by Dennis Bragg (KPAX News)
HAMILTON- Ravalli County commissioners released their draft wolf policy and say the document is not a move against wolves, but an effort to find a management balance.
The policy is the efforts of months of work exploring the impacts from increasing wolf numbers in the Bitterroot.
Ravalli leaders have been working on the proposed policy since last summer. The first draft released Wednesday is an effort by the county to specify the kinds of impacts the county is seeing on hunting and ranching, while seeking more information on the state’s long-term wolf management plans.
Ravalli County Commissioner Greg Chilcott says the draft isn’t “anti-wolf”, but an effort to raise local concerns…
“This policy should be recognized as advocacy for humans, and for ungulate population and for our livestock.”
The draft outlines the impacts on Bitterroot agriculture, and the legacy of hunting in Ravalli County, challenging the state to find a better balance to lessen the impact from the growing wolf population in the area.
While some at the meeting praised the effort, others accused the county of being “shut out” of the process…
“There are effects happening on people’s private and personal uses of their property with respect to the large predators. Not only in the livestock component of this, but in general recreational uses, from utilizing property for dog walking to just enjoying on their own,”said Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife President Keith Kubista.
“Facts do not indicate nor do they support this special interest driven-attempt to steal democracy from the majority of Ravalli County citizens who want a healthy and balance ecosystem that is managed by the principles of the best available science. That’s critical. The best available science,” said Marc Cooke, co-president of the National Wolfwatcher Coalition.
“But there was no process that anybody was locked out of. And frankly that accusation is outrageous. That something illegal was done that we didn’t include any individual or any individual group,” said Ravalli County Commissioner Matt Kanenwisher.
County commissioners will take written comments on the draft policy for the next couple of weeks. Then they’ll get back together and decide whether any changes should be made.