The Big, Bad Wolf or a Keystone Predator?
A 2010 study by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game starts to put wolf predation on elk in perspective
Fish and Game staff talk with members of the public about wolf management on a Sun Valley Trekking wolf ecology trip
In the August Fish and Game newsletter, Fish and Game biologists report that the negative impacts wolves are having on elk populations are often overstated.
While predators such as wolves can lead to declines in elk numbers, the study points out that elk numbers also depend on habitat conditions, weather, and hunter harvest.
Bears, mountain lions and hunters are responsible for more elk deaths than wolves in many areas. Yet hunters tend to be more accepting of sharing their hunting grounds with the more familiar bears and mountain lions.
Cow elk are above management goals in 10 of Idaho's 29 elk zones, meeting objectives in 13 zones, and below objectives in only 6 zones. Even more interesting is the density of wolves in these zones. In areas with very high wolf densities, three zones are actually meeting objectives for elk while one zone (the Lolo) is below objectives. While wolves are the main cause of mortality on the Lolo, it would be inaccurate to extrapolate that situation to other places in Idaho.
Kudos to Fish and Game to taking a scientific approach to the very emotional issue of wolf management and attempting to correct common misperceptions. If wolves are going to be managed as a big game species, management needs to be based on sound science and not hearsay. Unfortunately, and in spite of these findings, the Fish and Game Commission still plans on reducing the wolf population down to 500 with the help of traps and snares instead of maintaining the current levels. Let's continue to have a little more science with our management.
