Idaho Tallies 108 Wolf Packs Across the State
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho wildlife officials say the number of gray wolves in the state remains well above the threshold required to keep the animals off the endangered species list.
KIFI-TV reports that Idaho Department of Fish and Game documented 108 wolf packs at the end of last year, with an estimated 786 wolves associated with those packs. In addition, there were 20 border packs counted by Montana, Wyoming and Washington that had established territories crossing into Idaho.
Biologists documented at least 33 packs that met breeding pair criteria at the end of 2015, well above the federal recovery requirement of 15 breeding pairs. The report also documents 358 wolf deaths. About 70 percent, or 256 wolves, were killed by hunters and trappers.