Oregon law firmly against killing wolves
The Associated Press
February 20, 2003
PORTLAND — Oregon wildlife officials and lawmakers are trying to modify strict rules that prohibit the killing of gray wolves that move into Oregon.
An opinion from the state attorney general’s office delivered to the Oregon Fish and Commission concludes that Oregon’s Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to kill a wolf anywhere and requires wildlife authorities to restore the species to the state.
By extending protections onto private property the new opinion carries the law further than officials had realized. It says the state law prevents Oregon from adopting a policy of killing or otherwise removing wolves that enter Oregon.
Oregon’s Endangered Species Act requires the state to “bring the species back to the extent that it no longer needs protection,” Assistant Attorney General William Cook told the commission. “We don’t think that would allow turning wolves back at the border.”
State law now lists wolves as endangered. But the law could leave Oregon state wildlife officials in an awkward position when it comes to wolves entering Oregon from Idaho, where they were reintroduced under a federal recovery program in 1995.
Three wolves are known to have made it to Oregon, although each was killed or removed. Biologists say it’s likely more are roaming the state and could form packs.
Reliable sightings have been reported this winter near John Day and Pendleton.
Federal “experimental” status allows ranchers to shoot them in certain circumstances.
Federal officials expect later this month to release a rule reclassifying wolves from endangered to threatened, allowing more leeway to control wolves in Oregon.
But current state law allows no such latitude, so state officials could find themselves protecting wolves that federal law says could be killed.