Take Action To Urge The U.S. Forest Service To Ban Shooting Wolves From Helicopters In Idaho

More than 30 wildlife conservation groups urged the U.S. Forest Service to prohibit Idaho from paying private contractors to shoot wolves from aircrafts in national forests in central and southeastern Idaho. The Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board recently approved the controversial predator control measure.

Specifically, last week’s letter asked the Forest Service to grant a 2023 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity. The petition explained that gunning down wolves from helicopters also risks harm to other wildlife, such as grizzly bears and Canadian lynx, as well as public safety and wilderness values.

If the Forest Service fails to promptly grant the petition, the groups may consider legal action in federal court.

“Aerial gunning of wolves and other “predator control” methods have no place in modern wildlife conservation, especially not on our federal public lands. We urge the Forest Service to protect wildlife and ban aerial gunning and other killing practices on National Forest lands,” Regan Downey, Director of Education at the Wolf Conservation Center told WAN.

“Recreationists should not have to worry about their safety while enjoying our public lands,” said Christine Gertschen, co-director of the Conservation Connection Foundation. “Aerial gunning is dangerous for all concerned, especially for our native wildlife.”

The Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board is funded primarily by tax dollars. The proposals approved for funding could allow aerial gunning across much of Idaho, including lands in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Boise National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, Sawtooth National Forest, and Payette National Forest.

“Aerial gunning prioritizes wolf killings over the health and safety of our shared forests,” said Sasha Truax, president of Teens Restoring Earth’s Environment. “It is a twisted abuse of public funding and its continuance exposes the brutality of wolf management on public lands. It must be stopped.”

“The #RelistWolves Campaign stands united with over 30 wildlife conservation groups in urging the U.S. Forest Service to stop the inhumane practice of shooting wolves from helicopters in our national forests. The state should be embarrassed to be connected to this type of barbaric news. Ironically, the state has also contracted Trevor Walch, whose license has been revoked by multiple state wildlife agencies due to his long history of trapping violations and practices. This act not only poses harm to wolves but also to all other endangered and threatened wildlife in the area. Recreationists will now have to worry about their safety as well when visiting national forests if the U.S. Forest Service does not put an immediate stop to this means of harassing and slaughtering wolves,” Leslie Williams and Samantha Attwood, founding members of the #RelistWolves Campaign, told WAN.

Take action by calling the U.S. Forest Service at (800) 832-1355 and urge them to prohibit Idaho from paying private contractors to shoot wolves from helicopters. 

You can also take action for wolves by signing #RelistWolves’ letter HERE!