this goes through, we should put all of our efforts into getting Tester out of office, and, I would like to see the conservationists and environmentalists find an independent candidate to run for president next year. I don’t know who the Republican will be, but, if he/she is halfway decent, it might be a good thing to strike a deal of our own – get rid of the Tester/Simpson Rider if it becomes law. I would be the GOP would like to have us on board – there are millions of us. I am so sick of this administration and their dirty tricks. I expected so much from Obama, and he is just another cheap trick politician only interested in his personal agenda! What a shame, what a tragedy for us and for wildlife!

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    • Thank you Maggie! So glad to see people haven’t given up. I’m definitely on board making sure Tester does not win re-election. I think he thinks he’s going to be some hero if the wolf budget slaughter bill passes but he’s made a serious miscalculation. His ranching and hunting buddies are still going to vote for Rehberg.

      We need a third party very badly. The number of Independents is growing all the time because people are so dissatisfied with both parties. I’ll never vote for another Democrat again if this nightmare of a bill passes. The Democrat Senators have the ability to turn this around, if the don’t they’ll leave quite the legacy.

      For the wolves, For the wild ones,
      Nabeki

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  13. […] Photo courtesy of Howling For Justice. […]

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