TWIN FALLS -- John Cranney has been roughing it the last few weeks.

Living out of his horse trailer, Cranney's a man on a mission traveling around Idaho. And, his mission is to get this question on the November ballot: should wolves be removed completely from Idaho?

"We've got wolves coming out our ears," Cranney said.

Cranney and other members of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition need to gather the signatures of 47,881 registered voters by April 30 to have their initiative put to voters. This week, Cranney is camped outside of Vickers Western Store in Twin Falls with the organization's petition.

For 17 years, Cranney has been an outfitter based in Salmon, offering fishing, whitewater rafting and hunting services. Wolves, however, have put a sizable dent in the hunting portion of the business, he says.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reintroduced wolves into central Idaho under the Endangered Species Act in 1995. The federal government did so over the protests of several politicians and residents in the state. Today, over 500 wolves live in Idaho.

The federal government assured Idahoans that the reintroduction of the wolf would not hurt wildlife populations in the state or businesses like Cranney's, he said. Yet, declining elk populations make it difficult for outfitters to attract clients, Cranney said.

Idaho's Office of Species Conservation has been working with the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a delisting strategy for the state. Idaho's Department of Fish and Game now fills the primary management role, following years of federal government control. However, that could be in jeopardy if the initiative passes, said Jeff Allen with the Office of Species Conservation.

"It would nullify the state management plan," Allen said.

If the state sticks with its present course, it has a much better chance of having wolves delisted, he said. However, the state found out during the early years of reintroduction that fighting the federal government won't work, Allen said.

That also has been the reluctant conclusion of board members with Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, said Nate Helm, executive director. The group opposed the reintroduction of wolves and maintains that current management of the species is insufficient.

"We've looked pretty hard at this issue," Helm said. "We believe the risks of supporting this petition outweigh the benefits."



Times-News reporter Michelle Dunlop can be reached at 735-3237 or by e-mail at mdunlop@magicvalley.com.