Fremont commission delays wolf decision
LANDER – The chairman of the Fremont County Commission has delayed action
on a request from a rancher to eradicate wolves on his grazing allotment.
Commissioner Scott Luther said the board needed more information and was
not ready to act on a petition filed Oct. 15 by Rudy Stanko.
The board’s legal counsel, Fremont County Attorney Norman Young,
repeatedly advised Luther the county did not have jurisdiction in the
matter because federal law governed wolves, but Luther opted to proceed
anyway.
Stanko petitioned the county last month for permission to eradicate
predators, including wolves and grizzly bears, on his grazing allotments
located on the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Stanko said the predators are killing his cattle.
Stanko agreed to provide the county with documentation of his losses and
his request to the government to eradicate the predators.
Luther said when that documentation is received, the board will set a
formal hearing on the matter.
Stanko is a convicted felon who served six years in prison for selling
tainted meat to a federal school lunch program.