Option on wolves considered
By ALLISON BATDORFF
Gazette Wyoming Bureau
CODY, Wyo. – Too many wolf-related questions and too few satisfactory answers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had the Park County Board of Commissioners exploring their legal options Tuesday.
The federal government isn’t living up to its side of the 1994 wolf reintroduction plan, said Commissioner Marie Fontaine.
“The number of wolves has totally exceeded the number in the plan,” Fontaine said. “We need to hold their feet to the fire.”
Calling for a congressional inquiry into an incident on Feb. 14 – four tranquilized wolves, a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and his assistant found on a private ranch in Meeteetse – might be a good place to start, said Commission Chairman Tim Morrison.
The researchers didn’t have permission to be on the private property and were acting suspiciously, according to Randy Kruger of the Larsen Ranch. Kruger said U.S. Fish and Wildlife wolf expert Mike Jimenez told him that the wolves originated in Dubois and had been darted with tranquilizers during a collaring operation. The helicopter, low on fuel, dropped Jimenez, assistant Wes Livingston of Cody and the wolves onto the LU Ranch Road for processing while the helicopter went to refuel.
“Their story seemed quite incredible,” Kruger said. “I have my doubts.”
Morrison said Tuesday that the story didn’t satisfy him, either, though he hadn’t spoken with Jimenez.
“I have a lot of questions regarding this incident. If these people are experts, why wasn’t their refueling truck ready?” asked Morrison. “We should demand some accountability of our Fish and Wildlife Service and the people they contract to work for them. We need to call for a congressional inquiry into this matter.”
Sen. Mike Enzi’s field representative, Karen McCreery, was at the meeting and said she would provide information on how to kick-start the inquiry process.
Suing the federal government, or signing on to a 60-day notice of intent to sue, is another avenue worth exploring, said Fontaine. Last month, the Sublette County Farm Bureau filed an intent to sue the Department of Interior and the Fish and Wildlife Service on the grounds that the departments were violating their wolf reintroduction plan. Park County could join forces with them, she suggested.
Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric told commissioner he would review both options and report back to them. Atop his desk also sits a compliant filed by Kruger and the Larsen Ranch against the Fish and Wildlife Service for trespassing on their property Feb. 14. Skoric hasn’t made a decision on the complaint yet, but added that the issue was separate from the intent to sue and that he would “let the commissioners know the results as soon as he had them.”