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Bills reflect hostility over wolf laws

Bills reflect hostility over wolf laws

The Associated Press

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – By overwhelming margins, the Wyoming House on Wednesday approved two bills that reflect lawmakers’ mushrooming discontent with the 8-year-old federal wolf reintroduction program.

The measures seek to limit the storied predator’s numbers and investigate a possible lawsuit against the federal government, which reintroduced wolves into Yellowstone National Park in 1995.

The legislation shows “Wyoming is serious about protecting its state and its citizens,” Rep. Mike Baker, R-Thermopolis, told colleagues.

There are 280 wolves in Wyoming and 420 in Montana and Idaho – numbers that have ranchers, farmers and outfitters concerned about the threat posed to people, livestock and other wildlife.

House Bill 229, sponsored by Baker and approved 56-2, would allow wolves to be managed in Wyoming under a dual classification once the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delists the animal as an endangered species, which it likely will do once the three states have management plans in place.

Wolves would remain protected in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. In wilderness areas adjoining the parks, the animals would be classified as trophy game allowing them to be killed during a hunting season. Outside the Yellowstone area wolves would be classified as predators, giving residents the right to shoot them at any time.

The idea behind the dual classification is to keep wolves in the parks and wilderness areas. That plan has been criticized by environmentalists and others because of concern that unlimited hunting of wolves outside those areas might lead to a population decline again and relisting under the Endangered Species Act.

Under the measure, if the number of wolf packs in the state falls below 15, or seven outside Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, the predator status would be changed to trophy game status with limited hunting until the packs return to the desired numbers.

A pack is defined as a group of five or more wolves traveling together. If a group consists of more than 10, the number of packs would be determined by the number of reproductively mature females in that group.

HB300, sponsored by Rep. Pat Childers, R-Cody, would allow the state to investigate whether the state is entitled to damages as a result of federal natural resource policy decisions, such as wolf introduction.

It was passed 52-7.

onthenet
HB 229
HB 300

Rep. Jack Landon, R-Sheridan, was among those who opposed it, saying it was being driven by “bluster and bravado,” but may not be in the best interests of the state. He said there is no guarantee of a winning result in court.

Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, arguing for the measure, said: “Of course there are no guaranteed results in litigation,” but added that at least the state would be afforded the opportunity to possibly emerge victorious.

“If you don’t live in areas where wolves impact you then I’m not sure you know the intensity of feelings of the citizens in those areas around the state,” he said.

He said the fact that nearly half the state is federally owned and managed underscores the need for the bill.

“We are constantly under directive or assault by the federal government and we can’t fight back,” he said. “This levels the playing field a little bit.”

The measure contains a $250,000 appropriation from the General Fund to pay for two attorneys and an environmental expert.

A third wolf-related bill, passed by the Senate, would assert control over the state’s wildlife. It is awaiting debate in the House.

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