Shortly thereafter, his carcass was discovered and retrieved in May of 1999. Wolf recovery in Idaho has greatly benefited from the tolerance afforded wolves by the citizens of Idaho. The Wolf Recovery Program praises the, patience, understanding, and willingness to work together of all the livestock producers and private landowners we have had the pleasure of working with. Unfortunately, the poisoning of these two wolves is a somber reminder of how tenuous the wolf's foothold is in Idaho and how short sighted attitudes of a few could prolong the burdens to many rural Idahoans by delaying the recovery of wolves in the northern Rockies. It is important to remember there is overwhelming public support for restoring wolves across the United States, and the Service has a legal mandate to recover endangered species and remains committed to wolf recovery in the northern Rockies.
Wolves are here to stay in Idaho.
Illegal take of wolves will only serve to delay delisting thereby prolonging federal management of wolves under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. Delisting, or removing the wolf from the Endangered Species list, is to the benefit of all. Only after the wolf population has recovered will the federal government relinquish management authority, allowing for more local and flexible management of wolves to address wolf conflicts.