Suspension of Moody draws fire
By MIKE STARK
Gazette Wyoming Bureau
News of the suspension of a senior Wyoming Game and Fish biologist who voiced concerns about the state’s new wolf law drew a mixed reaction on Thursday.
Dave Moody, a 27-year veteran of the department, has been suspended for two weeks after a speech at a national wolf conference in Montana at which he criticized portions of a wolf plan recently approved by the Wyoming Legislature. He said he hoped there was room to shape it into something workable.
Comments criticized After they appeared in newspaper articles, the comments drew fire from Gov. Dave Freudenthal and others in his administration and eventually led to Moody’s suspension.
The action is the latest development in the controversy over how Wyoming might manage wolves if the federal government removes them from the Endangered Species List and passes management to the states.
“We’re all pretty aghast at this,” said Steve Thomas, northern plains regional director of the Sierra Club. “Without knowing the inside story, I can only say I was pretty dismayed that one of the top large-carnivore biologists in the country would have his opinion disrespected in this manner.”
Thomas said the suspension seems to contradict Freudenthal’s claim that his administration was eliminating a “one voice” policy constraining state workers who speak on policy issues.
“I certainly had hoped that the ‘one voice’ policy of the previous administration was over and that professionals and experts would be free to speak their minds without fear of retribution,” Thomas said. “That hasn’t happened evidently.”
Out of the mix Disciplining Moody takes a key scientific voice out of the mix on an important issue and will likely keep other professionals from offering their opinions, Thomas said.
“This is just a further politicization,” he said.
On the other side of the question, Marvin Applequist, executive vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, said Moody’s comments undercut a long legislative process to come up with a viable wolf plan.
“Everyone gave up multiple things to reach a consensus,” said Applequist, who provided input on the plan. “I think Mr. Moody’s comments undermined the Legislature, the governor’s office, Game and Fish. I understand why he’s been suspended … . It had a very negative impact on the whole process.”
The wolf plan approved by lawmakers was intended to satisfy federal requirements for a wolf population and to ensure adequate game herds for hunters and minimal impacts on landowners, Applequist said.
“Mr. Moody’s approach didn’t have any consideration for all the other interests,” he said.
Jim Magagna, director of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association, said he wasn’t so much upset that Moody voiced doubts about the plan but that he approached the attorney general for an opinion about how much latitude there is in the new law as the Game and Fish Department works to develop a final wolf plan.
“I was puzzled by that,” he said. “The legislation was reviewed by the attorney general before the governor signed it. And usually a request like that would come from the (Game and Fish) director.”
Like Applequist, Magagna said Moody’s criticisms may have upset a delicate political balance reached in hammering out the wolf legislation.
“I respect his right to speak out but I don’t think [his comments] were conducive to building and maintaining the relationships that many of us, from a variety of interests, have built in this process,” Magagna said.
Not disciplining Moody in some way might have “significantly set back” progress on finalizing a wolf plan, he said.
“I feel for Dave. He’s a long-term employee, but sometimes when you do things, you have to deal with the consequences,” he said.
Craig Kenworthy, acting program director at the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said Moody’s suspension has broader implications.
“Good wildlife policy relies on good science and diverse voices. ‘Sunshine’ government is the Western way,” he said. “Dave Moody’s experience as a scientist and a wildlife manager should not be muzzled. The Wyoming wolf plans has flaws that could come back to bite those who want wolves delisted.”
Eric Wingerter, of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said it seems that Moody was simply offering his professional opinion at the conference last week — something that public employees should be allowed to do.
“He wasn’t taking a political stand,” Wingerter said. “The fact that he’s been suspended for speaking out is troubling.”
Three members of the Game and Fish Commission who could be reached Thursday said any disciplinary action is between Brent Manning, the department’s director, and his employees. They all said they didn’t know the specifics of the case.
“I’m not anyone to put the clamps on anyone,” said Commissioner Bill Williams of Thermopolis. “But on important issues, if you’re somewhere and you’re there on behalf of the department, then you should probably speak along the lines of department philosophy.”
Commissioner Kerry Powers of Lusk said any disciplinary action taken against one employee shouldn’t be construed as an attempt to stifle other Game and Fish workers.
“I hope that other employees aren’t to the point that they think this is a common sort of thing, because I don’t think it is. I don’t expect it to be something that’s going to be affecting more employees,” Powers said. “We rely on their professionalism and their professional advice.”
Williams, Powers and Commissioner Doyle Dorner of Evanston said they still believe Wyoming is moving in the right direction with its wolf plan and that the latest controversy won’t permanently put the process off-track. A plan is scheduled to be finished this summer.
“It’s my belief that we have a good workable plan for the people of Wyoming,” Dorner said, adding that the commission likely would not get involved in a personnel issue involving Moody. “We have a director in place to handle personnel issues. If a personnel issue took place, that’s his prerogative.”