Idaho gives Salazar Oct. 7 deadline on wolf pact

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says he'll negotiate until Oct. 7 with the federal government on a plan to manage wolves in his state. If no pact comes about, however, Otter says Idaho will no longer be designated agent for monitoring, providing law enforcement support or investigating wolf deaths. Otter delivered the ultimatum in person to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in Washington, D.C., this week. At their meeting, they discussed a U.S. District Court decision in August that restored federal protections to wolves in Idaho and Montana - over both of their objections. Otter says he pledged to continue working with federal agencies on a plan for Idaho to manage its roughly 850 wolves, including increased flexibility to kill them when they eat livestock or too many elk. He also wants the federal government to pay for state management efforts. AP