Washington Senate passes bill allowing wolf protection to be lifted

[bearpaw]

It has to pass the house, which, with the majority of representatives coming from the I-5 corridor, it'll likely never do. I wish it were not so.

There are 2 reps and 1 senator from each legislative district, so the ratio from the I-5 corridor is the same in the senate as the house. But the house has a democrat majority so it will be tougher to pass in the house. Then the big question, will the governor sign it?

Nonetheless this legislation (even if it doesn't become law) is a necessary step in the right direction. It's going to be a long process bringing real change.

[tgomez]

Almost time for special permit hunts! How exciting, atleat they are starting to pull their heads out of their asses.

[Elkaholic daWg]

http://www.capitalpress.com/Washington/20150320/action-on-wolves-cant-wait-until-2017-senator-says

[bearpaw]

http://www.capitalpress.com/Washington/20150320/action-on-wolves-cant-wait-until-2017-senator-says

good article....

Sen. Brian Dansel pressed the state’s wolf policy coordinator, Dave Ware, on whether the Department of Fish and Wildlife was content to wait until 2017 to do more to protect livestock from wolves.

“Are we good to wait two years to do anything?” asked Dansel, a Republican who represents northeast Washington.

“No, not at all,” Ware said.

The House and Senate have both voted to reconsider the state’s wolf recovery plan, but the Fish and Wildlife Commission would have until June 30, 2017, to make changes.

At a hearing of the Natural Resources and Parks Committee, Dansel said he’s concerned that wolves will inflict heavy financial losses on ranchers in his corner of the state unless the state does more on the “lethal deterrence side.”

Dansel called reopening the wolf plan a “great bill,” but also said he was worried the legislation would disarm attempts to manage wolves more effectively now.

“My concern is we get this and then everybody goes, ‘OK, we’re done with wolves. We have a wolf bill. It’s workable. Everything’s great.’ I don’t think on the ground that’s going to be the case,” Dansel said.