Lawmaker proposes avoiding fight over wolves
Associated Press
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A leading state lawmaker said Wednesday he will sponsor a measure adopting the federal government’s stance on wolf management in Wyoming and allowing the process of removing federal protections for endangered wolves to go forward.
“I’ve made a commitment that I will bring a bill that will yield to the federal position,” Rep. Mike Baker, R-Thermopolis, told The Associated Press following a meeting between his legislative committee and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams.
Baker said he is sponsoring the bill in an attempt to break a logjam over the state’s plan to manage wolves once they are removed from the federal Endangered Species List.
Hurdles for delisting
Delisting the wolf in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho won’t occur until the Interior Department approves Wyoming’s plan for maintaining a viable wolf population in the state.
Friday is the deadline for bill introduction in this year’s legislative budget session.
Baker made the announcement after a 75-minute meeting in which a state House committee grilled Williams over the federal government’s concerns with the state plan.
Williams said Interior officials don’t believe the current proposal can be strongly defended in court because it would allow wolves to essentially be shot on sight in much of the state. The Wyoming plan designated wolves as predators outside Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and their surrounding wilderness areas.
If the state drops the predator label in favor of regulated hunting of wolves in areas away from the national parks and maintains at least 10 breeding pairs, the plan would be more palatable, Williams said.
Williams also expressed his trust in the ability of Wyoming to maintain a viable wolf population.
“I’m confident the Legislature and the Game and Fish Department can achieve that,” he said.
Numbers growing
Since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone nine years ago, the predator’s numbers have expanded rapidly, causing concern among ranchers and hunters because of increased attacks on livestock and wildlife.
Due to the success of the wolf-recovery program, the Interior Department wants to remove federal protection and turn over management to the states surrounding Yellowstone. However, the agency wants assurances from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana that the states will be able to maintain a viable population.
Montana and Idaho’s plans have already been approved. Wyoming’s plan was rejected last month after nearly a year of cobbling it together.
The Wyoming attorney general’s office and Gov. Dave Freudenthal have been mulling a possible lawsuit. If a bill is passed by the Legislature addressing the federal government’s concerns, pressure to litigate would be lessened.
There are an estimated 754 wolves in the three states, including 235 in Wyoming and 301 in the Greater Yellowstone Area, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.