LEWISTON (AP) — Federal wildlife agents shot and killed 14 wolves from helicopters in northern Idaho as part of an effort to help increase the elk population in the Lolo zone.
The three-day operation earlier this month cost $22,500 and was carried out by USDA Wildlife Services and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Through Wednesday, hunters and trappers had taken 22 wolves from the Lolo zone, while another six were shot from helicopters last spring, bringing the total known wolf kills to 42.
In recent years, wolves have been identified as the primary cause of death in female elk and calves over 6 months old.
Before the start of the hunting season, the Lolo zone wolf population was estimated at 75 to 100, with additional animals crossing back and forth between Idaho and Montana.
$22,500 for a three days of having Federal Employees fly around in a helicopter and shoot wolves(I'm willing to bet that wasn't a tough job to find someone to do...), which actually doesn't sound like a totally out to lunch amount of money when one is discussing helicopters and the federal government.
But, there are a few outfit's down in Texas that will fly around in a helicopter to shoot feral hogs for $500 dollars an hour(minimum of 3 hours). I figure folks would be willing to pay at least 5 times that amount to shoot a wolf out of a helicopter. Heck, my boss is going on a bear/wolf hunt in the Selkirk's in May, and his hunt is over $4500...I guarantee he would be willing to pay that to shoot a wolf out of a helicopter.
We aren't talking a huge amount of cash...but even based off the price of a pig hunt, 14 wolves times $1500 bucks....is $21,000...IF everyone is successful. Figure in a 50% success rate, and you are looking at a 60K swing in the tax payers favor...
Of course, if I was one of these Federal Wildlife Officials, the last thing I'm going to do is let someone else fly around in one of MY helicopters shooting MY wolves...
At least they didn't do it on overtime...
The three-day operation earlier this month cost $22,500 and was carried out by USDA Wildlife Services and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Through Wednesday, hunters and trappers had taken 22 wolves from the Lolo zone, while another six were shot from helicopters last spring, bringing the total known wolf kills to 42.
In recent years, wolves have been identified as the primary cause of death in female elk and calves over 6 months old.
Before the start of the hunting season, the Lolo zone wolf population was estimated at 75 to 100, with additional animals crossing back and forth between Idaho and Montana.
$22,500 for a three days of having Federal Employees fly around in a helicopter and shoot wolves(I'm willing to bet that wasn't a tough job to find someone to do...), which actually doesn't sound like a totally out to lunch amount of money when one is discussing helicopters and the federal government.
But, there are a few outfit's down in Texas that will fly around in a helicopter to shoot feral hogs for $500 dollars an hour(minimum of 3 hours). I figure folks would be willing to pay at least 5 times that amount to shoot a wolf out of a helicopter. Heck, my boss is going on a bear/wolf hunt in the Selkirk's in May, and his hunt is over $4500...I guarantee he would be willing to pay that to shoot a wolf out of a helicopter.
We aren't talking a huge amount of cash...but even based off the price of a pig hunt, 14 wolves times $1500 bucks....is $21,000...IF everyone is successful. Figure in a 50% success rate, and you are looking at a 60K swing in the tax payers favor...
Of course, if I was one of these Federal Wildlife Officials, the last thing I'm going to do is let someone else fly around in one of MY helicopters shooting MY wolves...
At least they didn't do it on overtime...
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