Idaho Requests Wolf Hunt in Clearwater Region
Jess Edberg, Information and Program Specialist

In a controversial proposal, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) to allow state wolf managers to kill up to 43 wolves in the Lolo elk management zone. Under federal rules, state or tribal officials may kill wolves if wolf predation is having an unacceptable impact on wild ungulate populations such as deer, elk and moose.

The Lolo zone is an area of more than 1.5 million acres within the Clearwater Region of north-central Idaho, south of the Lochsa River and U.S. Highway 12. Historically and presently, wildlife managers aim to maintain an elk population of 6,100 to 9,100 cows and 1,300 to 1,900 bulls. Currently, the elk population in this zone numbers 5,189 cows and 1,327 bulls.

According to IDFG, the Lolo elk population has been declining for some time due to a combination of three factors: habitat loss, black bear and mountain lion predation on elk calves and wolf predation on elk cows. Using computer simulations, the IDFG estimated that removing wolves would help boost cow elk numbers. The hunt could reduce the population of 47 to 69 wolves in the Lolo elk management zone by up to 75 percent. Full story.