Commissioners side with farmers on wolf
By DAVID BATES
Of the News-Register
Yamhill County commissioners jumped into the state’s debate over endangered gray wolf Thursday. And to no one’s surprise, they landed on the side of farmers, who don’t believe wolves ought to be protected – at least not in the event one of them develops a taste for livestock.
At the urging of Commissioner Kathy George, who farms with her husband in rural Yamhill County, the trio unanimously approved a two-page resolution developed by the Association of Oregon Counties. In that, they joined several other sets of commissioners, all from Eastern or Southern Oregon.
The resolutions largely represent an act of political solidarity with Eastern Oregon ranchers, whose cattle and sheep could be expected to bear the brunt of any wolf attacks. Still, it comes as Oregon lawmakers are debating a bill that would classify the animals as predatory.
“This is a huge (potential) problem, especially in the counties that have a lot of domestic animals like cattle and sheep,” George said.
“We don’t want our beef to be eaten by the wolf,” said Glen Stonebrink, who heads the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. “Even the fondest people of wolves would have to say they are predators.”
The language of the local resolution was taken verbatim from one distributed by the AOC. However, it contains what one state official said Friday is inaccurate information.
Oregon’s wolf population consists entirely of occasional strays from Idaho, where the species has been successfully reintroduced in experimental areas.
But that doesn’t make them “ineligible for protection” under the Endangered Species Act, as the resolution asserts.
“That’s incorrect,” said Ann Snyder or the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “They’re eligible for protection right now.”
In fact, gray wolves straying into Oregon are protected under both the federal Endangered Species Act and its even more restrictive Oregon counterpart, she said.
Nina Fascione of Defenders of Wildlife said the gray wolf, whose scientific name is canus lupus, once roamed virtually all of the lower 48 states.
When the wolf was listed federally in the 1970s, she said, the domestic population was down to about 1,000. It has since rebounded to about 4,000, which she said is probably less than 2 percent of the original, natural figure.
The wolf, long subject to shooting or poisoning on cattle ranges, had been fully exterminated in Oregon more than half a century ago.
In 1996, though, the federal government began reintroducing it to the wilderness of central Idaho on an experimental basis. And while there are still no known resident wolves in Oregon, Idaho animals do occasionally stray across the Oregon border, raising fears among ranchers, hunters and rural residents at the far eastern side of the state.
Snyder offered no evidence of any actual attacks, but said the Oregon Department of Forestry logged 60 sightings last year.
Under the federal Endangered Species Act, ranchers can get permits to kill wolves that threaten livestock. Oregon’s version doesn’t allow that, but the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is working on a plan to remedy that.
Ron Anglin of Fish and Wildlife told the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Tuesday that his agency has no intention of reintroducing wolves in Oregon.
But he said it is developing a management program for any wolves eventually opting to take up residence in the state. And that plan will, he said, include a provision affording ranchers protection from wolves who move from natural game to livestock.
Some elements of the farm and ranch community would like to see Oregon’s Endangered Species Act repealed outright. They at least want the wolf exempted.
Sentiment along those lines has spawned recent debate in the House and Senate in Salem. But Gov. Ted Kulongoski has indicated he isn’t willing to go that far.
“The governor doesn’t support the repeal of the state endangered species act,” said spokeswoman Mary Ellen Glynn. “And he doesn’t think the wolf should be exempted.”
Glynn said Kulongoski supports the wolf management plan being drafted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Farmers and ranchers said that process is too slow and costly.
“If the wolf stays on the state endangered species list, the state should have to pay for any livestock attacks,” said Greg Addington of the Oregon Farm Bureau.