Wolves in Idaho have had an additive effect on elk mortality. Additive means in addition do, not causative. Lack of disturbance (logging and fire) had elk populations headed down long before the wolves were a gleam in a tree huggers eye. So, while wolves have certainly taken their fair share you can place most of the blame on the Clinton Roadless Bill, 50 years of fire suppression, and black bears which take up to 90% of elk calves in some areas of Idaho. A healthy elk herd in good habitat could have absorbed the extra mortality from wolves.

The one single thing that hurts the herds the most is losing calves. What we are seeing right now is bears getting the majority of thecalf mortality(under 8 months) and then once they get to 8-10 months wolves get the majority. So, logic dictates that if we can keep more calves alive, when they get to 8-12 months they will be better able to absorb the wolf mortality. It doesn't help the wolves are taking adult cows either.

Again these problem areas were this way long before wolves arrived. They just added to the mortality. It's all a big mess and the truth is never as black and white as most of you would like to make it.