Fish & Wildlife Commission Special Meeting (Nov. 3-5) Agenda - Spokane

[Machias]

This was my testimony:
 
Good afternoon, I’m with WFW and I agree with Mr. Denny's initial presentation.  I would like to thank the Members of the Commission for having at least one meeting on the Eastside of the state for folks over here to voice their thoughts and opinions, especially since we will be impacted the most before delisting ever occurs.   When I decided to come here and speak before the Commission I wondered how could I have even a tiny impact on the Commission’s decision.  I am a 20 year veteran of the Air Force and I have had the privilege of hunting, fishing, trapping in several states.  I’ve seen firsthand a well run Fish and Game Department and thriving wildlife populations.  I’ve lived in states where the Departments enjoyed strong support from the public and from the hunting and fishing community.  Sadly that is not the case here in Washington State.  It’s sad because this state has so much potential.  I have often wondered why that is, you have a state with huge amounts of public land and such beautiful and diverse wildlife populations, but it’s so poorly managed.  I believe you’ll agree there is much distrust of Government these days whether your political leanings are left, right or center.  Most people have little to no trust in the political process.  In my opinion that is the key to the poor management of the wildlife in this great state.  The state has long since left behind “scientific”  Wildlife Management and somehow travelled down the path to “politically motivated” Wildlife Management.   I heard, second hand, that someone on the Commission made the comment that 75% of the population wants the wolves to return to the state in significant numbers and that these folks vote.  Yes they do, however the vast majority of them will not be impacted by wolves in the least bit.  It’s no different than if the 49 other states in the Union decided they want to dump their garbage and toxic waste here in Washington and the politicians saying,  well 90% of the population wants it!  Sure they would, but how about the folks who are going to be impacted, the residents of Washington?!?  I am happy wolves have returned and are continuing to return to the state.  What I am worried about is the number of wolves the state wants before they will delist them.  I am also worried that the state wants these goals attained in the entire state before they delist them anywhere in the state.  This will have a devastating impact on the deer, elk, moose and caribou herds in eastern WA.  Why does the Department want 15 breeding pairs before they will delist them, when MT, ID and WY have far more land, much higher prey numbers and far less people and still only needed 10 breeding pairs to begin the delisting process.  It’s most likely politically motivated and not scientifically motivated.  I would also like the Commission to take into account that once we reach 15 breeding pairs, that is when the litigation will begin in the state courts.  You can realistically add YEARS to the delisting process which will have an enormous negative impact on Washington.  I read a recent article which stated in Montana they started out with broad public support for the return of wolves and now due to court proceedings, delays and mismanagement by their Fish and Game Departments they have very little support left.  So you may start off with widespread support, but it will not last.  Please go back to “scientific” Wildlife Management and steer clear of the “politically motivated” Wildlife Management.  You have the power and the ability to make everyone “mostly” happy, you can have wolves returned to this great state and manage them properly so they do not devastate wildlife populations and livestock.  You have the power to get nearly the entire state in your corner, if you take the politics out of the management decisions.  Thank you.
 

[Machias]

Lets remember that no matter what it sounds like at the public meeting, emails, phone calls and letters to not only the Commission but to your State Representatives will help..  The more they get flooded the more they will see the support against this current plan. 

    Agreed!

[nwwanderer]

My take on the meeting:  4 to 1 vote to except at December meeting.   The tribe has some pull and could get positive changes before acceptance.  The agencies involved have not a clue on the cost of the program.  The agencies have no idea how many wolves currently are in our state at least part of the time.  The cat is out of the bag, the numbers of wolves, compensation for wolf economic losses and wolf 'management' are all a moving targets
with no solid on the ground goal.
This does not mean it is a lost cause.  Numbers will yo-yo as all predator populations do, parvo, distemper and mange will take a great toll, wolves killing wolves will be the highest mortality cause and hot spots of severe damage probably will force the state and feds to rethink.
With a little luck no one dies protecting pets and livelyhoods.   

[TheHunt]

Lets remember that no matter what it sounds like at the public meeting, emails, phone calls and letters to not only the Commission but to your State Representatives will help..  The more they get flooded the more they will see the support against this current plan. 

    Agreed!

I have already been doing that.  I even sent email to the gov.  BearPaw, that was a very thoughtful document you produced.     Very well done...  I want to thank everyone to attended and represented all of us. 

[UptheCreek]

Does anyone know how many breeding pairs are already in wash st?  I know I have a confirmed breeding pair on camera on the Republic side of the river.
 

[UptheCreek]

um....right.  only 5...

[BOWHUNTER45]

This was my testimony:
 
Good afternoon, I’m with WFW and I agree with Mr. Denny's initial presentation.  I would like to thank the Members of the Commission for having at least one meeting on the Eastside of the state for folks over here to voice their thoughts and opinions, especially since we will be impacted the most before delisting ever occurs.   When I decided to come here and speak before the Commission I wondered how could I have even a tiny impact on the Commission’s decision.  I am a 20 year veteran of the Air Force and I have had the privilege of hunting, fishing, trapping in several states.  I’ve seen firsthand a well run Fish and Game Department and thriving wildlife populations.  I’ve lived in states where the Departments enjoyed strong support from the public and from the hunting and fishing community.  Sadly that is not the case here in Washington State.  It’s sad because this state has so much potential.  I have often wondered why that is, you have a state with huge amounts of public land and such beautiful and diverse wildlife populations, but it’s so poorly managed.  I believe you’ll agree there is much distrust of Government these days whether your political leanings are left, right or center.  Most people have little to no trust in the political process.  In my opinion that is the key to the poor management of the wildlife in this great state.  The state has long since left behind “scientific”  Wildlife Management and somehow travelled down the path to “politically motivated” Wildlife Management.   I heard, second hand, that someone on the Commission made the comment that 75% of the population wants the wolves to return to the state in significant numbers and that these folks vote.  Yes they do, however the vast majority of them will not be impacted by wolves in the least bit.  It’s no different than if the 49 other states in the Union decided they want to dump their garbage and toxic waste here in Washington and the politicians saying,  well 90% of the population wants it!  Sure they would, but how about the folks who are going to be impacted, the residents of Washington?!?  I am happy wolves have returned and are continuing to return to the state.  What I am worried about is the number of wolves the state wants before they will delist them.  I am also worried that the state wants these goals attained in the entire state before they delist them anywhere in the state.  This will have a devastating impact on the deer, elk, moose and caribou herds in eastern WA.  Why does the Department want 15 breeding pairs before they will delist them, when MT, ID and WY have far more land, much higher prey numbers and far less people and still only needed 10 breeding pairs to begin the delisting process.  It’s most likely politically motivated and not scientifically motivated.  I would also like the Commission to take into account that once we reach 15 breeding pairs, that is when the litigation will begin in the state courts.  You can realistically add YEARS to the delisting process which will have an enormous negative impact on Washington.  I read a recent article which stated in Montana they started out with broad public support for the return of wolves and now due to court proceedings, delays and mismanagement by their Fish and Game Departments they have very little support left.  So you may start off with widespread support, but it will not last.  Please go back to “scientific” Wildlife Management and steer clear of the “politically motivated” Wildlife Management.  You have the power and the ability to make everyone “mostly” happy, you can have wolves returned to this great state and manage them properly so they do not devastate wildlife populations and livestock.  You have the power to get nearly the entire state in your corner, if you take the politics out of the management decisions.  Thank you.

Nicely done Machias 

[sebek556]

  I am not sure of how to start this post after todays meeting... But here goes first off thank you to dale, al, and machias for testifiing along with everyone else who has gone before. I didnt think that it would be a big deal but it brought out my anger on the subject and I had a hard time restaining myself (from a whole lot of swearing), kinda rushed my testamoney and jumped around but I think my point was well taken, got some very good facial reactions so  . The meeting started off with the comittee asking lots of questions of the wolf group that had them back pedaling. I beleave that Jennings is the nut in fantisy land, but durning the begining he asked some hard questions, I did wonder how much of this was appeal to the audeince infront of them, a whole lot of cowboy hats and boots.Colvillie indains I thought were great, and brought pictures of wolves and a wolf kill that had the wolf group kinda looking skiddish. I could not stay for all the testamonies (once again thank you al for getting us in early) had to switch out with the wife so she could make it to school on time this evening. my testamony was in support of both dale and al then about the money issues, it is going to cost alot and we already have schools closing in our area due to lack of funds, the spokane police department closing it's home investgation unit due to lack of funds. and also to the fact of when a honest hunter reports a wolf currently, we are told we don't know what we saw. and I have personaly(along with a group of friends) been called morons for telling a park ranger and a WDFW agent that we saw a wolf. They need to listen to us, we vastly out number them and most of us know what a wolf is and what a coyote is. But durning this process I started getting pissed off and kinda yelled(at least my voice was rasied) so dunno how much it will help. On a very interesting note, Jay Shepherd assistant wildlife biologist from colville spoke to me after my testamony, apologized for and wdfw previous behaviour and asked me to call him with any sightings,tracks,scat etc. I told him I would be in touch soon with modern kicking back off on sat for my son, then the coyote tournamnet and late archery elk. He told me "becareful coyote hunting, there are so 50lbs wolves out there"  when I asked if there was a breeding pair north of springdale, all I got was a funny look.

[KillBilly]

It's been a long day. Dale and I sat with a couple of cattlemen and chatted for awhile over a bowl of soup and a soda. It was good to see Fred and Frank there. It is nice to be able to put faces and a good handshake to names now. I was considering staying for the Friday meeting but think I am heading home early in the morning. We appreciate all of your support and now we can look forward to the next challenge..


forgot, here is my testimony:

November 3, 2011

Madam Chair, Commissioners and Director Anderson

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."
George Washington.

"Science cannot be a mask behind which decision-makers can do anything that special-interests or ideology might dictate. The rightful place for science is as the basis of broad participatory and transparent conversations about how to solve the challenges we face. It is not okay to say the science made me do it while changing the science to justify policy decisions."
Francesca Grifo 1

The current plan obviously leans towards servicing the leftist agenda of Radical Environmentalism. This faction is known to live for stopping the use of animals as their religion and will go to no end to push their agendas.
We have pointed out on several occasions that 15 BPs with a 3 year waiting period to begin delisting is irresponsible. We have also repeatedly pointed out that refusing citizens their rights to protect themselves, and their pets & livestock is irresponsible.
This irresponsible plan leaves us no option but to view the wolf as an enemy instead of a natural part of nature and its plan. We are being asked to accept this enemy into our midst and ignore the losses and destruction it will cause other endangered species, and the already diminishing populations of wildlife.
It is time to end this debate; it is time to remind the department of their Mission and Goals as well as their responsibility to the people of the State of Washington.
The solution is to reject the current plan completely and require a new science based and responsible Wolf recovery and management plan.
Thank you,
Al Stover

1 Francesca Grifo, Senior Scientist and Director, Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists

[nwwanderer]

The actual number of breeding pairs?  Anyones guess.  5 we were told today.  That does not count 2 BPs on the Washington Oregon border in the Blues.  That does not count the pack that frequents Tekoa Butte.  That does not count the pack that is in and out of Washington on Mica peak.  That does not count the pack that is in and out of Washington on Mount Spokane.  Some of these would be counted if someone happens to see them with two or more pups after December.  This does not count a documented female with pups (some say as many as 20 in the last three years) on the Washington Idaho border 50 miles north of Spokane (she does not fill the criteria, no male).  You should begin to understand that the plan has some issues.

[sebek556]

nwwander what you wearing today? it was pretty is to tell which one I was, trying to place who you were...

[Special T]

It sounds like the colville are our allies in this... We should try and g=build closer ties with them. It sound like some of us should have a bowl of soup with the tribe.... Not only are they out of WDFW jurisdiction, but they seem to have some documentation we don't... The more pressure we can bring to bear  the Better!

[sebek556]

Al, how was the final number on the testamonys? was it more for wolves or against?

[mulehunter]

Thanks everone who stand up for all.  Very appercate with your time.  I hope they decide better for everything.  It makes me sooooo sick when wolves get FREE JAIL PASS.    
Cheer to all who go today

Mulehunter

[sebek556]

I would like to remind everyone, you can still make your voice heard or heard again as the case maybe be. EMAIL,CALL,MAIL get our voices out there! You do not have to show up in person to be heard.