As I predicted several months ago, the wolf wars have now turned a corner and have become serious. Many of the uninformed believed that a few angry hunters and landowners might take it upon themselves to poach wolves in an attempt to save their properties and lessen the impact of wolves. Little did most suspect, including the greedy, maligned environmentalists, who even to this day are clamoring to have wolves in every state in this country.

The introduction of gray wolves into the Yellowstone ecosystem, in what was described as and is still labeled as a Nonessential Experimental Population, is an unmitigated disaster. It has reached a level now where one county in Idaho has declared their county a disaster because of uncontrolled wolves. Idaho County, Idaho citizens now fear for their lives, as is stated in the Disaster Declaration.

WHEREAS, the presence and boldness of wolves have caused citizens grave concern for their safety and the safety of their families….

The Idaho County Board of Commissioners take nearly 2 and a half pages to lay out the disaster as it has unfolded in their county. This includes not only the physical losses of properties, the stresses and strains of everyday life, fear, destruction of ungulates and a radical and abrupt change of lifestyle, but the politics and seeming agenda-driven decisions of the Courts.

The Declaration of Disaster defends its decision on State and County laws to do so and declares that Canadian Gray Wolves are, “causing vast devastation of the social culture, economy and natural resources of Idaho County.” And that as a result of the gray wolf, “Public safety is compromised, economic activity is disrupted and private and public property continues to be imperiled.”

Therefore the Idaho County Board of Commissioners, believing to be acting through legal State and County approved codes, is requesting that Idaho Governor Butch Otter immediately issue an “Executive Order or Disaster Proclamation” that would label the Canadian gray wolf a “managed predator”, as allowed under the 2002 Legislatively approved wolf management plan. This plan calls for wolves to be controlled at a level of about 150 wolves statewide. The Board of Commissioners is asking the Governor to use whatever means necessary to accomplish this.

The County is also requesting that Governor Otter continue this Disaster Proclamation until the wolves have been reduced to 2002 Wolf Management Plan levels and that policies be adopted to create “no-wolf tolerance zones” – near homes, ranches, schools and public recreation areas.

Idaho has now officially moved beyond the tit for tat debate about whether wolves are or are not good for Idaho or anybody else. I repeat! This experiment is an oppressive, relentless and unmitigated disaster at all levels. The envelope is far beyond being pushed as the result of lack of leadership and the state of Idaho being controlled by environmentalists instead of the people, with no support from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I would declare this to be a line drawn in the sand. One that apparently Governor Otter was unwilling to draw in dealing with the Feds about wolves.

On a related note: It was brought to my attention that during last nights television broadcast on Idaho Public TV program “Dialogue”, IDFG Director Cal Groen and State Wildlife Manager Jon Rachael were asked about the Idaho County Disaster Declaration and both stated they were unaware of it.

Tom Remington

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