I sent the following email to the Commissioners. I would encourage others to not let this fall off of their radar. Keep writing.
Dear Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners,
I attended the last part of the August 4th meeting regarding the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. I did not arrive in time to speak, but I did submit my intended testimony at the end of the meeting. I also emailed that intended testimony to you after the meeting. In addition to what I have already submitted, I would like to let you know I fully support the views of the testimony submitted by the Washington for Wildlife (WFW) organization.
I am respectfully asking the members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to do what is right based on sound science and taking into account the impact of wolf populations on their prey species, people, domestic animals, livestock, and local economies. My observations during the entire wolf reintroduction program in our nation is that it has been driven by biased emotion and politics that placed the welfare of the wolves above people, their prey species, domestic animals, livestock, and the negative economic impact they have. This narrow vision and focused agenda has proved damaging in other states. Again, I am respectfully asking that you proceed with a plan that will not allow the same mistakes to be made in Washington that were made in other states.
It is also important to note that Alaska and Canada have a wolf population between 60,000 to 70,000 animals (
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/aboutwolves/wolfbiology.htm ). In my opinion, wolves may do well in wilderness areas and may bring a needed biodiversity and balance to those areas. However, I do not see the rationale of allowing the introduction and/or expansion of wolves into populated areas and protecting them where there will be obvious conflicts between people, domestic animals, and livestock. The irrational protection of these wolves is creating a population of wolves that are dangerously habituated to people and populated areas. There must be provisions in the Washington Wolf Conservation and Management Plan that ensures people can protect themselves, others, their pets, and their livestock from attacks by wolves without the threat of prosecution.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/ ) has been dealing with wolves for a long time; you should consider consulting with them.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I also included copies of the Washington for Wildlife news release and my original testimony.
