Josh Huntsman
PAROWAN – Members of the Iron County Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve a resolution supporting the delisting of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act in the state and to oppose the establishment of Mexican wolf colonies in Utah.
Michael Worthen, resource specialist in the Iron County Department of Natural Resources, wrote and presented the resolution to express the county’s opposition to creating wolf re-establishment areas in Utah.
Worthen said the issue involves two separate species of wolves in two different geographical locations. The first concern is with the gray wolf, which was introduced to areas in Idaho and Montana, including Yellowstone National Park starting in 1995.
Worthen said these wolf introductions were classified as experimental and non-essential – a classification in the ESA that allows for greater leeway in dealing with animal problems from ranchers and other residents.
In 2011, gray wolves living in Idaho and Montana were officially delisted from the ESA, a move Utah and Oregon are attempting to follow.
“The packs became so large they are migrating into other areas,” Worthen said. “We have seen wolves in northern Utah and may have a breeding pair up there.”
The other concern is about the Mexican wolf, a subspecies of wolf Worthen says is used to receiving handouts from humans and hunting livestock.
Worthen said U.S. Fish and Wildlife decided to draft a recovery plan for the Mexican wolf in Utah that would include releasing up to 300 wolves.
“We want to make it clear that we oppose any wolf recovery in Utah, north or south,” Worthen said.
Donnie Hunter, a representative from Sportsman for Wildlife, said he was concerned that wolves would decimate healthy elk and deer populations.
“We’ve been working for 15 years to increase deer and elk herds and have succeeded,” Hunter said. “The wolves would devastate the work and money we’ve put into these programs.”
Commissioner Dale Brinkerhoff said it was a “good resolution” for a worthwhile cause.
“It’s just one less governmental intrusion we have to deal with,” Brinkerhoff said.
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