Once, this was the argument ranchers made in emotional meetings over the management of the wolves. But lately the conveyors are spokespersons for the three states who are set to assume wolf management from the federal government, post-delisting. The official date for the handover from the feds to the states is March 28, if the environmental challenge doesn’t delay the process.

STATES’ RIGHTS, WILDLIFE AND LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

The states, which are all planning to institute wolf hunting seasons, bristle over the accusations that wolves will suffer under their watch.

“This is a big issue and we’re going to make sure we do it right,” said Steve Nadeau, large carnivore manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. “We know the whole world is watching and we’re not going to drop the ball. To assume that we’re going to drop this ball is ridiculous. Why would we do that?”

“The states have promised that wolves are here to stay at viable populations,’’ Nadeau said, pointing out that the state recently enacted a plan to maintain the wolves at current levels of between 500-700 animals, well above the 300 that some environmentalists said would be Idaho’s target level.

As for the fabled statement by Idaho’s new governor, who declared he wanted to be the first one to take down a wolf when hunting began, Nadeau said that the remarks were not indicative of the careful management the state has planned.

Wolf populations are extremely robust, says the wildlife manager of 25 years, and will be able to withstand the trophy hunting seasons being planned for them by Idaho (as well as Wyoming and Montana) because they can grow at rates of 20-25 percent a year, even after mortality rates are factored in.

He points to the mountain lion, once threatened, is more plentiful than ever since being de-listed. Some 800 of the wild cats are “harvested” in Idaho through hunting or wildlife control actions, compared with only about 80 when the cat was under federal protection, he said.

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