*Scroll for Updates*
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter at least stuck to two promises. It now appears that he has notified Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar that Idaho will no longer be the designated agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in managing wolves. Instead, Otter has directed his fish and game department to focus on protecting game species that wolves are devouring and destroying.
Instead, the Governor directed Idaho Fish and Game to immediately refocus its efforts on protecting Idaho’s deer, elk and moose, and said the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be submitting applications to the Interior Department to address wolf depredation issues “so we can exercise our sovereign right to protect our wildlife.”
Why does the Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) have to refocus its efforts? One has to ask if there was any focus in protecting and managing these species at all. But let’s commend the Governor for keeping two of his promises.
In earlier communications with Salazar, Otter promised that if something wasn’t done about uncontrolled populations of wolves he would remove Idaho as the designated agent, telling Idaho citizens that if they had problems with wolves call USFWS. Idaho would effectively wash its hands of any wolf management.
I for one am pleased to read that Gov. Otter publicly announced his desire to exercise Idaho’s sovereign right to protect her wildlife.
The second promise Otter seems to be making is that no money from license fees or in some cases, tax dollars, would be used to finance the USFWS’ fantasy wolf program (my words not Gov. Otter’s).
“Additionally, this approach does not ask Idahoans who continue suffering wolves – especially sportsmen – to subsidize any part of this federal program or bear the risk or burden of inadequate federal funding in the future.”
What this explicitly means for Idaho residents and sportsmen remains unclear. We have seen that Gov. Otter has previously made threats and withdrew from them. It would be my guess he will continue to petition USFWS for stronger implementation of the 10j rule, to allow depredation hunts to kill wolves in areas that are destroying deer, elk and moose herds. Threatening to “exercise the sovereign right” is more political posture than substantive bite as no Governor has taken the step to directly violate Federal laws to “exercise their sovereign right”.
Probably the only real effect Otter’s actions will have on USFWS is from the impact of hitting them in the wallet by withholding funding for management of wolves and placing all the responsibility on the Feds. This may be enough of a cramping of style to effect some change but nothing that I would consider substantial.
Kudo’s to Gov. Otter for at least keeping two promises.
*Update*
More from the Seattle Times. Claims Otter directed IDFG not to arrest poachers or investigate complaints as pertains to wolves.
Otter: “History will show that this program was a tragic example of oppressive, ham-handed ‘conservation’ at its worst,” Otter wrote. “Idahoans have suffered this intolerable situation for too long, but starting today at least the state no longer will be complicit.”
Environmentalists’ lawyer: “We’re disappointed the governor wants to play politics with wolves instead of come up with a legitimate recovery program for wolves, that complies with the law and the science,”
Gov. Otter’s Letter to Ken Salazar.
Tom Remington
