A report from Washington indicates ongoing gray wolf recovery efforts are taking their toll on state budgets.

“Idaho has around 20,000 black bears and 2,500 mountain lions. They’re of similar size to wolves, occupying roughly the same space, yet those two species cause very little conflict in terms of livestock compared with wolves,” Todd Grimm, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services Program for Idaho, told the Spokesman Review.

“Idaho probably spends less than $10,000 dealing with depredation by bears and cougars. Last year, $576,357 was spent dealing with wolf depredation.”Wolf Management Costs, 2016

Number of Wolves: 790 minimum

Status: Delisted

Revenue from Hunting-Trapping: $437,000



Number of Wolves: 90 minimum

Status: Listed for state and/or federal Endangered Species

Revenue from Hunting-Trapping: $0



Number of Wolves: 540 minimum

Status: Delisted

Revenue from Hunting-Trapping: $400,000

*includes $135,000 for livestock depredation