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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

Freudenthal vows to press on with wolf plans

Freudenthal vows to press on with wolf plans


by The Associated Press – 02/28/03 04:21:23

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Despite last-second misgivings from Washington, Wyoming will proceed with its plans for eventually managing gray wolves in the state, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Friday.

Freudenthal said he would sign a bill passed Friday by the Wyoming Legislature that sets the state’s plans for managing the wolves.

House Bill 229 creates a dual classification for wolves. Within Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, wolves would be classified as trophy game and could not be hunted without state permission. However, the wolves would be considered predators outside the parks and could be shot on sight. The bill stipulates that Wyoming maintain 15 wolf packs _ eight inside the parks and seven outside.

In order for the gray wolf to be removed from the Endangered Species List, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho must develop acceptable plans to take over management of the animals. Idaho has produced a plan, while Wyoming and Montana are still developing their plans.

The U.S. Interior Department must approve each state wolf management plan before the process of delisting the wolf can proceed.

However, Freudenthal said he has received word that Interior officials are now concerned about the wording of Wyoming’s plan.

Freudenthal said he was irritated that Interior officials had not voiced any concern before.

“There’s a point at which they have to stop moving the target, and we’re past that point,” he said.

He produced a Feb. 21 letter from Craig Manson, assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, that notes how closely the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been working with the state and Legislature on its wolf management plan and that the 15 packs “should satisfy” recovery levels.

Freudenthal said the state “operated off that response” and intends to continue to proceed until he is advised in writing that the Manson letter is no longer valid.

He said Wyoming has made “a great step forward on this issue, and I expect Interior to honor their commitment and move with us.”

He characterized Wyoming’s efforts so far in dealing with the wolf issue as “reasonable and rational” and that he and the Legislature both had worked in good faith.

“It’s time for us to settle in and get this done,” he said. “Fair is fair.”

Two other wolf-related bills nearing final legislative approval would allow the state to investigate whether it could recover damages caused by federal wildlife management decisions and direct the state attorney general to prepare a plan for potential litigation asserting the state’s authority to manage wildlife within its borders.



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