Idaho wolves at a glance
by Idaho Fish and Game Department
January 22, 2009
Numbers: At the end of 2008 (tentative)
824 wolves, 88 packs of which 38 are considered breeding pairs. About 1,500 are found in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
84 wolves in 50 packs had radio collars in December 2008.
Distribution:
Wolves are found from the Canadian border to near Interstate 84 in southern Idaho, with most in the national forests of the central part of the state.
Most of this year's population growth has been in the Panhandle; the population south of Interstate 90 has increased only slightly.
Current Status:
North of Interstate 90 wolves are protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
South of Interstate 90 wolves are protected as an experimental, non-essential population under the Endangered Species Act.
What's Next:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expects the delisting rule to be published in the Federal Register on January 27.
The rule would take effect 30 days after that, unless blocked by the new administration.
After Delisting:
If the delisting rule goes into effect, Idaho Fish and Game would be the lead agency in wolf management.
Idaho would continue to monitor wolves and make annual reports to U.S. Fish and Wildlife for the following five years.
Any wolf hunting seasons would be set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission under the guidelines set out in the 2008 Wolf Population Management Plan.
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