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Idaho Office
P.O. Box 773
Boise, ID 83701
Fax: (208) 424-0169
The staff in the Idaho office of Defenders of Wildlife deals primarily with wolf conservation in the Northern Rockies. Since the dispersal of wolves into northwest Montana in the 1980’s, the Idaho office has played a large part in the continuing restoration of this keystone species, as well as the conservation of their natural habitat. This work helps to reduce conflict between livestock producers and wolves, and therefore increases local tolerance for wolves in the region.
Defenders works closely with natural resource agencies, local and regional conservation organizations and the public to increase awareness about conservation.
Key Projects and Programs:
The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Compensation Trust: This program helps to reduce political opposition to wolf recovery by shifting the economic burden of livestock losses from the ranchers to wolf supporters. Defenders achieves this by reimbursing livestock owners for losses incurred due to wolf predation.
The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund: The single leading cause of wolf mortality in the northern Rockies is the lethal control of wolves by government agencies in response to livestock predation incidents. Defenders works with family ranchers and uses a number of non-lethal wolf deterrents to help prevent or reduce the number of livestock depredations by wolves.
Promoting acceptable, science-based wolf recovery: Defenders works to defeat any state legislative bills or plans aimed at crippling wolf recovery efforts, attempts to eradicate predator populations without scientific merit or support and attacks on general endangered species issues. This involves working closely with the tribes, local conservation organizations and agencies to promote acceptable, science-based state wolf restoration strategic plans.
Livestock Producer Advisory Council: Defenders established the Livestock Producer Advisory Council in 2004. The council consists of three or more representatives of the livestock industry serving a one-year term eligible for reappointment. This collaboration builds on Defenders’ firm commitment to work with livestock producers to prevent and resolve conflicts between predators and livestock. By volunteering their invaluable expertise, they help to offer recommendations that support the conservation goals of these programs while addressing the concerns of livestock producers.
Key Accomplishments:
- Since 1987, when the Bailey Wildlife Foundation first started reimbursing producers, over $800,000 dollars has been paid in compensation for livestock predated by wolves. The fund has made 550 payments for depredation incidents, which represents almost the total number of confirmed livestock killed by wolves.
- Contributed more than $275,000, through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund since 1998, to over 50 programs to help local ranchers and communities use non-lethal measures to protect livestock from wolves before conflicts happen.
- Working closely with Wildlife Services and the Nez Perce tribe with on-going experimentation of non-lethal wolf deterrents like fladry (rope with red flags strung at fixed intervals). Fladry is proving to be a cost-effective way to keep calving pastures, nighttime sheep enclosures and bee-yards predator-free.
