American state officials in Idaho paid hunters $2,000 per animal to kill newborn wolf pups this spring, with records showing at least one entire litter slaughtered directly inside its den. According to state records obtained by the Guardian and independently detailed by EnviroLink News, the state wildlife agency partnered with a deer and elk hunting group to reimburse expenses for anyone providing proof of a dead wolf.
Hunters Claim State Reimbursement for Operational Costs
The financial incentives covered operational costs including vehicle expenses, fuel, ammunition, and outdoor clothing. The reimbursement programme operated through the hunting season ending in June, offering thousands of pounds or dollars per carcass. Records from the Idaho state fish and game agency revealed that one specific haul claimed by hunters included 12 newborn pups. Unlimited permits remain available to hunt wolves in the state, with licences costing roughly £10 for Idaho residents and £23 for non-residents.
Official estimates put Idaho’s entire wild wolf population at approximately 1,129 animals in 2025. State officials stated last year that their objective is to reduce that total by more than half, aiming for a population floor of just 500 wolves. The cull was sanctioned following mounting pressure and complaints from livestock farms and the big game hunting industry.
Wildlife Advocacy Groups Condemn Government-Backed Bounty Programme
Wildlife advocacy groups have sharply condemned the programme. Brooks Fahy, director of Predator Defense, told the Guardian that the initiative was an abomination funded by taxpayers. He questioned the nature of the submitted claims, asking what receipts could realistically be shown for a dozen pups weighing only 12 pounds each, and asserted that the state should be ashamed of what he termed a government-backed bounty.
According to reporting by the Guardian, the 12 wolf pups were killed using a method known as stalking, where hunters spot an animal and sneak up on it to take a shot. Carter Niemeyer, formerly with the US Department of Agriculture’s wildlife services, expressed astonishment at the scale and method of the killings. He noted that eliminating 12 wolves in a single day via stalking is unprecedented in his experience, adding that a mother’s physical appearance would make locating an active den relatively straightforward for hunters.
While animal rights organisations continue to denounce the kill orders as abhorrent, state wildlife authorities have not altered their targets for reducing the regional population.
