Wolf education enterprise group appeals to high court

Wolf People is appealing its wildlife exhibition license suspension to the Idaho Supreme Court.

The litigation stems from an Idaho Department of Fish & Game licensing action against the wolf education enterprise. The state suspended Wolf People's exhibition license for failing to comply with a 2012 consent agreement.

The agreement resolved 43 license violations, which included failing to report the escape of a captive wolf and transporting wolves without permission. The overarching goal of the agreement, however, was to curb Wolf People's practice of allowing guests to touch wolves, according to Fish & Game records.

The agreement called for the installation of additional barriers to thwart guest contact with wolves and for Wolf People to secure a performance bond to foster compliance with the pact.

Wolf People, which argued the agreement did not expressly prohibit guests' direct contact with the wolves, petitioned for a judicial review of the licensing action. Wolf People's counsel, Coeur d'Alene attorney Arthur Bistline, contended the license suspension amounted to a criminal penalty and Wolf People was working with Fish & Game to secure the performance bond when its license was clipped.

Second District Judge Jay Gaskill, however, rejected those arguments and ruled in June that Wolf People's due-process rights had not been violated during the license proceedings.

Wolf People is reiterating its earlier arguments to the state's high court on appeal, court records show. Bistline filed a notice of appeal on Aug. 18.

The suspension of Wolf People's license was stayed amid the litigation.