Today the Idaho Legislature passed SB 1211—a heinous bill that would allow the slaughter of 90 percent of Idaho’s 1,500 wolves by any means: traps, snares, aerial shooting, running over with snowmobiles—and even wildlife killing contests. There will be no bag or tag purchase limits or seasonal respite from trapping. The bill seizes wildlife management authority from the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and supports the hiring of contract killers with an additional $190,000 from the Idaho Wolf Control Fund, which already receives $400,000 to kill wolves. Read this Guardian article to see international coverage of the issue.
Our last chance to stop this all-out war against wolves in Idaho is to urge Governor Brad Little to veto this bill. Even if you don’t live in Idaho, you can still speak up. Idaho needs to know the world is watching!
Urge Governor Little to veto SB 1211 TODAY!
Here’s how you can help:
1. Call Governor Little at 208-334-2100 now and follow up with an email to governor@gov.idaho.gov urging him to veto SB 1211, using the talking points below.
2. Share this action alert and infographic with friends and family and on social media!
Talking points to craft your message (please personalize):
● If you are from or currently live in Idaho, state your town. If you don’t have connections to Idaho, explain why you will not spend your tourism dollars in a state like Idaho that wantonly slaughters wildlife.
● Over 76% of Idahoans believe wildlife belongs to all citizens and that management decisions should be made without political influence by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission – whose members oppose this bill 5-2.
● Taking authority away from the Commission and the agency biologists that inform them is not science-based management and sets a dangerous precedent for the management of other wildlife.
● Wolves cause less than 1% of cattle deaths and any depredation can be properly managed without this bill.
● Killing wolves at this rate will only support decisions to relist them with Endangered Species Act protections.
● Wolves alive and thriving bring value to Idaho in many forms, including ecosystem services and tourism dollars.
● The majority of Idahoans and Americans support wolf recovery at levels where wolves can fulfill their ecological functions. Almost no one supports wasting tax dollars to recover wolves, just to exterminate them again.
Thank you for acting TODAY to protect Idaho’s wolves and their ecosystems!
For Wild Nature,
Camilla Fox
Founder & Executive Director
Michelle Lute, PhD
National Carnivore Conservation Manager