Senate bill may put Idaho at risk for wolf relisting

Senate Bill 1305 sponsored by Senator Siddoway and passed through the Senate Resources and Conservation committee aims to put tools in the hands of landowners and livestock owners burdened by depredation of their herds and guard dogs by wolves.  As the committee learned in a hearing on Wednesday, the bill might also put the wolf back on the table for re-listing.

At issue is a tenant of the bill that would allow the use of live bait in attracting wolves to be trapped or shot.  Senator Siddoway said he was astonished at the reaction from the public on the subject, and that people were expressing more compassion for the animal serving as live bait, than for dozens of sheep or 18 guard dogs he’d lost to wolves.  While Senator Stennet said she was confident that Siddoway’s intent was not to open the door to animal cruelty, and was equally sure he would not leave an animal of his unprotected, she was also concerned that the bill fails to specify the parameters under which live bait could be used and proper precautions to prevent cruelty by others.

Senators Werk and Cameron agreed on language in the bill that they said was problematic.  The bill says landowners may make use of the tools available to them “notwithstanding any other provisions of Idaho law.” Siddoway said that particular statement was based on the case of an Ashton, Idaho resident who faced criminal charges after killing two wolves in his front yard he feared were a threat to his children.  Siddoway also cited cases where landowners who were legally hunting coyotes at night with artificial light feared prosecution from Fish and Game officials.

Senator Cameron was unsatisfied with that explanation,saying the language made it possible for an individual illegally hunting after hours to claim that he was participating in a wolf depredation hunt under the law.

“That 'notwithstanding' language creates a hole that a person could drive a Mac truck through,” he said. 

Senator Werk agreed.

“The language about ‘notwithstanding’ is about as broad an exemption as any I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Werk also expressed concern about the live bait tenant of the bill.  He said because the parameters for using such a tool weren’t properly established.

“With live bait, whether or not the intent is to have individuals that would be engaging in the practice that would be diligent in protecting the live bait,” he said, “there’s nothing in this code that would dictate that anyone would need to be diligent.”

Senator Tippets said that he had spoken with Congressman Mike Simpson who said that if this bill passes, wolves might likely be relisted.  Although Tippets said he supported further examining this possibility, at issue was the rights of Idahoans to protect their personal property.

“When is enough, enough?” He asked. “The majority of Idahoans did not favor introducing wolves in the first place.  ….  I don’t know if this is the perfect solution, but I think we need to provide something to these landowners to protect their livestock.”

The bill passed on a 7 to 2 roll call vote, with Stennet and Werk opposing.