Idaho lawmakers have approved a bill authorizing the state to kill up to 90% of its grey wolf population*, a measure championed by farmers and cattle ranchers. The Idaho House of Representatives this week voted 58-11 to approve the fast-tracked legislation, which passed the state senate last week with backing from the agricultural sector, who say the wolves are killing or scaring off sheep, cattle and other farm animals… The first-term governor Brad Little has six days to sign or veto the measure, which becomes law if he takes no action in that time…If the governor signs the legislation, the state would be permitted to hire contractors to kill the wolves and hunters would have no limits on the number they could target. Wildlife conservation groups have called on Governor Little to veto the legislation.
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*Gray wolves were delisted from the Endangered Species Act last year by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which said the population had sufficiently recovered to no longer warrant protection.
Source: Reuters
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