This annotated bibliography reviews seven scholarly sources on the reintroduction of gray wolves into Idaho and the Rocky Mountain region. The sources address interconnected themes including biodiversity conservation and indigenous self-determination, tribal sovereignty under the Endangered Species Act, livestock depredation dynamics, wolf population establishment and reproduction, legal frameworks governing wolf hunting, and the political role of Native American tribes—particularly the Nez Perce—in wolf recovery management. Together, these sources provide a comprehensive overview of the ecological, legal, and sociopolitical dimensions of wolf reintroduction efforts in Central Idaho.
This annotated bibliography compiles seven scholarly and scientific sources addressing the reintroduction of gray wolves into Idaho and the surrounding Rocky Mountain region. The sources span from 1997 to 2011 and approach wolf reintroduction from multiple disciplinary perspectives: conservation biology, tribal law, wildlife management, ecology, and natural resource policy. Collectively, these works illuminate the complex intersection of ecological restoration, indigenous rights and sovereignty, livestock management, legal frameworks, and political negotiation that characterizes wolf recovery efforts in Idaho. The bibliography is organized thematically to reveal connections across these domains.
Schmidt and Peterson (2008) provide a foundational framework for understanding wolf reintroduction as a problem of simultaneous biodiversity conservation and cultural preservation. Publishing in Conservation Biology, they examine gray wolf recovery in Idaho, western Montana, Washington, and western Wyoming through the lens of indigenous self-determination. The authors emphasize that "Indigenous peoples and their lands in the United States provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate the relationship among self-determination by indigenous peoples, biodiversity conservation, and governmental statutes, regulations, and policies." This source is essential for understanding that wolf reintroduction cannot be evaluated solely on ecological grounds; it must account for the sovereignty and land management practices of Native American tribes whose territories overlap with wolf habitat.
Ohlson and Trulio (2006) examine the legal partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nez Perce Tribe as they undertake wolf recovery in Central Idaho. Their work, published in Masters Abstracts International, focuses specifically on how the Endangered Species Act intersects with tribal sovereignty. By documenting this collaborative framework, the authors show how federal wildlife law and tribal authority can operate in tandem, setting a precedent for other Native American-led conservation initiatives across the United States.
Bradley and Pletscher (2005) shift focus to the ecological and economic dimensions of wolf reintroduction by examining livestock depredation. Their empirical study, published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin, sampled cattle pastures across Montana and Idaho to identify factors associated with wolf predation on domestic animals. This research is critical because livestock depredation represents one of the primary sources of opposition to wolf reintroduction among ranching communities. Understanding the conditions that increase or decrease predation risk helps inform practical management strategies. Complementing this work, Oakleaf, Curt, and Murray (2003) conducted a longitudinal study over two grazing seasons in Central Idaho to measure the direct impact of wolves on livestock calf survival and movements. Published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, their findings provide quantitative evidence of the trade-offs between wolf population recovery and agricultural production in shared landscapes.
Fritts and colleagues (1997) document the outcomes of the initial wolf reintroduction effort itself. Their work, published in Restoration Ecology, reports that wolves released into Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho "continued to live as packs, stayed closer to their release sites and settled into home ranges; two packs produced a total of nine pups." This evidence of successful pack formation, territorial establishment, and reproduction demonstrates that reintroduced wolves could adapt to the Rocky Mountain ecosystem and sustain viable populations without continuous human intervention.
"Shifting legal status of wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana"
"Nez Perce role in natural resource policymaking and wolf recovery politics"
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