Idaho Gov Calls for Wolf Kill - AP [View All]

Idaho Gov Calls for Wolf Kill

By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 11, 2007; 7:57 PM

BOISE, Idaho -- Idaho's governor said Thursday he will support public hunts
to kill all but 100 of the state's gray wolves after the federal government
strips them of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter told The Associated Press that he wants hunters
to kill about 550 gray wolves. That would leave about 100 wolves, or 10 packs,
according to a population estimate by state wildlife officials.

The 100 surviving wolves would be the minimum before the animals could again
be considered endangered.

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Otter complained that wolves are rapidly killing elk and other animals essential
to Idaho's multimillion-dollar hunting industry. The hunters, many wearing
camouflage clothing and blaze-orange caps, applauded wildly during his comments.

Suzanne Stone, a spokeswoman for the advocacy group Defenders of Wildlife
in Boise, said Otter's proposal would return wolves to the verge of eradication.

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