Last Jan. the IDFG got permission from the Forest Svc to use helicopters inside the Frank Church wilderness are to radio collar elk in a wolf predation study. While they were at it, they collared 4 wolves which they did NOT have permission to do. A lawsuit claimed that the FS didn't have the authority to allow the use of the helicopter. It ended up in court and a federal judge has ordered them to destroy all the data they collected from the entire study.
BOISE — A federal judge has ordered Idaho to destroy all information collected from collars placed on elk and wolves obtained illegally by landing a helicopter in a central Idaho wilderness area.
U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill in a ruling made public Thursday says it's such an extreme case that the only way to stop the ongoing harm is to order the destruction of data.
Winmill says the U.S. Forest Service in January 2016 broke environmental laws when it authorized Idaho Fish and Game to put collars on elk by making helicopter landings in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, where engines are prohibited.
The state agency collared about 60 elk, but it also put non-authorized collars on four wolves. The state agency blamed miscommunication with a helicopter crew.
