Controversy Brews over the Sole Remaining Wolf Pack in South Central Idaho
May 25, 2000
Since the disruption and probable elimination of the White Clouds and Twin Peaks wolf packs in Idaho, because of some livestock (cow calf) depredations, the level of controversy has risen. Most of it is associated with the Stanley Pack, which engaged in some minor cattle and sheep depredation last year (3 calves and 13 sheep, mostly lambs).
The Stanley Pack is a large pack that inhabits one of the most famous and scenic places in Idaho -- the Sawtooth Valley, Stanley Basin, the foothills of the Sawtooth Mountains and the west side of the White Cloud Mountains.
There is no immediate threat to this pack from the government. The pack is believed to have denned in the foothills of the White Cloud Mountains. This year will bring its 4 th litter. However, in a month sheep and cattle will return to this high mountain valley, and later some of these livestock will roam the mountains on public U.S. government grazing allotments.
Due to the vigorous, and some say excessive, control of the two nearby most southerly Idaho wolf packs, controversy has developed over the way the Stanley Pack will be handled IF livestock are killed this summer. Last year one Stanley Pack wolf responsible for killing both sheep and cattle was shot by Wildlife Services, a second wolf was trapped and moved, and a lethal take permit was given to William Brailsford, a sheep rancher. He killed no wolves.
Depredations ceased after the killing of one wolf and the movement of the other. Other than these depredations, the pack has coexisted with livestock for three years now.
The area is very cold and snowy in the winter, and it would probably not have an elk herd wintering there were it not for a number of private feeding operations. Rather than write an essay on the situation. I have put together a series of links of newspaper articles on the growing controversy.
May 10. The rise and fall of a wolf pack: The White Cloud Pack’s formation and demise. By Greg Stahl. Idaho Mountain Express.
May 18. Stanley wolves face uncertain summer: Conservationists fear Sawtooth pack could be next for lethal control by Greg Stahl. Idaho Mountain Express.
May 18 Idaho images: wolf killers, skulking arsonists, Aryans. Essay by Dick Dorworth. Idaho Mountain Express.The author refers to a burned "yurt." In early spring a yurt rented to backcountry skiers was burned in an arson fire. Some suspect snowmobilers. The title of the essay refers to the image Idaho is getting as a haven of neo-Nazis, anti-environmentalists, militias, and zany politicians.<http://www.mtexpress.com/2000/05-17-00/5-17dorworth.htm>
May 22 Activist calls for cease-fire on wolves: Others say killing problem wolves was part of the deal. by Steve Stuebner. High Country News.Just one comment on this. My view is that dialogue with ranchers on a White Clouds Wilderness is a waste of time. Folks have been talked for a generation, and the ranchers feel no need to support wilderness for the Boulder and White Clouds Mountains and no Idaho congressional will support one either, although every once and a while one (most lately Mike Simpson) makes a feint in that direction.
May 24 Wolf dilemma: Biologist working toward reviving wolf recovery effort. By Greg Stahl. Idaho Mountain Express.
"If the end result of problem wolves keeps becoming the elimination of packs it’s going to be really difficult to recover wolves." . . .Curt Mack, wolf recovery leader.
May 24 Wolf flight 'Beep…beep…beep'—on the trail of the Stanley pack By Greg Stahl. Idaho Mountain Express.
May 24 Federal official, conservationist clash on wolf recovery:Nez Perce leader brings Native American perspective to wolf debate. by Kevin Wiser. Idaho Mountain Express."It’s not that wolves are good or bad, they just are." Roy Heberger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Idaho wolf recovery leader.
May 24 In search of a wolf sanctuary in Idaho’s wild country. Commentary by Lynne Stone. (Stone is the director of the Boulder/White Clouds Council). Idaho Mountain Express.<http://www.mtexpress.com/2000/05-24-00/5-24oped.htm>Central Idaho Wolf Coalition, Inc., Founded. Challis Messenger. This organization's goal is to eliminate wolves from Idaho by legal political means and by lawsuits against wolf advocates.
<http://www.challismessenger.com/letters/giles.html>
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