WILDLIFE BOARD: Unnecessary bureaucracy

When livestock producers in Idaho experience a possible predation event involving wolves, mountain lions, black bears, or grizzly bears, they typically contact the USDA’s APHIS-Wildlife Services. Within 48 hours, a federally trained investigator arrives to conduct a necropsy (animal autopsy) to determine whether a predator was responsible. 

On March 13, Gov. Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1012 into law, creating the Idaho Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board. This board allows livestock producers to bypass professional Wildlife Services investigations in favor of a closed-door review by the director of Idaho Fish and Game (or their designee), the director of the Department of Agriculture (or their designee), and a veterinarian appointed by the governor. While veterinarians play a critical role in animal health, most are not trained in necropsies or in distinguishing the kill patterns of wolves versus coyotes, or black bears versus grizzlies.  

The new board may lack the forensic expertise of trained investigators, yet will have the power to overturn their findings, potentially leading to more compensation claims without solid evidence, all at taxpayers’ expense. Adding to the concern, trapping and hunting reports from the previous six months, along with prior depredation incidents in an area, can be used as justification for overturning a Wildlife Services’ determination. Just because predators have been documented in an area before doesn’t mean they were responsible for a specific livestock loss. Will ranchers now be able to receive taxpayer money without sufficient evidence to support their claims? 

This bill introduces unnecessary government bureaucracy, undermines trained investigators, and opens the door for abuse of a taxpayer-funded compensation program. 

MEGAN SMITH

Program Director,

Living with Wolves