States findings of the Legislature and supports curtailment of the pelican population.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 115 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE A JOINT MEMORIAL1 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESEN-2 TATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, THE CONGRESSIONAL3 DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED4 STATES, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.5 We, your Memorialists, the Senate and the House of Representatives6 of the State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session of the7 Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:8 WHEREAS, Idaho has a plethora of ecosystems, such as Harriman State9 Park and Island Park, which lie within an 11,000-acre wildlife refuge in the10 greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Camas National Wildlife Refuge southwest of11 Harriman, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge on Idaho's eastern border, and12 Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in north Idaho, that provide vital habitat13 for a variety of species, of which migratory birds are particularly impor-14 tant; and15 WHEREAS, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) was implemented16 to prevent the extinction of birds due to unsustainable feather-trading and17 hunting practices and makes it illegal to "take," which includes harassing,18 pursuing, capturing, killing, selling, trading, buying, and transporting,19 among other activities, a protected migratory bird species, of which there20 are over 1,000, without prior authorization by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife21 Service (USFWS); and22 WHEREAS, one such protected migratory bird species is the pelican,23 which is also classified as a predator species as they feast on fish; and24 WHEREAS, a once-endangered species, the pelican has made a remarkable25 return and has established a stronghold in Idaho's abundant wetland refuge26 ecosystems such that its population is beginning to impact the overall use27 and health of the ecosystem; and28 WHEREAS, Idaho's streams and rivers are renowned by fishermen across29 the nation, particularly the Henry's Fork River that meanders for eight30 miles through Harriman State Park, attracting fly-fishers from all four31 corners of the state and nation thereby generating revenues for the local32 community and business owners; and33 WHEREAS, predatory birds, such as pelicans, have been documented to34 harvest more fish in Idaho than fisherman; and35 WHEREAS, pelicans have been documented to consume over three pounds of36 fish per day; and37 WHEREAS, over 30% of the electronic fish tags that originated in Idaho's38 renowned Silver Creek were documented by the Idaho Department of Fish and39 Game (IDFG) in pelican feces at the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge pel-40 ican rookeries; and41 WHEREAS, millions of sportsmen's dollars are spent by IDFG to create,42 promote, and enhance Idaho's fishing opportunities; and43

2 WHEREAS, the pelican, a protected migratory bird under the MBTA, is ac-1 tively managed and bred by the USFWS and cannot be taken, harassed, killed,2 or otherwise disturbed without prior authorization by the USFWS; and3 WHEREAS, the rigorous protections of the MBTA and other environmental4 acts have successfully ensured this predatory bird's survival but are now5 hindering the survival of other species and conflicting with areas' tradi-6 tional use due to the birds' overpopulation.7 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular8 Session of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of9 Representatives concurring therein, that the Legislature supports and urges10 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to curtail, or allow curtailment of, the11 number of pelicans within Idaho.12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports and urges the fed-13 eral government to compensate the State of Idaho for loss of its resources14 due to the pelican's overpopulation.15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is16 hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this Memorial to the17 President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker18 of the House of Representatives of Congress, the congressional delegation19 representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States, and the20 Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.21