Idaho suspends license of Wolf People store, exhibit

COCOLALLA, Idaho (AP) — State officials have suspended the commercial license of a North Idaho company that exhibits 23 live wolves for among other things, violating a requirement that people can’t touch the wolves. The Bonner County Daily Bee reported today that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game suspended Wolf People’s license last month. Documents obtained by the Sandpoint newspaper say the yearlong suspension is because the company failed to comply with a 2012 agreement prohibiting visitors from having physical contact with the wolves and failing to get a $50,000 bond. The agreement sought to resolve 43 violations brought against the company but primarily cited violations of the hands-off clause. “IDFG has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondents violated the consent agreement by permitting physical contact with the wolves by the public in the kennel areas and failure to secure a performance bond as required by law,” wrote Edward Lockwood, a hearing officer. Besides the violations of the hands-off policy, state officials said, other violations ranged from failing to report births and deaths of wolves, transporting wolves without permission, and failing to report a wolf escape in 2011. Wolf People operates a retail store on U.S. Highway 95 near Cocolalla and keeps captive wolves for viewing and filming, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Trever represented Fish and Game. She said Wolf People can petition a 1st District Court judge to review the order suspending Wolf People’s license. Otherwise the license will expire on March 26. Trever said the order doesn’t prevent Wolf People from applying for non-commercial permits to keep the wolves. She said if the company fails to get permits or license individual wolves, the state could relocate them.