Federal judge rejects wolf kills in state

[wolfbait]

Federal judge rejects wolf kills in state

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/12/21/federal-judge-rejects-wolf-kills-state/77725338/

[pianoman9701]

Interesting that at least one of the parties named on the suit are also members of the WAG. Who would have thought that a member of the WAG would end up suing the WDFW over killing wolves? Oh that's right, it was I and a few others. The Wildlife Commission has appointed several animal rights groups to the WAG and will spend our hunter and fisher dollars to defend their plans in federal court against groups which have advance warning of those plans from sitting on the advisory group which recommends them. At the very least, this is negligence in the operation of the department. At worst, this is collusion with anti-hunting groups to subvert hunting in our state. If you didn't see this coming, you're blind as a bat.

[wolfbait]

http://stevenscountycattlemen.com/2015/11/13/oregon-delists-wolf-washington-should-follow-suit/

"Hedrick noted that since 2012 wolves have been attacking livestock operations in Eastern Washington, with severe activity in the summer months ranging from cattle attacks near the Canadian Border, cattle kills near the Colville Valley, in grazing areas near Chewelah and at a sheep operation near Springdale. In 2015, wolves from the Dirty Shirt pack killed cattle near Chewelah; the Huckleberry Pack mauled a guard dog near Hunters and the Smackout Pack killed a calf, despite years of non-lethal deterrents and “range riders.”

In response, WDFW hired an $850,000 consultant to work with the pro-wolf heavy Wolf Advisory Group and is trying to form an advisory group to decide which ranchers should receive compensation. WDFW has also stopped making any lethal management decisions, demurring to the Wolf Advisory Group to decide when wolves should be removed. Governor Inslee also recently killed a provision from the Fish and Wildlife Commission that would have allowed for more cougar tags to be issued in 14 areas of the state to help alleviate pressure from predators."

[grundy53]

Interesting that at least one of the parties named on the suit are also members of the WAG. Who would have thought that a member of the WAG would end up suing the WDFW over killing wolves? Oh that's right, it was I and a few others. The Wildlife Commission has appointed several animal rights groups to the WAG and will spend our hunter and fisher dollars to defend their plans in federal court against groups which have advance warning of those plans from sitting on the advisory group which recommends them. At the very least, this is negligence in the operation of the department. At worst, this is collusion with anti-hunting groups to subvert hunting in our state. If you didn't see this coming, you're blind as a bat.

Come on now. I don't believe it.  We were told they wouldn't undermine the WAG... we're all going to work together...

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[pianoman9701]

  I believe that, just as soon as they elbow out the sheep and cattle ranchers, and the hunters.

[wolfbait]

According to WDFW wolves started "migrating" into WA in 2002, now 13 years later WDFW has confirmed 16 wolf packs, WA must have a wolf breeding problem compared to other states.

The topic now is wolf predation on livestock, what will be the determining factor for predation upon ungulates, how far will the game herds have to drop before the WAG "WDFW" decide on wolf control?

[Curly]

........ how far will the game herds have to drop before the WAG "WDFW" decide on wolf control?

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Way, way, way down.  Actually........never.

[MuleDeer]

Federal judge rejects wolf kills in state

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/12/21/federal-judge-rejects-wolf-kills-state/77725338/

Please include all facts when you post items like this to fire people up.  For example, the fact that lethal actions can and will still be taken on wolves in WA state.  Just not by Wildlife Services.  Lethal action will be done by WDFW.

[MuleDeer]

Interesting that at least one of the parties named on the suit are also members of the WAG. Who would have thought that a member of the WAG would end up suing the WDFW over killing wolves? Oh that's right, it was I and a few others. The Wildlife Commission has appointed several animal rights groups to the WAG and will spend our hunter and fisher dollars to defend their plans in federal court against groups which have advance warning of those plans from sitting on the advisory group which recommends them. At the very least, this is negligence in the operation of the department. At worst, this is collusion with anti-hunting groups to subvert hunting in our state. If you didn't see this coming, you're blind as a bat.

Anther fact check:
1. The wildlife Commission did not appoint the members to WAG.  They had nothing to do with it.
2. Our "Hunter and Fisher" dollars, or Pittman-Robertson funds, cannot be used by the animal rights groups or     WAG or the Wildlife Commission.
3.  There are 14 other members on the WAG, other than the animal rights groups you mention, so it's not like they are getting information that isn't also known by the other interests represented, namely livestock producers and hunters.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

[grundy53]

Interesting that at least one of the parties named on the suit are also members of the WAG. Who would have thought that a member of the WAG would end up suing the WDFW over killing wolves? Oh that's right, it was I and a few others. The Wildlife Commission has appointed several animal rights groups to the WAG and will spend our hunter and fisher dollars to defend their plans in federal court against groups which have advance warning of those plans from sitting on the advisory group which recommends them. At the very least, this is negligence in the operation of the department. At worst, this is collusion with anti-hunting groups to subvert hunting in our state. If you didn't see this coming, you're blind as a bat.

Anther fact check:
1. The wildlife Commission did not appoint the members to WAG.  They had nothing to do with it.
2. Our "Hunter and Fisher" dollars, or Pittman-Robertson funds, cannot be used by the animal rights groups or     WAG or the Wildlife Commission.
3.  There are 14 other members on the WAG, other than the animal rights groups you mention, so it's not like they are getting information that isn't also known by the other interests represented, namely livestock producers and hunters.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Those 14 other representatives won't be using that information against us.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[pianoman9701]

1. Whether it was the commission or the director who appointed them, they're in bed with people who will cost us money on both ends - They'll sue the department or the state to stop lethal control using taxpayer dollars to pay their attorneys. We're giving them advance notice to get ready for those suits.
2. PR funds have already been used for the wolf program. As WDFW representatives work on "solutions" in the field for wolf depredations, more will be used.
3. My problem with this comment is outlined in my answer to #1.

Respectfully, I think you're on the wrong side of this issue, especially as a representative of an association which is supposed to support a population of animals which is already in trouble. Not acknowledging the incestuous nature of the relationship between our WDFW and the animal rights groups is dangerous for all of our wildlife. We've had the ability to delist these eaters in the E. 1/3 of the state for two years now. Their population has grown to such an extent that the ranchers and citizens of the NE are suffering greatly. The response from the people who are supposed to help them with human/wildlife conflict, the WDFW, is to pet the cute cuddly wolfies on the head and say "bad boy". They should be handing out tags and killing entire packs when these depredation problems occur. The influence of the animal rights groups and the fear they put into the WDFW is painfully obvious.

[MuleDeer]

http://stevenscountycattlemen.com/2015/11/13/oregon-delists-wolf-washington-should-follow-suit/

"Hedrick noted that since 2012 wolves have been attacking livestock operations in Eastern Washington, with severe activity in the summer months ranging from cattle attacks near the Canadian Border, cattle kills near the Colville Valley, in grazing areas near Chewelah and at a sheep operation near Springdale. In 2015, wolves from the Dirty Shirt pack killed cattle near Chewelah; the Huckleberry Pack mauled a guard dog near Hunters and the Smackout Pack killed a calf, despite years of non-lethal deterrents and “range riders.”

In response, WDFW hired an $850,000 consultant to work with the pro-wolf heavy Wolf Advisory Group and is trying to form an advisory group to decide which ranchers should receive compensation. WDFW has also stopped making any lethal management decisions, demurring to the Wolf Advisory Group to decide when wolves should be removed. Governor Inslee also recently killed a provision from the Fish and Wildlife Commission that would have allowed for more cougar tags to be issued in 14 areas of the state to help alleviate pressure from predators."

Wow.  Comical the way you leave out facts to make it sound so much worse...are you a journalist?
Fact: WDFW did not hire the facilitator in response to your posted quote above.  They hired her because the first two years of the WAG were a complete disaster and nothing was ever accomplished or agreed upon: the format didn't work, and it was obvious.
Fact:  The WAG is far from "pro-wolf heavy".  Have you looked at who the WAG members are and who or what they represent there?  Less than a 1/3 of the members are what you could even remotely call "wolf advocates".
Fact:  There is no sub-committee to decide which ranchers will get compensated.  ALL producers can receive compensation for losses, period.  The WAG was and is working on the DCPA-L, which defines which produces can receive cost-share for putting pre-emptive actions into play.  Has nothing to do with compensation.
Fact:  WDFW has NOT stopped making lethal removal decisions.  That is still as it was written in the original wolf mgmt. plan and protocol.  What the WAG has been doing is making that protocol more specific in it's wording, so that when that protocol is met, there is no opportunity for dissention by the wolf advocates.  So far, this has all been unanimously agreed upon by EVERY member of WAG, and it continues to be improved upon.
Fact:  The WAG CANNOT dictate when lethal removal is necessary.  The WAG is an advisory group, not a policy setting board or commission.
Fact:  The governor did in fact kill the proposal by the Wildlife Commission, but let's reveal the entire truth of the story.  It was killed because proper procedure was not followed, much like a lot of you complain about when something is "dumped" on the hunting community.  The gov. also told the commission to not let this proposal sit, and to bring it back up at the next commission meeting, following all proper steps.  Once that is done, he will not kill it, and it will be official.
Correct me if I'm wrong on any of these points.  I know I'm not, because I know the facts and use them instead of half-truths.

[MuleDeer]

1. Whether it was the commission or the director who appointed them, they're in bed with people who will cost us money on both ends - They'll sue the department or the state to stop lethal control using taxpayer dollars to pay their attorneys. We're giving them advance notice to get ready for those suits.
2. PR funds have already been used for the wolf program. As WDFW representatives work on "solutions" in the field for wolf depredations, more will be used.
3. My problem with this comment is outlined in my answer to #1.

Respectfully, I think you're on the wrong side of this issue, especially as a representative of an association which is supposed to support a population of animals which is already in trouble. Not acknowledging the incestuous nature of the relationship between our WDFW and the animal rights groups is dangerous for all of our wildlife. We've had the ability to delist these eaters in the E. 1/3 of the state for two years now. Their population has grown to such an extent that the ranchers and citizens of the NE are suffering greatly. The response from the people who are supposed to help them with human/wildlife conflict, the WDFW, is to pet the cute cuddly wolfies on the head and say "bad boy". They should be handing out tags and killing entire packs when these depredation problems occur. The influence of the animal rights groups and the fear they put into the WDFW is painfully obvious.

Yes, PR dollars have been used, in the intended form: management.  They haven't been used to curtail mgmt. or undermine anything else.  Just because the mgmt. being done doesn't suit you perfectly, doesn't mean they are misappropriating funds.  There's lots of mgmt. that is done that I and many others don't agree with, so our option is to try and make a difference somehow, maybe by getting involved.
I'm far from the wrong side of this issue, but I also know the facts.  We have NOT had the ability to delist wolves in any part of WA yet.  You should read the Wolf Management Plan so you know all the facts.  Is the Plan written the best it could have been?  Not by a long shot, and they see the shortcomings of it now as things have gotten out of hand in the eastern 1/3 of the state. 
Please explain to me how I'm on the wrong side of this issue......because I speak the facts and am working with the other members who want to see wolves managed to protect our wildlife along with livestock and producers?  Would you rather see me throw a tantrum and speak 1/2 truths just to get people mad?  I'd rather speak the whole truth and try to educate people on what is going on, and the ways we are trying to make some changes.
Attend a meeting of the WAG and I think you'd be surprised.

[MuleDeer]

According to WDFW wolves started "migrating" into WA in 2002, now 13 years later WDFW has confirmed 16 wolf packs, WA must have a wolf breeding problem compared to other states.

The topic now is wolf predation on livestock, what will be the determining factor for predation upon ungulates, how far will the game herds have to drop before the WAG "WDFW" decide on wolf control?

Wolf Control, and specifically lethal controls have been written into the mgmt. plan since the beginning...nothing has changed.    Ungulate mgmt. is also written into the plan.  Read the Wolf Management Plan, then use the new knowledge to continue fighting for what we need to see change.

[pianoman9701]

I know the wolf plan backwards and forwards. I've been involved in this from nearly the start in WA It was devised in such a way as to take the longest possible time to accomplish. A great many of us recognized this a long time ago and have protested its components. It needs to be amended or scrapped and re-written so the people of the NE and the wildlife get some relief. I would like to see you and others throw tantrums and get this plan changed because it is disastrous in its consequences. You don't have to speak half truths to be ticked off about what's going on.