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Wolves of the World

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Wolves of the World
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Idaho

Idaho at a glance

Gray wolves once existed throughout Idaho, however persecution and, eventually, poisoning began shortly after European settlement.  Wolves were reintroduced to central Idaho in 1995 and 1996 in an effort to facilitate recovery of the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies states.  Wolves continue to be controversial, and public attitudes vary. Main prey for wolves there are elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and beaver.  Wolf range is approximately 20 percent of the map shown, with most wolves occupying the central part of the state.  Range lines are not depicted.

Species Information

Species
Common Name: gray wolf
Latin Name: Canis lupus

Subspecies
Common Names: northwestern wolf
Latin Name: Canis lupus occidentalis

Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: 700
Population trend: Increasing
Legal status: Federally protected with some exceptions

Human Relationships

History
Information related to history of wolves in Idaho.

Recovery & Management
Information related to legal status, regulations and management plans and practices in Idaho.

Depredation
Information related to depredation issues, compensation and prevention in Idaho.

Ecology

Biology
Descriptions of species/subspecies present: physiology and unique characteristics as well as information related to distribution of wolves in Idaho.

Habitat
Descriptions of ecosystems where wolves live, wildland topics and human land use related to Idaho.

Prey & Predation
Descriptions of prey animals and information on their relationship to wolves in Idaho.



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