County seeks congressional inquiry
By CAROLE CLOUDWALKER
A formal congressional investigation is being sought into the incident of four wolves processed on a Meeteetse ranch last month.
The Park County commissioners last week wrote to Sen. Mike Enzi to request the inquiry into the Feb. 14 incident on the Larsen Ranch.
Two men, Mike Jimenez, based in Lander with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and his assistant, Wes Livingston of Cody, “were allegedly attempting to plant wolves on the ranch without the landowner’s knowledge or approval,” the commissioners wrote to Enzi.
The two men accompanied four tranquilized wolves left on ranch property. They said they were dropped off by a helicopter pilot who had to go refuel. The rancher’s perception is that the men were hiding in the bushes with the wolves, which were allowed to regain consciousness and leave.
“Due to the grievous act taken by the (F&WS) on private lands introducing a wild predator to private land historically used for livestock calving operations, the board of county commissioners … hereby requests the Wyoming congressional delegation conduct a formal investigation,” the commissioners wrote.
“We are outraged and demand accountability (for) the actions taken.”
Commission chairman Tim Morrison said the congressional investigation is “separate and distinct” from the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigation launched last week at the request of Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric.
Skoric said he will use information gathered by DCI to determine whether he will file trespass or other charges in connection with the wolf incident.
Morrison said the congressional investigation will help “hold federal agencies accountable … the agencies will be asked to provide an explanation.”
“There are so many questions I have,” Morrison added.
He said the commissioners’ desired outcome to a congressional inquiry is a “full account of what happened, to find out if wolves are being transported onto private land for real, or if it was a mistake.”
Citing the denial of Wyoming’s wolf management plan, Morrison said federal agencies are making a “political decision … just because we want to call wolves predators.”
He said the commissioners could simply ask the F&WS to explain their Feb. 14 actions, but the agency’s credibility with the commission has been seriously impaired.
“I have no trust left in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” Morrison said.