Idaho wolf numbers increase 13% last year after decline in hunting and trapping

[bearpaw]

Idaho wolf numbers increase 13 percent last year after decline in hunting and trapping
 
By RYAN STRUYK - Associated Press April 03, 2015
 
BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Fish and Game Department says the number of wolves in the state has reached its highest level since 2010, following a corresponding decline in wolves killed by hunters and trappers.
 
The department's data shows the state's wolf population grew by 13 percent last year. Roughly 770 wolves currently live in Idaho, according to the data released Friday — well above the minimum of 150 wolves that keeps the animal off the federal endangered species list.
 
Meanwhile, hunters and trappers killed roughly 250 wolves last year — down by almost 100 from the previous year.
 
Still, the number of wolves does not approach the statewide peak of 856 wolves in 2009.
 
The numbers come after state lawmakers gave the Wolf Control Depredation Board another $400,000 in funding for next year.
 
source:
http://tinyurl.com/ns6m9bb

[cbond3318]

Is it that less people hunted for them or they had less success in killing them?

[idahohuntr]

Is it that less people hunted for them or they had less success in killing them?

That could be part of it.  I also believe it is the result of increased prey abundance (deer and elk) as a result of several mild winters in a row. 

[Bob33]

The math is interesting. If the population grew by 13 percent to 770, that implies that is started at 680 and that a net of 88 wolves were added.

The decrease in hunter and trapping harvest from the prior year was 100 wolves. If the same number of wolves had been killed last year as in the previous year, it would appear that the total number of wolves would have been about the same or a bit less: around 670 to 680.

[birddogdad]

you noticed that fuzzy math to Bob... Statistics really don't tell the truth, rather, what you want for an end result you back fit the fuzz

either way, they harvested 100 less

[stocmamu]

The math may add up if you consider mortalities not from hunters/trappers.  In 2014 there were 360 known mortalities (344 known cause and 16 unknown cause).  342 of the 344 known cause were human caused.  And finally 256 of the 342 human caused mortalities were from hunters/trappers.   But yea the take home message is 100 fewer wolves harvested in 2014 than 2013.