IDAHO — On Thursday, Feb. 15, more than 30 wildlife conservation groups urged the U.S. Forest Service to prohibit Idaho from paying private contractors to shoot wolves from aircraft in national forests in central and southeastern Idaho.
The letter asked the Forest Service to grant a 2023 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity. On Nov. 28, wildlife conservation groups submitted a legal petition asking the U.S. Forest Service to immediately ban the aerial killing of wildlife in Idaho national forests.
Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) authorizes numerous private operators to kill canids, like coyotes and wolves, from aircraft each year. In 2023, the agency authorized over 20 private operators to kill hundreds of coyotes and foxes and unlimited numbers of wolves, according to a recent report from the agency.
According to the ISDA Airborne Control of Unprotected or Predatory Animals Rules, aerial killing is for the protection of land, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life or crops.
The petition opposing the aerial killing, explained that gunning down wolves from helicopters risks harm to other wildlife like grizzly bears and Canada lynx, as well as public safety and wilderness values, according to Center for Biological Diversity.
The Center for Biological Diversity warns that if the Forest Service fails to promptly grant the petition, conservation groups might consider legal action in federal court.
