By STEVE BROWN
Capital Press
OLYMPIA — Whether wolves should be protected on a statewide basis only or by region was debated during a legislative hearing this week.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2214, which would affect the state’s recently adopted Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. The bill would authorize the state Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider petitions to change the classification of an endangered or threatened species on a regional basis. It currently must be addressed on a statewide basis.
The authority would apply only if the species in question is a “mammalian apex predator” such as a wolf.
The legislation has bipartisan sponsorship, and a companion bill, SB6136, has been introduced in the Senate.
The state has five confirmed wolf packs, plus reported activity in three other areas.
The wolf management plan sets a goal of 15 breeding pair statewide and allows for downlisting of the predator as certain population goals are reached in all three specific recovery areas. After it is delisted, it is anticipated the wolf will be recommended as a game species.
Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, said he helped write the bill to allow for a faster response to a growing wolf population, especially in areas where communities depend on hunting. The wolves’ impact on ungulates such as deer and elk would severely impact those communities’ economies.
Jack Field, executive vice president of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association, said the existing plan entails a long lag time before the animal can be delisted in areas where it has the most impact on wildlife and livestock.
“This is not a sustainable, holistic plan,” he said.
After Linda Saunders of Wolf Haven International urged legislators to “give the plan a chance to work,” Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, told her he has three packs in his district.
“We could end up with 10 or 12 packs,” he said, “and it still depends on the rest of the state” before the animals can be delisted.
Heather Hansen, speaking for the Cattle Producers of Washington, said livestock in Stevens County is already being stressed by wolves’ presence and that stress affects farmers’ income.
“It’s not fair for Eastern Washington to bear this burden,” she said.