Wolf plan brouhaha
by Cat Urbigkit
Last week’s rejection of Wyoming’s wolf management plan by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service left state officials scrambling to figure out what
strategy they should take.
Montana and Idaho officials learned that rejection of the Wyoming plan
meant state management of wolves can’t begin in their states, with
federal officials announcing the delisting process can begin in the
tri-state area only once Wyoming changes both its state law and state
plan.
FWS Director Steve Williams said in a press release, “Delisting can move
forward as soon as Wyoming makes the changes we’ve identified to both
its state law and its wolf management plan, but not until then because
these wolves are part of one distinct population segment.”
FWS demands the following:
. Wyoming’s predatory animal status for wolves must be changed to a
statewide designation of wolves as “trophy game.” That means that the
Wyoming Game and Fish Department would be responsible for setting
seasons and regulating take, as well as having a financial
responsibility to pay for livestock losses due to wolves.
. The Wyoming state law must clearly commit to managing at least 15 wolf
packs in Wyoming. The current law commits to managing for 15 packs, but
only seven packs outside national parks, letting these federally
protected areas bear the burden of the majority of the wolf population.
. The Wyoming definition of a pack must be consistent among the three
states. Some speculate that FWS wants the definition to include at least
six wolves, not the five included in Wyoming law.
FWS offered, “If requested, the Service will provide guidance to the
Wyoming Department of Game and Fish in developing these three changes.”
The FWS announcement led to loud protests from Governor Dave Freudenthal
and a lengthy discussion at least week’s meeting of the Wyoming
Legislature’s Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources
Committee in Laramie.
Members heard input ranging from whether the state should roll over and
play dead by doing whatever the feds want in order to get wolves
delisted, to standing firm and fighting it out in court.
Some members of the committee have agreed to have the Legislative
Service Office draft a bill addressing the concerns expressed by FWS
officials.
Any legislation proposed by the committee must receive a two-thirds vote
for introduction during the upcoming budget session, set to begin Feb.
9.