By Harry Esteve, The Oregonian
SALEM — Eastern Oregon ranchers would be allowed to kill wolves they suspect are attacking their livestock — rather than having to catch them in the act — under a bill that got its first public airing Tuesday at the Legislature.
Ranchers attending the hearing said the state’s steadily growing wolf population has been costing them dearly and they have been largely powerless to stop the predation on cattle and sheep. Their presentation included bloody photos of cows that had been killed by wolves.
But environmental and animal rights activists also weighed in, saying the bill could encourage poaching of wolves, and questioning whether killing wolves is worth saving livestock.
The issue, being pushed primarily by two Republican lawmakers from Umatilla County, could become one of the top-tier natural resource bills of the session.
Under current law, ranchers are allowed to “take” — or kill — a wolf if they catch one in the act of attacking one of their livestock. That hasn’t worked, said Rod Childers, of Wallowa County, who serves on the wolf committee of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.
“Caught in the act has been meaningless for ranchers,” Childers told members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Out of 70 permits issued to ranchers that would allow them to kill a wolf, “nobody has ever caught a wolf in the act of actual biting.”
House Bill 3452 would change the language to allow landowners to kill wolves without a permit if they “are reasonably believed by the person to have attacked or harassed livestock or working dogs.”
Supporters called the change a reasonable step to help ranchers protect their investment, but environmentalists say it leaves to big of an opening for people who don’t like the fact that wolves are returning as part of the natural landscape.
“This goes far beyond what the wolf plan called for,” said Rob Klavins, wildlife advocate for Oregon Wild, a Portland-based environmental group. He said the language in the bill “could allow poaching to go unpunished.”
His comments provoked a stern response from Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, chairman of the committee.
“That’s a very dirty word in my vocabulary,” Witt said. “Any of you think this bill could allow or encourage poaching?” he asked a panel of ranching advocates. They said it wouldn’t.
McKenna Fisher, of Portland, who described herself as an animal rights activist, said she worries that wolves will disappear again in Oregon if the state relaxes rules on when they can be killed.
“We have to make sure this bill strongly emphasizes protection,” Fisher said. “I don’t want to see our wolves exterminated because we want to accommodate ranchers. We need to find a middle ground here.”
Key sponsors of the bill, Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton, and Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, said the bill still needs some work. That could happen before it goes to the House floor, where a similar bill passed last year, or it could happen if the bill passes and is sent to the Senate.