https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/06/laws-targeting-wolves/

BY CARSON MCCULLOUGH (COURTHOUSE NEWS)JUNE 9, 2021

(CN) — Wildlife advocates asked the U.S. Forest Service to double-up on protections for wolves in Idaho and Montana following recent pushes to dramatically cut wolf populations.

The petition, submitted to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday, comes shortly after two of the most wolf-rich states in the nation passed a slew of laws making it easier for hunters and trappers to kill the four-legged predators.

Montana passed measures that greatly expanded the trapping and killing capabilities for wolf hunters, while Idaho passed a law that calls for the killing of up to 90% of the state’s wolf population. Idaho also recently allowed their hunters to peruse the animals after hours with the help of night vision googles and ATVs.

While wolves were once classified as endangered, reintroduction efforts in the Northwest have proven extremely successful and have sent population numbers skyrocketing…