greywolf.jpgAfter being hunted to near-extinction, wolves were reintroduced to the northern Rocky Mountains a decade ago. More than 1,200 now live in the region. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to start removing Federal protections from gray wolves in Montana and Idaho in the next few weeks.

A couple of weeks ago Idaho’s governor, C.L. “Butch” Otter, announced he will support public hunts to kill all but 100 of the state’s gray wolves after the Federal government strips them of protection. Gov. Otter has stated that he wants hunters to kill about 550 gray wolves in his state. That would leave about 100 wolves, or 10 packs, according to a population estimate by State Wildlife officials. The 100 surviving wolves would be the minimum before the animals could again be considered endangered. The wolves are seen as a threat to the state’s big game hunting industry. State Wildlife managers have advised the governor to allow a few more than 100 wolves to survive so they don’t go back on the endangered species list if a few of the 100 should get hit by cars, or fall prey to poisons or harsh winters and the number falls below 100.
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AP/Washington Post