Ithaca 37
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A Lewiston, Idaho, man pleaded guilty in Federal Court on July 29, 2004, to
the killing of a gray wolf. Robin Shafer, after pleading guilty, was
sentenced and ordered to serve one year of probation with nationwide
revocation of hunting privileges, and to pay $21,252 in civil restitution
to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Shafer admitted in court that he had shot and killed the wolf during a 2003
elk hunt near Elk River, Idaho, and that he had taken the tail of the wolf
to his Lewiston residence. The wolf, an adult female, was not
radio-collared.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Idaho Department of Fish and Game
began investigating the case in late 2003 after the Department received a
tip from a concerned citizen. State and federal investigators conducted an
extensive search and found the carcass of what appeared to be a wolf under
about four feet of snow near the campsite Shafer had used during the 2003
elk season. The investigators observed that the tail appeared to have been
removed from the carcass.
The remains of the wolf were sent to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
National Forensics Lab in Ashland, Oregon, and it was confirmed that the
carcass was that of a gray wolf that had been shot. Investigators conducted
numerous interviews and found what appeared to be a wolf tail in Shafer's|
residence while conducting an interview there. The investigation indicated
that the wolf had not been attacking or threatening Shafer when he shot it, and
that he had transported the wolf carcass to his camp to show it to others.
Shafer was charged in Federal Court with violating the Endangered Species
Act, including the killing, possession, and transport of a gray wolf, a
threatened species.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel Williams sentenced Shafer in Moscow. Williams
said at the sentencing, "Regardless of whether you agree with the law or
not, you can not engage in vigilantism." Federal investigators requested
that the Court order Shafer to pay the restitution to an Idaho Fish and
Game account where it will be used to help offset costs of the state's gray
wolf management program.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently arranging payment of a
monetary reward to the concerned citizen whose call initiated the
investigation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Law Enforcement Field
Supervisor, Craig Tabor, noted, "We hope that this penalty will serve as a
deterrent to others who would take the law into their own hands, and we are
pleased to have the opportunity to provide funds that will support Idaho's
increasing role in wolf management."
the killing of a gray wolf. Robin Shafer, after pleading guilty, was
sentenced and ordered to serve one year of probation with nationwide
revocation of hunting privileges, and to pay $21,252 in civil restitution
to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Shafer admitted in court that he had shot and killed the wolf during a 2003
elk hunt near Elk River, Idaho, and that he had taken the tail of the wolf
to his Lewiston residence. The wolf, an adult female, was not
radio-collared.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Idaho Department of Fish and Game
began investigating the case in late 2003 after the Department received a
tip from a concerned citizen. State and federal investigators conducted an
extensive search and found the carcass of what appeared to be a wolf under
about four feet of snow near the campsite Shafer had used during the 2003
elk season. The investigators observed that the tail appeared to have been
removed from the carcass.
The remains of the wolf were sent to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
National Forensics Lab in Ashland, Oregon, and it was confirmed that the
carcass was that of a gray wolf that had been shot. Investigators conducted
numerous interviews and found what appeared to be a wolf tail in Shafer's|
residence while conducting an interview there. The investigation indicated
that the wolf had not been attacking or threatening Shafer when he shot it, and
that he had transported the wolf carcass to his camp to show it to others.
Shafer was charged in Federal Court with violating the Endangered Species
Act, including the killing, possession, and transport of a gray wolf, a
threatened species.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel Williams sentenced Shafer in Moscow. Williams
said at the sentencing, "Regardless of whether you agree with the law or
not, you can not engage in vigilantism." Federal investigators requested
that the Court order Shafer to pay the restitution to an Idaho Fish and
Game account where it will be used to help offset costs of the state's gray
wolf management program.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently arranging payment of a
monetary reward to the concerned citizen whose call initiated the
investigation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Law Enforcement Field
Supervisor, Craig Tabor, noted, "We hope that this penalty will serve as a
deterrent to others who would take the law into their own hands, and we are
pleased to have the opportunity to provide funds that will support Idaho's
increasing role in wolf management."
