i v e i ve been speaking to the project director of living with wolves and asked for his reaction. wolves and asked for his reaction- wolves and asked for his reaction. 3 , ., . ., reaction. it s very tragic to see this reaction. it s very tragic to see this kind reaction. it s very tragic to see this kind of reaction. it s very tragic to see this kind of thing - reaction. it s very tragic to i see this kind of thing happen after such a successful recovery over the years. we do not have too many wolves in idaho. we have far more black bears, 20,000, and about 3000 to 4000 mountain lions. wolves are not the problem they are made out to be, and incidentally, when we look at legislation for this, this particular piece of legislation was written by two branches. they are rancher politicians, and a third rancher, who was a retired politician, was also involved in the drafting of this legislation. it was also given input by the wool growers
senator mark harris who sponsored the legislation that passed in the senate last week said there were more than 1,500 wolves and they want to get that number down to 150. people could be paid up to $1000 for each wolf they kill. garrick dutcher is researcher, documentarian and project director of living with wolves. he s in sun valley, idaho. hejoins us now. thanks very much forjoining us. obviously you have been a big part in the reemergence in the wild and theyjust wonder reemergence in the wild and they just wonder what you make of this decision? of this decision? corrects david and of this decision? corrects david and thank - of this decision? corrects david and thank you - of this decision? corrects david and thank you for. of this decision? corrects - david and thank you for having me. well, it is very tragic to see this kind of thing happen after such a successful recovery over the years. we do not have too many wolves and idaho, we have far more black bears, 20,000 black bea
in idaho, we have far more black bears, 20,000 black bears and about 3,000 4,000 mountain lions. wolves are not the problem that they are made out to be and incidentally, when we look at legislation like this, this particular piece of legislation was written by two ranchers. they are rancher politicians, and a third rancher who is a retired politician was also involved in drafting this legislature, and then it was also given input by the wool growers association, the cattlemen association in idaho and a couple of hunting groups. right, i was just going to say, and i should point out that i think these pictures are from your documentary work, as well. they are magnificent creatures but when you say that they are not the problem, of course the argument is that they are because they are attacking elks and deer and cattle, and you mentioned the ranchers being behind this particular legislation. notjust killing the cattle but worrying the cattle, too, and that has an adverse
nomadland is turning into the night s big winner after securing the best picture winner at the covid safe 93rd academy awards in los angeles. more of that in a moment. one of the success stories in the wilds of the us state of idaho in recent years has been the return of wild wolves. but now they are under threat again because of that success. the state house of representatives could vote as early as monday to approve legislation allowing private contractors to kill up to 90% of the wolves. and if it passes, the bill would go to the governor to be signed off. howling. the sounds and pictures from a documentary on those wolves. senator mark harris, who sponsored the legislation that passed in the senate last week, said there were more than 1500 wolves and they want to get that number down to 150. people could be paid up to $1000 for each wolf and pup that they kill.
association, the cattlemen association in idaho and a couple of hunting groups. right, i was just going to say, and i should point out that i think these pictures are from your documentary work, as well. they are magnificent creatures but when you say that they are not the problem, of course the argument is that they are because they are attacking elks and deer and cattle, and you mentioned the ranchers being behind this particular legislation. notjust killing the cattle but worrying the cattle, too, and that has an adverse affect on farmers lives. yeah, ok, so, we live in a state with 2.5 million head of cattle, which far outnumber the people here, and wolves killed in the last fiscal year of wildlife services keeping track of this, about 102 of them out of 2.5 million cows and 300,000 sheep. that is how many confirmed depredations occurred by wolves on livestock in the given year.