The Idaho Department of Fish and Game killed 20 wolves in the state’s remote Lolo Zone last winter in an effort to aid elk herds there.

The state has partnered with the federal Wildlife Services Agency and private contractors to shoot wolves from helicopters in the upper reaches of the North Fork Clearwater River nearly every year since about 2011.

Fish and Game spokesperson Roger Phillips said in a statement that the Lolo elk herd is well below the state’s population objective.

“We’ve been working about a decade to reduce predator populations (wolves, black bears and mountain lions) in that zone to help elk herds recover,” he said. “Due to the remote nature of that area, it’s hard for hunters and trappers to get back there, which is why the commission decided to do the control actions for wolves. We also extended hunting seasons and allowed additional tags for hunters for black bears and mountain lions in that zone.”

Phillips said the operation cost $40,000.

Wolf advocates were quick to condemn the operation. Suzanne Asha Stone, director of the Idaho-based International Wildlife Coexistence Network, said killing wolves won’t bring elk back.

Elk populations boomed in the Lolo Zone following a series of large fires in the first half of the 20th century that created ideal habitat. But since then, the young forests and open brush fields that provided elk with abundant food have matured and closed in.

“There is no justification scientifically for killing off wolves in the Lolo,” Stone said. “We all know the history of the Lolo and (Fish and Game’s) own science reviewers have pointed out that even if they kill every single wolf, they can’t expect to have that Lolo herd return to its peak levels because the habitat has changed so severely. This isn’t about the elk. It isn’t about livestock loss. It is about killing wolves. It’s about treating wolves like vermin.”

Stone said if Idaho wants to reduce wolf numbers it should have live-trapped the animals and donated them to Colorado, where wildlife officials are seeking to reintroduce wolves. She said the Nez Perce Tribe and Colorado officials were working on such a plan.

Eric Kash Kash, director of the Nez Perce Wildlife Division, said the tribe opposes aerial gunning of wolves and Idaho’s aggressive management of the animals.

The tribe played a pivotal role in the reintroduction of wolves to the state more than 20 years ago. He said the tribe has had talks with Colorado but they stalled and no agreement to move wolves from Idaho to Colorado was approved.

“We have discussed the issue with the Colorado state governor and had several meetings but nothing came to fruition and we more or less veered away from that idea,” he said.

He said the tribe doesn’t have the needed staff or other resources to trap and move wolves, and wants to understand the position of tribal nations in Colorado who, he said, have expressed some concerns.

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.