Tagged wolf killed in Idaho

ENTERPRISE, Ore. - An Oregon wolf known to biologists as OR-16 was killed by a hunter in Idaho.

It's the second gray wolf equipped with a tracking collar to be shot after leaving Oregon, where they cannot be hunted, or shot for attacking livestock.

Oregon wildlife officials say OR-16 was a member of the Walla Walla pack in northeastern Oregon and crossed the Snake River into Idaho last month. He was shot near Lowman, Idaho, on Saturday.

The killing of the wolf upset some members of wolf advocated organizations.

"When wolves were stripped of their protections as part of a political deal in 2011, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming celebrated by opening recreational killing seasons that have now claimed nearly 1,000 wolves - more than half of the known population in the western United States," Rob Klavins, wildlands and wildlife advocate for Oregon Wild, said in a news release.

Oregon does not allow the sport hunting of wolves but plans for agency staff to kill wolves in response to livestock depredation are under a court-ordered hold, state officials say.

Ann Sydow with Northern Idaho Wolf Alliance said the hunting of wolves isn't necessary to maintain wildlife balance.

"Idaho has countless deer, 103,000 elk, maybe 10,000 black bears, thousands of cougars, and most likely less than 500 wolves," she wrote.

The East Oregonian reported that as of Wednesday, 958 wolves have been killed in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as part of hunts aimed at reducing wolf numbers.