‘An abomination’: Idaho hunters earned thousands of dollars to kill newborn wolf pups, records reveal
Summary
Idaho records show that three hunters killed 12 newborn wolf pups in the state’s northern panhandle on April 25, and a reimbursement program paid $2,000 per wolf kill. The killings took place under state rules that do not prohibit killing pups, amid efforts to reduce Idaho’s reintroduced wolf population.Key Facts
- Three hunters killed a total of 12 wolf pups in Idaho’s northern panhandle on April 25, according to state records.
- The pups were likely between one and three weeks old.
- The state’s reimbursement program paid $2,000 for each wolf kill through the hunting season that ended in June.
- The program reimburses hunters and trappers for expenses that can include fuel, ammunition, vehicle payments and outdoor clothing.
- Idaho’s wolf depredation control board oversees payments for third-party wolf killings.
- A 2021 state law loosened hunting restrictions, removed limits on killing methods and allowed people to hire others to kill wolves.
- State biologist Cory Mosby confirmed the 12 animals were pups and said no state regulation bars killing them.
- Records say rifles were used, but at least two entries also state that no weapon was used.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
