At first I was going to say that I wasn’t going to make snide comments about why it has taken so long for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to “discover” what hunters, ranchers, outdoor sportsmen and the general population has known about the impact of wolves on wildlife in that state. But then, why try to hide behind making a point without making a point.

So, why has it taken so long? As frustrating as it is, we all know that government bureaucracy turns a simple task into a conglomerated pile of camel dung, to put it in terms most humans can understand. The scary part of this entire process is that by the time the “experts” have arrived at an “official” conclusion, it’s too late.

According to the Spokesman Review the Western States and Provinces Deer and Elk Workshop was held in Spokane, Washington on Wednesday and researchers and scientists shared some of their findings. Pete Zager, a biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, shared with other scientists what they “know for sure” about elk and wolves.

•Elk herds are declining.

•Wolf packs are growing – well above original objectives.

•The number of elk harvested by hunters has been declining, from around 25,000 in the mid-’90s, when wolves were reintroduced to the Northern Rocky Mountains, to roughly 15,000 last year.

•Elk hunting seasons and quotas have been reduced for 2009, but the impacts of wolves are likely to go unchecked.

•Wolf management through hunting is scheduled to begin this fall, but likely will be challenged in court by animal protection groups.

•Wolves have become the most important factor in predation on elk. However, they’re not the only factor.

“Wolves have given cougars a huge favor by taking the spotlight. Cougars are still a significant factor (in elk mortality).

•Forest fire suppression also is a factor in elk declines.

•The impacts of wolves on elk vary dramatically in various game management units.

My first question is, how long has it been since IDFG received this epiphany? The second question is why hasn’t IDFG shared this information with the rest of Idaho’s citizens and in particular the sportsmen who buy the licenses that pay their salaries? The third question I have is did IDFG have this information and have withheld it until after they got the tax increase on license fees?

It should be the responsibility of the IDFG to actively get this information out for everyone to know. We all know that the wolf advocates have free run of the media and regularly publish their talking points, most of which are in direct contradiction as to what IDFG is now telling us. It’s imperative that the bad information that is being published and republished be rebutted with the truth. Will it happen? Don’t hold your breath.

An added find: There has begun serious debate of late about whether or not coyotes have an effect on mule and whitetail deer populations. The debate is varied with beliefs that range from it being a major problem to zero effect. The truth is we don’t know for sure. The good part is we are beginning to talk about it.

In this same Spokesman Review article, I found one sentence I thought interesting.

A Washington researcher presented documentation of a dramatic increase in elk calf survival in the Green and White river drainages after cougar numbers were reduced.

I would suppose this information may show us a couple of things: One, predator numbers can be reduced and two, by doing such, elk calf survival rates went up. It might be a no-brainer but if we can complicate, politicize and monetize it, this debate could last another half century.

Tom Remington

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