Story Published: Nov 16, 2007 at 11:53 PM PDT
Story Updated: Nov 17, 2007 at 12:18 AM PDT
The Anti-Wolf Coalition is working on an initiative that would essentially allow the state to get rid of what they call a Canadian gray wolf “problem” in the region.
"The facts are, each Canadian wolf will kill 16 to 24 ungulates," said President of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition Ron Gillett. "For each one, they will kill twice that many for sport killing, then, they will follow the elks herds around in the spring, and kill the calves as fast as they're born."
The coalition’s guest speaker, veterinarian Dr. Rex Rammell, is running to replace Larry Craig in the U.S. Senate. Rammell said he's also against the state's current wolf plan.
"I've put together some scientific data that verifies the serious damage that they're doing on the elk herds and the deer herds," said Rammell.
The initiative petition needs 45,893 signatures by April 1. If that number is met, and the initiative passed, it would give the state the right to not follow the federal government's wolf management plan, and remove any re-introduced wolves from the area.
"We are not against the Idaho wolf, the smaller Idaho wolf, that was here before," said Gillett. "We do not have a problem with them."
Rammell said the petition isn't just about killing wolves.
"I'm an animal scientist, I'm a veterinarian, and I'm approaching it from a scientific argument," said Rammell. "I wanted to prove that they are doing damage, and they're going to take our numbers out, our big game numbers."
Gillett said he is holding meetings like Thursday night’s throughout the state in an attempt to fill the petition. Gillett said he would be gathering signatures this weekend's gun show at the Nez Perce County Fairgrounds.
