Plan welcomes gray wolves to Oregon
But the endangered critters, which arenýt here yet but are expected to
migrate from Idaho, arenýt loved by all
By MARK FREEMAN
Mail Tribune
Gray wolves would be welcomed and encouraged to breed when they naturally
migrate into Oregon, but they would not be actively re-introduced here
under a draft plan meant to manage wolves once they return.
The draft plan also calls for promoting social tolerance for wolves, which
were hunted to extinction here in the early 1900s to curb livestock
losses. It also would create population and breeding objectives for
eastern and western Oregon, establish a program to compensate for
livestock losses and allow for relocating wolves to unused but suitable
habitat within Oregon after regional public comment.
Other provisions include the killing of specific “problem” wolves that
cause chronic losses to livestock or deer and elk, and even the potential
use of hunters or trappers to do it.
There are no known wolves in Oregon, where they are still classified as a
threatened species on state and federal lists. Experts expect them to
cross into Oregon from Idaho some time in the next five years.
The wolf plan is the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifeýs effort at
preparing for the animals, and the issues, that will arise once they
return
The plan is the product of a 14-person advisory committee representing
various interests from conservation groups to hunters and rural
landowners.
The ODFW and committee members are stumping on behalf of the plan in a
series of public meetings that includes a Tuesday stop in Medford.
After public comment, The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled
to have public hearings at its meetings Dec. 10 and Jan. 6, with the final
adoption set for Jan. 7.
“Is it an ideal plan? No. But itýs universes better than other states,”
said Amaroq Weiss, western director of species conservation for the
Defenders of Wildlife and one of the committee members.
“Itýs a plan that responsibly addresses the needs of wolves and humans,”
Weiss said.
Not everyone agrees.
Wallowa County Commissioner Ben Boswell was one of two Eastern Oregon
representatives on the advisory committee who refused to sign off on the
draft. He wrote a minority opinion that stresses what he called the “Tom
McCall Plan” for wolves: “You may visit, but you canýt stay.”
Some hunting organizations are backing that ship-them-back approach.
“Our stance is hard and fast ý we donýt want wolves here,” said John
Thiebes, a former ODFW biologist who is field coordinator for the
Medford-based Oregon Hunters Association.
Wolves in states such as Idaho feed primarily on elk, and ODFW censuses
show that half of the statesý wildlife units have fewer elk than the
management objectives for those units.
“How are (ODFW biologists) going to meet these management objectives with
another predator here when they canýt reach them now?” Thiebes said. “The
bottom line is, thereýs just no place for wolves in Oregon at this time.”
Not all hunting or sporting organizations are calling for keeping Oregon a
wolf-free state.
Mike Beagle of Medford, who chairs a new organization called Backcountry
Hunters and Anglers, said he believes the plan represents a “pro-active”
way of dealing with the inevitable spread of wolves.
“I think itýs a good, level-headed plan,” Beagle said. “If we can manage
them and live relatively peaceful with wolves, Iým all for that.
“Theyýre coming, so letýs do something now so weýre prepared,” he said.
The first wolves to move here under the plan are expected to be wild
wolves from packs in Idaho.
The planýs ultimate goal is to establish enough wolves here to get them
removed from the state and federal endangered species rolls.
ODFW officials then envision asking the Oregon Legislature to list wolves
as a “special status mammal” for future management that could include the
limited, controlled hunting or trapping of specific wolves.
Weiss, from Defenders of Wildlife, says the draft plan represents the
diverse committeeýs best effort.
“No one at the table got everything they wanted, but everybody got
something they needed,” Weiss said. “You canýt ask for a whole lot more
when you have such diverse interests at the table.”
Public meeting scheduled
What: A public meeting by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to
present and take public comment on its draft management plan for gray
wolves, which are expected to migrate into Oregon from Idaho within the
next five years. When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: North Medford High School Cafeteria, 1900 N. Keeneway Drive,
Medford.
Comment by fax: Fax comments to (503)947-6009.
Comment by e-mail: ODFW.Comments@state.or.us
Comment by mail: Send letters to the ODFW Information and Education
Division, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE, Salem 97303-4924.