On February 4, federal Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale upheld her prior decision to prohibit Idaho's authorization of recreational wolf trapping and snaring through spring, summer, and fall in areas that serve as grizzly bear habitat.
In a rare request, Idaho had asked the judge to reconsider her March 2024 ruling, seeking a reconsideration of her determination that recreational wolf trapping and snaring threatens grizzly bears and subsequent remedial decision to curtail the wolf-trapping season. The judge agreed to review the decision, but ultimately stuck with her initial ruling.
“Judge Dale's careful reconsideration of this lawsuit reaffirms that Idaho's wolf trapping program presents an unlawful risk of death and harm to imperiled grizzly bears in the state,” said Dana Johnson, attorney and policy director for Wilderness Watch. “Much like wolves, grizzly bears belong in Idaho, and the Court's injunction is an important step in securing their right to exist and flourish free from persecution.” Specifically, the judge’s decision ends wolf trapping and snaring in Idaho’s Panhandle, Clearwater, Salmon, and Upper Snake regions between March 1 and November 30 on public and private lands—including Wilderness—to prevent grizzly bears from being maimed or killed by traps and snares.
What that means for Wilderness is that this great news applies to the entire Selway-Bitterroot, Gospel-Hump, Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds, and Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wildernesses, as well as parts of the River of No Return, Hells Canyon, Hemingway-Boulders, and Sawtooth Wildernesses.
Joining us on this lawsuit were Friends of the Clearwater, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment, Global Indigenous Council, Footloose Montana, Trap Free Montana, Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United States, International Wildlife Coexistence Network, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, and Wolves of the Rockies. Our coalition was represented by Earthjustice.
While this ruling is a big victory for wolves, grizzly bears, Wilderness, and other native wildlife in Idaho, we fully expect the State of Idaho will appeal the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals as part of its quest to eradicate up to 90 percent of the wolves in Idaho. We’ll be ready when they do.
So please, if you are able, consider making a special donation so we can continue defending wolves, grizzly bears, and all the wildlife that call Wilderness home. |
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A generous member has pledged to DOUBLE all first-time donations up to $30,000 this year. |
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