Wolf foes want state to call shots
HELENA (AP) — The state should wrestle control of the wolf population from
federal regulators if the animal is not delisted by 2004, ranchers and
outfitters told lawmakers Thursday.
Plans before the Legislature push for management of wolves as predators, and
would call on the state to sue the federal government to pay for resources lost
to wolves.
But opponents worried one of two measures would derail the state’s wolf
management plan, a prerequisite for federal delisting of the animal, and result
in years of costly litigation against the U.S. government.
The state would be on shaky legal ground, according to Chris Tweeten, chief
counsel for Attorney General Mike McGrath.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has said that for wolves to be taken off the
Endangered Species List in the region, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho each must
first develop plans for managing the wolves on their own. Idaho adopted its
plan last March. Montana and Wyoming are developing theirs.
House Bill 283 directs state wildlife officials to unilaterally control the
wolf population if the federal government does not remove the animals from the
endangered species list by Jan. 1, 2004.
The measure said the same actions should be taken if a federal move to delist
wolves is challenged in court.
“This bill is not about eradicating wolves from Montana. This bill is about
turning management over to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department,” said Rep.
Daniel Fuchs, R-Billings, who is also sponsoring HB262.
Both bills were before the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee Thursday.
But HB283 drew the most focus from a large crowd gathered for the hearings.
“We are worried this bill will not promote delisting,” said Chris Smith, chief
of staff for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “It will stop it dead
in its tracks.”
Hunters contend wolves are responsible for a drop in elk populations in some
areas, while ranchers say wolves threaten their livestock and their
livelihoods.
“We do know that wolves are going to eat these animals that we are going to be
hunting,” said Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports
Association. “We are going to run out of elk in somewhere between five and 10
years. The elk are going to be gone.”
HB262 is a general directive to the wildlife agency to manage wolves, lions,
and bears primarily to protect livestock, game animals, pets, people and
recreational opportunities. Wildlife managers said such an overall message
probably would not foul delisting efforts.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has said the wolf’s classification under the
Endangered Species Act may be downgraded from “endangered,” the highest level
of protection, to “threatened” as early as next month.
Among other things, that would allow ranchers to kill wolves caught attacking
their livestock.
After that, federal managers have said they would launch the delisting process.
Ed Bangs, the FWS wolf recovery specialist, has estimated delisting will come
sometime in 2004.
Opponents of HB283 said the state’s wolf management plan, currently in the
works, would take reasonable measures to control wolves — as soon as delisting
takes place.
But supporters of Fuchs’ measures said they didn’t trust the federal government
to ever delist the wolf.
“It decimates the wildlife population wherever it goes,” said Bigfork resident
Clarice Ryan. “It can destroy anything that moves.
“This animal alone has the ability to jeopardize our entire way of life.”
Outfitters said the state’s wolf population, estimated at between 200 and 600
animals, already exceeds the number the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed
to at the time of reintroduction.
“It is a fact that the situation facing our wildlife, our livestock, our
businesses, our way of life, is critical,” said Bill Hoppe, a Gardiner
outfitter.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the annual head count conducted on New
Year’s Eve found nearly 700 wolves in about 41 packs roaming Montana, Idaho and
Wyoming.