Wolf rules expected by early next year
By MIKE STARK
Of The Gazette Staff
Rules to give Montana and Idaho more power to control wolves were supposed
to become official last summer but lawsuits have delayed them until at
least early next year, a top federal official said Tuesday.
Workers at the Department of Interior have been kept busy with five
lawsuits involving the wolf controversy and haven’t had enough time to
fully develop a new proposal for state management, said Steve Williams,
director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Williams was in Billings on Tuesday to discuss a proposal for conservation
easements in Montana.
Although temporary rules could be in place next year, Williams said he
couldn’t speculate on when the Department of Interior will propose
removing the wolves from the endangered species list.
“So much depends on these lawsuits and I don’t control that,” Williams
said.
When wolves were reintroduced to the Northern Rocky Mountains in 1995 and
1996, federal biologists predicted there would be about 400 in the region
by the end of 2003. Instead, there are nearly 800.
Federal officials say the population has met recovery goals and it’s time
to hand over management to Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
Montana and Idaho have approved plans to manage wolves. Wyoming’s was
rejected by the Interior Department – a decision that is now part of a
lawsuit.
With delisting delayed, Interior in March announced plans to pass some
management authority to Montana and Idaho and give ranchers and others
more flexibility in dealing with problem wolves.
The rules would allow increased killing of wolves on private and public
lands if they are harassing livestock or pets or pushing game herds below
minimum levels. Non-lethal control methods, such as loud noises, could
also be used.
Federal officials had hoped to have the rules in final form in time for
the summer but Williams said they are still in draft form because staffers
have had to spend time in depositions and other preparations for lawsuits.
He said the rules could be finalized “early next year. That’s our goal.”