Idaho Department of Fish and Game employees have been instructed to halt communications with an environmentalist who is accused of harassing staffers and assaulting a top state official, the agency said Monday.

Agency Deputy Director Virgil Moore sent a memo Monday to Fish and Game employees urging them to avoid phone conversations with Jon Marvel, head of Hailey-based anti-grazing group Western Watersheds Project.

"Jon's behavior is simply out of hand," Moore said in an interview after the memo was released. "It's a pattern of behavior we've seen toward public officials. And I've asked (employees) … to politely withdraw from communicating with Mr. Marvel."

Moore alleges Marvel shouted at Wayne Wright, the Fish and Game commissioner who represents the Magic Valley, on Dec. 17 after a public meeting in Hailey about removing wolves from the endangered species list. Moore and another official stepped between the two as Marvel began to shout, and as the men were leaving the building, Marvel cursed at Wright and shoved him in the back or side, Moore said.

Fish and Game officials said they didn't press charges or alert police because they didn't want to inflame tensions between Marvel and the department.

Marvel has repeatedly harassed and threatened Fish and Game employees in phone calls, Moore said, which also prompted the memo.

Marvel has a history of run-ins with government officials. The Bureau of Land Management banned its staffers from communicating with Marvel for one year after an incident in May 2000, when officials said he orally and physically threatened BLM workers during a public tour of rangeland in Cassia County. Marvel disputed the accusations, and no charges were filed after a U.S. Attorney's Office investigation.

Marvel's Western Watersheds Project has won numerous court battles with government agencies over public land and wildlife management. Most recently, the group has clashed with officials over bighorn sheep, sage grouse and wolves.

Moore said he spoke early Monday afternoon with Marvel, who expressed an interest in meeting with agency officials to resolve their concerns.

Marvel did not return calls seeking comment for this article.

Matt Christensen may be reached at 735-3243 or at matt.christensen@lee.net.