For hunters, having to share Idaho’s wildlife with a growing wolf population could become a problem, writes Samantha Arnold.

By Samantha Arnold

Here in Idaho, the passion residents have for the wildlife and scenery is clear. Conservation is certainly a heated topic and everyone has their own ideas on how to best protect wildlife. However, those who most commonly contribute to conservation efforts are hunters.

I have heard several opinions on this issue and can see the merit in all. Some argue that wolves were native to this area and that game survived for hundreds of thousands of years without management. The only thing that has changed now, they say, is that humans hunt in the area. Meaning the demise of the wolf is the hunter’s doing.

This is certainly a valid argument.

But the drop in big game herds is not just a wolf issue – it is a predator, land and human issue. As the human population rises, whether they hunt or not, the increase causes a decrease in the amount of natural resources and land that the animals can safely access.

Two predators have been reintroduced to Idaho wildlife – the Canadian grey wolf and the grizzly bear. While these animals are both considered natural predators to these big game herds, the herds have not had to deal with these added threats for decades. As a predator, a gray wolf is one of the few that will kill not only for food, but also for sport. One wolf will kill, on average, one cow, doe, sheep, calf or other prey per month. This is not one pack, this is one wolf. There can be packs of five or more wolves.