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Reward Increased for Information Leading to Killer of Big Smoky Pack Wolves. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement agents are hopeful that a reward of $10,000 will encourage the public to provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killing of two gray wolves in Camas County, Idaho. The Service and Defenders of Wildlife will combine their respective $4,000 rewards for the illegal deaths of the two animals with an additional $2,000 from the Wolf Education and Research Center.

The Big Smoky Pack wolves -- a male gray wolf, B-57, and the pack's alpha male, B-96 -- were both found dead near Fairfield in late November and early December, 2000. Special Agent Paul Weyland is asking for help with the cases currently under investigation, "We are asking the public for assistance in solving these cases. If anyone has information that may be helpful, please phone our law enforcement division."

Defenders of Wildlife and The Wolf Education and Research Center are anxious to locate and convict the perpetrators of the crimes, noting that this type of illegal activity undermines the collaborative efforts that have contributed to the success of the wolf recovery program in Idaho. Mitch Silvers, Managing Consultant for the Wolf Education and Research Center, said, "A great many citizens throughout the three-state reintroduction area have contributed considerable time, energy and dollars to ensure the success of gray wolf recovery. These illegal actions only extend the recovery period and hamper the efforts of the many individuals who have worked toward a balanced approach to reach goals for this program." Suzanne Laverty, Pacific Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, added, "When someone commits crimes like these, all of us lose. There is zero evidence that these two wolves were ever involved in livestock attacks; instead, they were innocent victims of someone's misguided hatred."

The killing of an animal protected under the Endangered Species Act is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and one year in jail. The Service is requesting that anyone who may have information regarding the illegal killings of B-57 or B-96, or who might have noticed suspicious behavior in this area during November and December, please contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife law enforcement agents at (208) 378-5333.