Tribes study how to managed delisted animals
RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) — The state won’t be the only entity in charge of managing wolves and grizzly bears if the animals are removed from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Responsibility for any wolves and grizzlies found on the 2.3 million-acre Wind River Reservation will fall to the Northern Arapaho and Shoshone tribes, which have started studying the issue.
Using a $185,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, the tribes plan to survey populations of both animals on the reservation, which covers a massive swath of the Owl Creek and Wind River mountains.
“We want to be ready,” Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game Department supervisor Ben Warren said.
According to Warren, the survey will determine how many of the animals can be killed by reservation hunters once they are delisted.
Removing grizzlies from federal protection could occur as early as 2005. Forest management plans, however, must be amended to include grizzly habitat criteria, and Fish and Wildlife needs to complete a population survey before that can happen.
“We’re a ways from delisting grizzly bears,” said John Emmerich, assistant wildlife division chief for the state Game and Fish Department, “but everything is in place to address the last components needed for delisting to occur.”
Delisting wolves could take much longer now that Fish and Wildlife has rejected Wyoming’s proposed management plan and the state is prepared to sue in federal court.
Last week, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said he planned to write the agency Monday, giving officials one last chance to change their position on Wyoming’s management plan.
The agency has seven to 10 days to respond. If the state doesn’t get what it wants, a lawsuit will be filed, Freudenthal said.