Pups from the Lookout Pack in Okanogan County - July 2008. Photo from Conservation Northwest
The public hearings are over, but you’ve still got plenty of time to comment on the Gray Wolf recovery plan for the state of Washington.
As Oregon grapples with its own issues with wolves, what’s happening just across the border is getting attention here. The Hells Canyon Preservation Council of La Grande played an important role in developing Oregon’s wolf plan and has some concerns with what’s going on in Washington.
Here’s what Washington Fish and Wildlife is proposing:
Current status: Wolves are protected as an endangered species under federal and state laws in the Western two-thirds of Washington. They were delisted in the Eastern third by the federal government, but are still protected there by state laws.
The next step: WDFW wants to lower their status from endangered to threatened, after six successful breeding pairs are present for three years in a row. In addition, the six pairs would have to be somewhat dispersed across the state. There are currently two breeding pairs in the state.
The state would continue to remove protections on a gradual basis as wolf numbers climb. It would delist wolves entirely once 15 breeding pairs have been established.
When wolves are lowered to threatened status, farmers and ranchers would be allowed to shoot and kills wolves caught in the act of attacking their livestock.
The Hells Canyon Preservation Council is concerned for two reasons. First, it says the standard of 15 pairs for delisting is not based on scientific evidence and may be not large enough to support a sustainable population. It also also opposes allowing private landowners to shoot and kill them while the wolves are still listed as threatened. The group says that will make it harder for wolves to recover. But they support WDFW plans to compensate ranchers and farmers who suffer losses to wolves, and plans to locate wolves around the state to boost overall numbers.
The deadline for public comments is January 8.
For information on how to comment go to WDFW’s Draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
To learn more about WDFW’s proposed recovery plan see Strategies in Draft Plan – Preferred Alternative (2)
No, you don’t have time! They’ve come into Wallowa county in northeastern Oregon and already have begun to kill this year’s calves, intimidate walkers, and unless you (or an eye witness) are at the kill, or you have camera proof, ODF&W won’t confirm the kill! People are afraid to ride,go mushrooming by themselves, and just simply enjoy the outdoors without packing a weapon for self protection … and you must try to just scare them off first!!!
I didn’t believe in the term “War On The West” before, but I do now!
These are large predators that rarely travel singly … It doesn’t take them long at all to take down their prey by hamstringing it, disembowel them while still alive, then tear them apart. Unless interrupted while feeding, there’s rarely much evidence left!