Reading the signed resolution of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission dated August 16, 2010, I was reminded of the joke I heard perhaps as many as 40 years ago. Sparing all the foolish details, the crux of the joke was that a man walked into a bar with what appeared to be a very vicious dog. The man’s goal was to teach the bar tender a lesson. When he turned the brawny animal loose on the bar keep, the dog bounded up onto the counter and went, “Bowsie, wowsie! Bowsie, wowsie!”

Much the same can be said of this resolution, the intent of which is unclear other than perhaps a slightly veiled attempt at diverting attention away from past sins of the Commission and the Department in general.

On August 5, 2010, Federal Judge Donald Molloy, with the stroke of a well bought and paid for pen, put gray wolves back under Federal protection in Idaho and Montana. The Idaho Game Commission has responded by writing their own Resolution (PDF) for the purpose of ……………… well, I’m not sure.

The Commission said they discussed three options (only three I guess) as to how to react to this judgment by Mr. Molloy. They could do nothing, including stop managing wolves, continue in the “lead role” in wolf management within the state (I’m not sure how that is done when they have few tools to manage with and the ones they have they refuse to use.), or, work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a limited role.

After careful consideration, the Commission sunk their false teeth into this issue and came up with some strong moves that would make Peewee Herman look like a masculine and strong specimen.

They resolved that Molloy’s ruling ran contrary to Idaho’s Wolf Management Plan, which by the way is an illegal plan never approved by the state Legislature. More on that in a moment.

They resolved to really get tough and do whatever they can legally to fix this – gosh darn it, golly gee whiz!

If that doesn’t put the fear of God in you, the Commission threatened to support an appeal of Molloy’s ruling. Before you get too “pumped up”, the appeal would go to the most liberal U.S. District Court, the Ninth.

Be it resolved that this Commission will support the Governor’s or the Congressional Delegation’s efforts to write legislation that will cook Molloy’s goose. The existing proposal that probably is being referred to is the bill to exempt gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act. Is that anything like exempting Muslims from building a mosque at Ground Zero? Somehow I felt compelled to get that in there.

And by golly, the Commission is threatening to return to state management of wolves just as soon as somebody in Washington tells them they can and by golly, then they will show Molloy. They will manage for 518 wolves, not the 100 agreed upon before this charade began. That’s showing ‘em!

And the Commission is going to go right ahead, no matter what Molloy says, and set a wolf hunting season. Bowsie Wowsie! And just as soon as somebody in Washington tells them it’s safe to come out from behind the bushes, they will implement it.

And the mighty Commissioners say that they don’t care what Judge Molloy says, the IDFG is going to be the big Kahuna when it comes to wolf management. This is much like the man who says he is the boss of his house and his wife gave him permission to say so. Yup! IDFG will fight for that lead role………just as soon as somebody in Washington gives them the green light.

But this is where the Commission almost breaks their false teeth. They support implementing the 10j rule of the Endangered Species Act. The Commission doesn’t specify so I don’t know if they are referring to the Expanded 10j or the regular 10j. Either way, this comes much, much too late. But utilization of this Rule comes with boundaries. I don’t get it. Didn’t Judge Molloy say something about setting boundaries and that species don’t recognize boundaries? Doesn’t matter! We’ll just wait until someone in Washington tells the Commission what to do and when. But, hey! Let’s stand in admiration of the IDFG’s toughness. That’s a big BOWSIE WOWSIE!

I don’t know about you but I’ve worked myself right up into a frenzied lather getting “pumped up”! But let’s get serious for a minute. The first part of the Commissions Resolution states “recitals” and number 11 on that list is of deep concern.

11. On March 6, 2008, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission (“Commission”) adopted the Idaho Wolf Population Management Plan (“2008 plan”). The purpose of the 2008 Plan is to sustain a viable wolf population, provide harvest and non-consumptive opportunities, reduce conflicts and provide a flexible, adaptive document and tools to manage wolf populations during the five-year period following de-listing. The 2008 Plan will ensure that wolf populations are maintained at 2005 levels (518 wolves) or higher during the five-year post de-listing period. The 2008 Plan will also maintain balanced gray wolf and prey populations, ensure genetic transfer through maintaining connectivity, and minimize conflict with humans and domestic animals.

The problem with this is that in March 2002, the Idaho Legislature approved the Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (PDF). Part of this Legislative-approved Plan states the following:

IDFG will update this plan periodically and submit any changes to the Idaho Legislature as if it were a new plan submitted for approval, amendment or rejection under Section 36-2405, Idaho Code.

George Dovel, editor of the Outdoorsman has written about this topic endlessly and yet still seems to go unnoticed. It is my understanding that all amendments and/or changes to all and any wolf management plans and strategies by the IDFG have not been approved by the Legislature under Section 36-2405 of the Idaho Code. So, if the Idaho lawmakers can’t uphold the laws they pass, then why have a Legislature or laws for that matter.

IDFG appears to have decided among themselves to up the ante on wolves from 100 to 518, submit their new plans to the USFWS for approval, again, without the approval of the Idaho Legislature, in order to appease the Feds in an unlawful attempt to get wolves delisted. How many wrongs does it take to make a right?

It’s all wrong and trying to devise a “Resolution” that will hopefully put a bigger bite in a weenie dog isn’t going to get the job done. I don’t know that Idaho can expect strength from a Commission that has participated in usurping Idaho law in order to appease wolf advocate groups and a USFWS whose main goal is the protection of wolves at any cost for various agenda-driven reasons.

Tom Remington

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