More than two hundred species in Idaho are threatened and edging closer to the endangered species list. One bill on Capitol Hill is aiming to change that.
The proposed Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would allocate $1.3 billion to state wildlife agencies and $100 million to tribes across the nation. These funds would pay for management strategies and wildlife habitat restoration.
"It’s time we be proactive about these species and not wait until it’s too late".
That’s Brian Brooks with the Idaho Wildlife Federation, he’s part of the team behind the bill. He told Idaho Matters yesterday that homes and roadways encroaching on habitats are factors in dwindling wildlife populations.
In Idaho, the most at-risk species include bighorn sheep, mountain goats, sage grouse, salmon and steelhead. He says this bill is necessary because the existing Endangered Species Act doesn’t protect species before crisis hits.
The bill was first introduced last year. Brooks says the bill is popular on both sides of the aisle but…
“As ever, it always has to deal with funding," says Brooks.
The legislation was introduced again this year and will soon be presented to the U.S. subcommittee on water, oceans and wildlife.
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