State key to plan for delisting wolves
By MIKE STARK
Gazette Wyoming Bureau
Getting gray wolves off the endangered species list promises to be a
carefully choreographed dance by the federal government and the three
states poised to take over management.
In an unusual effort to make sure everyone is moving in step, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting representatives of Montana, Wyoming
and Idaho to help write the proposal to delist the wolves in the northern
Rocky Mountains.
“We’re asking them to pick up the species after we get out from under it,”
said Ed Bangs, FWS wolf recovery coordinator. “We think it’s only fair
that they have information and can participate.”
Although the final decision about removing the wolves’ endangered status
still rests with the FWS, Bangs said, it’s important that the three states
have a say in what a delisting proposal will look like.
In the coming days, wildlife managers in the three states are expected to
sign cooperating agreements to help write the delisting proposal.
“The Endangered Species Act cannot work unless the states and the federal
government work together. And that’s what’s happening here,” said Greg
Schildwachter, policy adviser for the Idaho governor’s Office of Species
Conservation.
The wolves, which were reintroduced to the region in 1995 and 1996, are
expected to reach a key recovery goal at the end of this year. Once
federal managers are convinced there are 30 breeding pairs throughout the
three states for three consecutive years, they’ll petition to have the
wolves removed from Endangered Species Act protections. Montana, Wyoming
and Idaho then will take over their management.
Bangs said FWS plans to have its delisting proposal in place next spring,
but only if all three states have their management plans finished.
Idaho has already approved its plan; Montana’s is expected to be finished
in December. Wyoming, which is just getting under way with its proposal,
is scheduled to approve a plan in March.
“Right now, we’re waiting on the state of Wyoming to get its plan done so
we can proceed,” Bangs said.
In the meantime, the FWS wants to work with representatives from each
state to develop the federal plan.
Bangs said the state managers will help draft the proposal, analyze public
comments, attend meetings, review scientific studies and make any
necessary changes.
“We expect them essentially to go all the way to the end with us,” Bangs
said. “But the final decision will be solely with the Fish and Wildlife
Service.”
For their time and help, FWS will offer each state about $6,500.
Although allowing state and local governments to participate as
“cooperating agencies” is nothing new with the federal government, Bangs
said there isn’t much history of it happening when it comes to removing
animals from the endangered species list.
“It’s probably farther than anyone has gone before the delisting process,”
he said. “Usually (the states) would be just like any other member of the
public.”
Cooperation between the states and the federal government also could pay
dividends down the road. It’s widely figured that lawsuits will be filed
over delisting the wolves, but the states’ early involvement could help
smooth the process.
“It only makes sense that the states get involved early on,” Schildwachter
said, adding that the approach jibes with the Bush administration’s push
to allow more local input on federal decisions.
Wolf managers from Wyoming and Montana could not be reached for comment on
Thursday.
Although the specifics of the states’ involvement are still being worked
out, Bangs said the governments agree that it’s time for the wolves to
make a transition.
“We all agree that recovery is here and the best thing to do is take the
wolves off the Endangered Species Act and put them in the hands of the
states,” Bangs said.
Still, there is some dispute about how the wolves will be managed by the
states. All three are pushing to have the federal government pay for wolf
management in the years to come. There also could be friction over how
much hunting of wolves will be allowed, what territory they can occupy and
whether ranchers will get paid if livestock is killed by wolves.