House gives initial approval to 2 wolf management bills
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — House members, alarmed by a growing wolf population, gave initial approval Monday to a pair of measures that seek to limit the storied predator’s numbers and investigate a possible lawsuit against the federal government.
Gray wolves are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act, but a reintroduction program begun in 1995 is doing so well that federal officials are on the verge of handing over wolf management to the states.
There are 280 wolves in Wyoming and another 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 Rep. Mike Baker, R-Thermopolis, would allow wolves to be managed in Wyoming under a dual classification once the Fish and Wildlife Service delists the animal.
“This bill is to set out a framework under which a management plan can be developed,” Baker said. “If you don’t move House Bill 229 or a delisting mechanism through, we can’t protect our property. We’ll have a disaster on our hands in the very near future.”
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 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.
Rep. Randall Luthi, R-Freedom, credited Baker and the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee with coming up with a balanced measure, one he said the Fish and Wildlife Service initially resisted but is now likely to accept.
“We now have movement, that they will accept dual classification of wolf management,” he said.
Under the measure, seven wolf packs would be allowed outside the Yellowstone area. If the number of packs falls below seven, the predator status would be changed to trophy game status with limited hunting.
Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, asked what remedies would be available to the state if management efforts are not successful, if the wolf population continues to expand.
“That is the greatest fear of all,” Baker said. But he said a section of the bill would allow “appropriate state management and control” of wolves if “lawful authorities” determine the wolves were introduced contrary to federal law.
HB229 was forwarded to second reading on a unanimous voice vote.
HB300, which moved ahead with a small smattering of no votes, would allow the state to investigate whether the state is entitled to damages as a result of the wolf introduction.
The House Judiciary Committee softened the original language, which ordered the state to file suit.
“It’s not as mandatory,” Simpson said. “It’s more permissive.”
Language was also removed that stated the litigation should seek “full and absolute control over all wolves within Wyoming.”
“I’m not totally convinced we want control,” he said. “When we have control, we foot the bill. That causes me long pause.”
The House went along with an Appropriations Committee amendment that reduced the original $3 million funding amount to $250,000. The lower amount would still allow the state to hire two new attorneys and an environmental expert.
A related Senate measure that would assert control over the state’s wildlife is also moving forward.