On December 6, 2021, Wilderness Watch and a dozen allies filed a lawsuit against the State of Idaho over its barbaric new wolf-killing laws that could not only kill up to 90 percent of wolves in the state, but injure and kill other imperiled species such as grizzly bears, which are listed under the Endangered Species Act and are present where wolves are being targeted. Wolves were protected under the Endangered Species Act until Congress de-listed them in 2011.
On January 4, 2024, Federal Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale heard arguments about whether to halt wolf trapping in Idaho to protect grizzly bears. Grizzly bears are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and wolf trapping risks killing or harming them. Click here to watch Wilderness Watch’s Dana Johnson explain what’s at stake for wolves, grizzly bears, and Wilderness throughout the state of Idaho.
Idaho’s new laws radically increase opportunities for wolf killing, including within millions of acres of designated Wilderness, through largely unrestricted year-round hunting, trapping, and snaring with no limit on the number of wolves a person can kill. Idaho has even established a “bounty system” where wolf-killers can be paid for each dead wolf they bring in. The new laws also increase the risk of death and injury to other animals, particularly where baited traps are used. In 2020 alone, two grizzly bears were killed in North Idaho after being caught in wolf snares. One of those grizzlies was found dead with a wolf snare sinched around its neck and another snare wrapped around its paw.
Over the last 30 years, trappers have captured at least 19 grizzly bears in traps and snares set for wolves in Idaho and surrounding areas. Many of those grizzly bears suffered injuries, and four of them died. There are likely numerous additional grizzly bear captures, injuries, and deaths that have gone unreported, and there are many more if you count traps set for coyotes. Further demonstrating the risk to grizzlies, trappers in Idaho captured at least 75 black bears since 2012 in traps set for wolves and other animals—20 of those bears were killed.
The risk to grizzly bears is clear and unacceptable, and Idaho’s new wolf killing rules come at a time when grizzly bears—against incredible odds—are increasingly returning to their home ranges in Idaho. “Idaho’s persecution of wolves has reached an astounding new low,” said Dana Johnson, staff attorney for Wilderness Watch’s Idaho office. “The collateral killing and harassment of already struggling grizzly bears is both unacceptable and illegal. It has to stop.”
Our lawsuit is asking a federal judge to halt recreational wolf trapping and snaring where grizzly bears might be present in Idaho, including in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness where grizzlies are making a notable reappearance after decades of absence.
Earthjustice is representing Wilderness Watch and our co-plaintiffs.
- Wilderness Watch explains what’s at stake for wolves, grizzly bears, and Wilderness throughout Idaho (1/4/2024)
- Media Advisory: Federal court in Boise will hold hearing January 4, 2024 on Idaho wolf trapping (1/4/2024)
- Read the complaint (12/6/2021)
- Read the TRO/PI (12/6/2021)
Here are some more of our efforts to protect wolves and Wilderness:
- Notice of intent to sue the State of Montana over its new wolf-killing laws.
- Petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent certain killing methods, hired killers, and paying bounties in Wilderness.
- Petition to relist wolves under the Endangered Species Act. In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is undertaking a status review of the gray wolf.
- Lawsuit challenging unlawful expansion of aircraft landing areas in River of No Return Wilderness. ID Fish and Game wants the airstrips open to facilitate wolf hunting.
Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service
