Several Idaho state lawmakers have received threatening letters from an anonymous writer over a controversial new law aimed at drastically reducing the wolf population in the state.
The Lewiston Tribune reports the letter describes lawmakers as “sellouts to the Cattle Association and that cattle producers dictate how wildlife lives and dies.”
The letter goes on to say “just as the wolf went from predator to prey, so shall you.”
It’s unknown how many lawmakers received the letters, but some found them disturbing enough to forward them to the Idaho State Police.
Locally, Genesee Republican Representative Caroline Troy, and Lewiston Republican Senator Dan Johnson, both received copies of the letter. Johnson noted the envelop had a Sacramento post mark, with the Statehouse in Boise listed on the return address.
The new law, which took effect July 1st, expanded the opportunity for Idaho hunters and landowners to kill wolves by removing all bag limits on the number of wolves that can be killed by hunting, trapping or snaring, and allowing wolves to be trapped year-round on private property.
Supporters of the measure want to reduce Idaho’s wolf population to 15 packs, or about 150 wolves – down from the current estimated population of 1,500.
Conservation groups filed a notice of intent to sue in July, saying the expanded trapping provisions under the new law pose a threat to other endangered species, like lynx and grizzly bears. (Lewiston Tribune)
