Senate gets first look at wolf bill
By MEAD GRUVER
Associated Press Writer
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Passions ran high Wednesday as the Senate began debating legislation that would assert the state’s control over wildlife, especially wolves.
Senate File 97 was approved on first reading 21-9.
The bill would ban the ‘introduction, reintroduction, propagation or management of any wildlife species’ by anyone except the Game and Fish Department.
An amendment approved by the Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee last week asked the attorney general to ‘prepare a plan of litigation’ to give Wyoming sole management authority over all species everywhere except Yellowstone National Park.
While the Senate voted the threat of litigation out of the bill Wednesday, the bill still retains plenty of vitriol, including a demand that the federal government pay the state for any damage created by wildlife introduced in Wyoming.
The bill could present a paradox for the Game and Fish Department if it is approved. The agency would have to oppose the federal government’s plans for wolves, yet presumably would continue to work on a state wolf management plan – a prerequisite for having wolves removed from federal Endangered Species Act protection.
A sponsor of the bill, Sen. Delaine Roberts, R-Etna, said studies show that 24 elk are killed each year for every wolf in an area.
‘You don’t have to have a master’s in mathematics to determine what 280 wolves are going to do to an elk herd,’ he told his colleagues.
‘There’s wolves all over. We’ve seen them in the Red Desert. You folks who haven’t seen wolves in your area, hear the testimony of ranchers: You will – I guarantee you will.’
Sen. Grant Larson, R-Jackson, agreed that wolves will exact a high cost for Wyoming.
‘We aren’t going to have any elk. Where do you believe the Game and Fish derives most of its revenue? The sale of licenses,’ he said.
‘If we don’t take a stand and do something our elk are going to be gone, our moose are going to be gone and they’re going to be getting into the cattle so fast you won’t believe it.’
Not everyone feels the bill is the right approach, however.
‘I sympathize with the general attitude. But I don’t think this is going to take us where we want to go, if we want to shoot wolves that are killing livestock,’ said Sen. Keith Goodenough, D-Casper.
Goodenough pointed to other areas where the federal government exercises considerable control over what happens in Wyoming, such as highways and education. If Wyoming wants to take on the federal government in one area, it ought to take it on in all areas, he said.
Sen. Jayne Mockler, D-Cheyenne, said the state would be better off working with the federal government than confronting it.
‘Their goal is the same as our goal, to have manageable numbers of elk, to have manageable numbers of moose,’ she said. ‘It’s such a line in the sand and we’ve drawn it so firmly that I think we’re creating a bigger problem than we would solve.’
The Senate gave final approval Wednesday to:
-SF68, which would pay state employees for unused sick time when they retire or otherwise quit working for the state government (29-1);
-SF71, which would require companies that do wire money transfers to be licensed with the state (25-5);
-SF88, which would post signs marking the boundaries of state land (25-5);
-SF11, which would make adjustments to the state health officer’s authority during public health emergencies.
Senate File 49, which would allow cities and towns to restrict outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution, was defeated on third reading.