Commissioner says wolves damage more than just livestock industry
By Jennifer Jenks
Burns Times-Herald
Wolves were at the top of the agenda again at the meeting of the Harney County Court last week. Commissioner Dan Nichols told the court he was checking with Wallowa County, Representative Cliff Bentz and the state regarding the Wolf Compensation Policy. He is working on gathering background information, with the Feb. 15 deadline no longer being a concern.
“Everyone’s concerned about the cattle industry,” Nichols said, “so that’s good.” Wolves, he said, have been decimating the wildlife population in Idaho. In one bull elk herd in Idaho, he reported, the numbers had dropped from several thousand to less than 500, while the wolf population has climbed to about 1,800. “The wolf issue is much bigger and more damaging to every person in this state than just the livestock industry,” he argued.
The wolf advocate position on the local wolf compensation committee was also filled, he reported, which was a requirement of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).
The next priority is to have a meeting with some individuals who have expressed concern about having a compensation plan to see which direction might be in the best interests of the county.
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