Boise (670 KBOI News) – The state Wolf Depredation Control Board is on its way to becoming a permanent governmental entity, after a bill cleared the Idaho House Monday.
Senate Bill 1039 makes the Board permanent…it was scheduled to sunset this fiscal year. The bill also funds it by $200,000 for FY 2020, though supporters say that’s probably half the funding that will be needed in coming years.
Representative Laurie Lickley, a rancher from Jerome, says wolves are doing extensive damage to livestock.
“We have had, however, 47 cows, 72 calves, 89 sheep, three dogs, one horse, one goat, and two llamas confirmed killed so far this (fiscal) year,” said Lickley.
But Blanchard Representative Heather Scott said hunters and trappers can do the job better than another permanent governmental body, and at a lower cost.
“While 36 wolves killed, at a cost of about $9,000 a wolf, seems like a lot, when we leave it to the citizens in our area, we’ve killed over 100 this year,” said Scott. “So I don’t think this is a wise use of our money.”
The bill cleared the House 51-19…it’s now headed to Governor Little, who is expected to sign it.
