BOISE, Idaho (AP) The Idaho Senate on Wednesday approved legislation allowing the state to hire private contractors to kill up to 90% of the wolves roaming Idaho.

The agriculture industry-backed bill approved Wednesday on 26-7 vote includes additional changes intended to cut the wolf population from about 1,500 to 150.

These wolves, theres too many in the state of Idaho now, said Republican Sen. Mark Harris, one of the bills sponsors, during debate on the Senate floor. Were supposed to have 15 packs, 150 wolves. Were up to 1,553, was the last count, 1,556, something like that. Theyre destroying ranchers. Theyre destroying wildlife. This is a needed bill.