Idaho lawmakers consider bill that would allow 90% of state's wolf population to be killed

The Idaho Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that allows the state to hire private contractors to kill up to 90% of wolves in the state.

The bill, which was approved with a 26-7 vote, was passed as lawmakers believe there are too many wolves in Idaho which is hurting the cattle population. 

Introduced to the state in 1995, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said in February that the wolf population has been around 1,500 the past two years. The passing of this bill would dwindle that number to 150.

“These wolves, there’s too many in the state of Idaho now,” said Republican Sen. Mark Harris one of the bill’s sponsors, during debates. “We’re supposed to have 15 packs, 150 wolves. We’re up to 1,553, was the last count, 1,556, something like that. They’re destroying ranchers. They’re destroying wildlife. This is a needed bill.”

The bill now goes to the state's House of Representatives. Should it pass, the state's Wolf Control Fund would receive $190,000 to hire contractors to kill the wolves after already receiving $400,000. There also would be no limit on how many wolves a hunter can kill, according to the New York Times. Hunters would also be allowed to hunt wolves from motorized vehicles and use night vision equipment. 

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Democrat Sen. Michelle Stennett, who voted against the bill, argued on the Senate floor that allowing contractors to kill the wolves would give the state little power to control them, adding she wishes the money would go toward tourism or recreation.

Wolves have not received protection from the Endangered Species Act in Idaho since 2011. Around 500 wolves have been killed in Idaho by hunters or state and federal authorities in the past two years, according to the Associated Press.

Some lawmakers in nearby states have introduced similar laws, ranging from incentivizing hunters to killing the animals to unlimited hunting.

Zoë Hanley, Northwest representative of Defenders of Wildlife, said in a letter to lawmakers that the bill is, "an assault on Idaho's wolf population," and hunting wolves does not reduce the loss of livestock.

"Important decisions about wildlife management and policy should be based on science, not politics. SB 1211 provides an opportunity for nearly anyone to kill wolves year-round under the guise of reducing livestock depredation and perceived conflicts with wildlife," Hanley said. "It sends a troubling message to Idahoans who care about wildlife that their elected officials would disregard science at the behest of special interests, and at the expense of a native wildlife species."

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jord_mendoza.