April 21, 2011 11:16 PM UTC

Idaho Called: It Wants Its J. Paul Brown Back

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• by: Colorado Pols

We’ve had a good laugh this week over bear-battlin’ Rep. J. Paul Brown, but at least Brown is in the (vast) minority of Colorado legislators seeking to kill more wild animals.

On Tuesday Idaho Gov. Butch Otter signed legislation declaring the gray wolf in Idaho a “disaster emergency,” which we assume would be right up J. Paul Brown’s alley. From Reuters News Service:

Despite enactment of federal legislation turning wolf control over to state wildlife management and allowing licensed hunting of the animals, Otter welcomed his new authority to bring law enforcement to bear against any wolf threats to humans or livestock.

The gray wolf of the Northern Rockies is about to become the first creature ever taken off the U.S. endangered species list by act of Congress, rather than by scientific review, under a measure inserted into a sweeping budget bill.

The Idaho bill declaring the presence of the gray wolf a disaster emergency was passed by the Republican-controlled state Legislature earlier this month, before de-listing gained final congressional approval in the U.S. Senate last week. De-listing takes effect within 60 days.

Does that seem a bit, oh, extreme to you, too? Here’s Idaho’s Emergency Operations Plan on declaring a “disaster emergency.”

a. The governor may declare that a “disaster emergency” exists by executive order or a proclamation. The declaration continues until the threat has passed, the emergency conditions no longer exist, or until 30 days have passed. The governor may extend the declaration in increments of 30 days until the emergency is resolved. The legislature may terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time (Idaho Code §46-1008).

b. After an enemy attack, the governor may declare, “by order,” a post-attack recovery and rehabilitation emergency. The order does not take effect unless the legislature meets within 45 days. The governor may control and regulate the sale of food and other goods and services and direct the use of material and facilities for essential civil needs.

And if you were wondering, it does appear as though the Governor could call on the National FREAKING Guard to help them with their “wolf emergency.” That could be important, since there are about 700 whole wolves in Idaho, or roughly 1 for every 119 square miles.