WOLVES RE-INTRODUCED

Ranchers disagree with wolf re-introduction

Wolf recovery leader explains the goal of returning wolves to Idaho

In 1995 wolves hit the ground running in the Frank Church wilderness. To some, it was proof that the nation's Endangered Species Act was working. To many of the ranchers in the Salmon River country, however, it was idiocy to bring back a predator that had already been eradicated from the land for preying on cattle and sheep.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had determined that Yellowstone National Park and the Frank Church wilderness were the two best places to re-establish a grey wolf population in the West. In just a few short years, wolves in "the Frank" had expanded to twelve wolf packs and 115 wolves.

The Idaho Legislature has gone on record as opposing the federal wolf re-introduction plans, and have forbidden the Idaho Fish and Game Dept. from participating. So the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service turned to the Nez Perce Indian tribe. It was the first time the government had asked a tribe to run such a program. The wolves are returning.