Oregon Brings Public Into Wolf Debate
BY BRENT ISRAELSEN
(c)2002, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
PORTLAND, Ore. — A wolf known as “B45” crossed from Idaho into Oregon
in early 1999 and roamed the state’s Blue Mountains for about three weeks.
The wolf killed no livestock, but it created a high degree of anxiety
among ranchers and state leaders, who finally persuaded the federal
government to take the animal back to the official wolf recovery zone in
central Idaho.
Sound familiar?
Late last month, a wolf known as “253” sauntered into Utah from
Yellowstone National Park, also an official wolf-recovery area. State
wildlife officials called the feds, who promptly deported the wolf to
Wyoming.
“When I heard about the wolf in Utah, all I could think of was B45 and
the month I spent on the phone,” says Mark Henjum of Oregon’s Department
of Fish and Wildlife.
In 2000, at least two more central Idaho wolves forded the Snake River
into Oregon. One was shot illegally; the other was hit by a car.
Like Oregon, Utah now finds itself having to deal with a predator once
exterminated for the benefit of ranchers and hunters. The wolf could be
removed from the endangered species list as early as next year. After
that, states outside the federal recovery zone of Montana, Idaho and
Wyoming can determine on their own how to manage the wolf.
In Oregon, state wildlife officials have just wrapped up 14 “wolf town
hall meetings” around the state to solicit public comments on how the
state should proceed in managing wolves. Earlier this year, the state Fish
and Wildlife Commission held fact-finding hearings at which wolf experts
were invited to testify.
Utah has no immediate plans to reach out to the public on the wolf
issue. Utah wildlife officials say they are awaiting direction from the
Legislature, which generally backs livestock and hunting interests on
issues involving predators.
Having attracted 1,600 people, Oregon’s town hall meetings have been
“a
prime opportunity to bring diverse viewpoints to the table and get people
talking to each other,” says Nancy Weiss, Oregon representative of
Defenders of Wildlife, the principal nongovernmental organization backing
wolf recovery in the United States.
On a rain-soaked night in mid-December, more than 200 people showed up
to participate in a town hall meeting in Portland.
Oregon wildlife officials presented an overview of the state’s wolf
history and issues, then took questions, which ranged from wolves’ impact
on livestock and game, to the cost of wolf management.
The crowd then divided into seven groups to give participants a chance
to voice comments and concerns — input that eventually will be used by
Oregon’s wildlife commission in developing a wolf management plan.
While too early to speculate on the specifics of the plan, Commission
Chairman John Esler says it will accommodate wolves.
“We don’t want wolves to come here, but if one has gone to the trouble
to get here, we’ll let it stay. . . . It’s a little like how [the United
States] treats Cubans.”