PREDATORY BIRDS – States findings of the Legislature and supports curtailment of the pelican population.
Summary
SJM115 is a joint memorial in which the Idaho Legislature urges the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to take action to reduce, or permit reduction of, the pelican population in Idaho. The memorial states that pelicans were added to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and have since increased to the point of overpopulation, which the bill’s sponsors argue is harming wetland ecosystems and Idaho’s fish populations.
The memorial specifically cites impacts to the Henry’s Fork River, Harriman State Park, and other waterways, and claims that pelican predation is reducing fish numbers and affecting fishermen in Idaho and beyond. Because it is a memorial rather than a statutory bill, it does not itself change Idaho law or create a state regulatory program; instead, it expresses the Legislature’s position and asks federal wildlife authorities to act.
Impact
This measure does not amend Idaho statutes, create new state agency duties, or appropriate funds. Its legal effect is limited to a formal legislative request to the federal government, specifically the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to curtail pelican numbers under federal wildlife management authority. The fiscal note states there is no impact on the Idaho general fund.
Sentiment
The available materials suggest strong support among the bill’s sponsors for reducing pelican numbers, with the bill framed as a wildlife and fisheries management issue. The caption and statement of purpose present pelicans as a predatory species whose growth has become harmful to Idaho’s ecosystems and anglers. There is no committee transcript or recorded vote history provided showing organized opposition or amendment activity, so the overall sentiment in the record appears one-sided and favorable to the memorial’s request.
Contention
The central point of contention is wildlife management: supporters argue pelicans are overabundant and damaging fish populations, while the underlying federal protections for migratory birds make population control more complicated. The memorial’s premise is that pelican predation is a problem for Idaho’s wetlands and fisheries, but no opposing testimony is included in the record. Any practical disagreement would likely center on whether pelican populations are truly excessive, whether they are causing the claimed ecological harm, and whether federal action is appropriate.