UPDATE 2009

A heartbreaking year for wolves.

Check back soon for more information.

Wolves in the northern Rockies had a tumultuous year as they were delisted from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and handed over to the control of the states (Idaho, Wyoming and Montana). A fall wolf hunting season was declared by the highly-politicized Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), that would allow "harvest" of up to 426 wolves by year’s end, or over half of the state’s 800 wolves.

Then, on July 18, wolves got a break. Federal Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula, Montana, issued a decision that said the delisting plan would harm wolves, and granted a temporary injunction to stop delisting. [Link to TIMELINE July 18] This halted IDFG's aggressive wolf hunt for the fall of 2008. In September, USFWS withdrew its delisting proposal, realizing that it would not stand up in court.

PHOTO: Two Phantom Hill pups stare at a hiker that walked by them. These pups are lucky to be born next to the most pro-wolf communities in Idaho.

Then, in late October, USFWS repackaged its skewed plan, that's now on a fast track to be finalized before a new D.C. administration takes over in January 2009. Earthjustice, on behalf of 12 conservation groups, successfully sued to stop delisting in 2008, and will sue again in 2009, if necessary.

Wolves are not really safe though, and are being killed because of an ESA provision called the 10(j) Rule. In 2008, the 10(j) rule was modified to the extent that wolves have almost no protection at all. An example: a rancher does not have to try nonlethal methods to scare off wolves. A rancher can now shoot a wolf, and then claim it was chasing, molesting or harassing his cattle or sheep, or guard dogs. Agency control actions have been harsh in 2008. As of December 31st, 94 wolves had been killed in Idaho by order of the IDFG. This number does not include dozens of wolf pups that starved to death in April and May, after their mothers were shot. Earthjustice is also planning litigation to change the 10(j) Rule.
 

Update on our local wolves: A difficult year for the Basin Butte and Galena Packs; a deadly year for Buffalo Ridge and East Pass Packs

For many Idaho wolves, 2008 was a bad year. One reason: At times, the IDFG and many livestock producers barely put forth any effort to deter or scare wolves away from cattle and sheep. The exception was the Phantom Hill Pack near Ketchum. Read more about the Phantoms.

Among the 94 wolves that have been killed in control actions ordered by IDFG in 2008, were up to eight Basin Butte wolves from the well-known pack around Stanley. Only a concerted hazing effort by wolf supporters kept the entire Basin Butte Pack from being killed. Read more about the Basin Butte wolves.

Galena Pack - The summer and fall was grim in the Sawtooth Valley for the Galena wolves. Two, maybe three Galena Pack wolves were shot, and six more would have been, but escaped. Unless ranchers try harder to learn to live with wolves, the Galena Pack will go the way of the Stanley Pack, which was lost in 2000. Read more about the Galena Pack.

SNRA and Wolves - For visitors, who were hiking, mountain biking, fishing and camping in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), the sight and sound of aerial gunning of wolves from government airplanes and helicopters (paid for by taxpayers dollars), added a new, unpleasant, and twisted meaning to the word "recreation". Steel leg hold traps are also used to catch and kill wolves. On the SNRA, wildlife is supposed to have precedence over livestock, but obviously doesn't. The SNRA portion that's located in Custer County, such as the Sawtooth Valley and Stanley Basin, is a throwback to a 100 years ago when cattle barons ruled the West. In Custer County, cattlemen still do. They are aided by wealthy landowners, some who only spend a few weeks or months on their hobby "ranch", and lease land for cattle grazing so that their property taxes are greatly reduced.

Buffalo Ridge Pack - This was Idaho's most visible wolf pack for many years. They lived along the Salmon River area near Squaw Creek, and also at times in the northeastern White Clouds. The pack was killed in February 2008. This did not have to happen. Read a photo essay about the Buffalo Ridge wolves.

Pass Creek Pack & East Fork Salmon River - The Pass Creek Pack, named for one of the wildest drainages in the White Clouds, was also killed in 2008 because of conflicts with cattle in the East Fork of the Salmon River. The East Fork is a natural travel corridor in the White Cloud Mountains for wolves and many other wildlife species. It provides critical winter range for deer and elk. But at present, the private and public land is dominated by a few cattle ranchers. In addition to the Pass Creek Pack, the White Cloud (five wolves in Spring 2000) and Whitehawk Pack (10 wolves in Spring 2002) have also been destroyed in the East Fork Salmon River area. Read more about the Pass Creek wolves and view photos of the East Fork Salmon River area.

LOOK AT A TIMELINE OF AGENCY WOLF ACTIONS