Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is finally set to vote on a plan for managing wolves in the state, after years of contentious meetings.
The commission is expected to vote in March, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
As in other northwestern states, wolves have been controversial in Oregon, with ranchers saying they wreak havoc on livestock and conservationists saying they play a key role in the ecosystem.
The main sticking point has been over when and how lethal action can be taken against wolves that kill livestock.
The first wolf management plan was implemented in 2005 and revised in 2010. The plan was supposed to be updated every five years, but the 2015 revisions became mired in argument, and delays ensued.
The state said it will release the management plan to the public before the vote, but the plan currently allows officials to consider killing wolves that have been confirmed to have killed livestock twice. However, officials typically don’t approve wolf kills until after three or more confirmed depredations, the agency said in a written statement.