Posted: Tuesday, December 06, 2011
.
Commission approves statewide management document
By STEVE BROWN
Capital Press
OLYMPIA -- After more than four years of work and 300,000 ideas submitted, Washington now has a Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. The Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously adopted the plan Dec. 3, but not everyone is happy with it.
Rancher Jack Field called the plan a "dumpster fire." As executive vice president of the Washington Cattlemen's Association, he was involved through much of the process.
"Adopting a bad plan doesn't mean you've moved forward," he said. "This will be the most expensive mistake the Department (of Fish and Wildlife) makes."
Field's primary concern is the lack of a prey base to support breeding pairs. He said the plan did not adequately address wolves' impact on ungulates, specifically deer and elk, which he called "the most expensive unit to quantify."
"If ungulates go down the toilet, livestock becomes lunch," he said.
Mark Pidgeon, president of the Hunters Heritage Council, said his group represents about 70,000 hunters statewide. The wolf plan will pose "another roadblock" to communities that depend on hunters, he said. Some hunters have told Pidgeon they'll go elsewhere.
"This is our recreation," he said, "but it's livestock owners' livelihoods."
The Washington State Farm Bureau was involved in writing the plan and supports the final version, John Stuhlmiller, director of government relations, said.
"We helped broker a plan as favorable as possible to producers," he said. "We couldn't say 'no recovery' -- that wasn't an option."
Two specific areas he pointed to are funding for wolf depredation of livestock and on-the-ground management tools for producers.
"Allowing take by ranchers is basically unheard of in any other state plan," he said.
Jasmine Minbashian, special projects director for Conservation Northwest, called the final plan a success.
"It's not an easy decision for anyone. Everyone compromised. That's what made it successful," she said.
Changes were made to accommodate sportsmen and livestock owners, and the document provides good tools for managing wolves' impact on the state, she said.
"Wolves are difficult animals to live with," she said. "This gives wolves a better chance of surviving."
"Wolves are part of the landscape," said Miranda Wecker, commission chairwoman from Naselle, Wash. "There is a lot of unease about the future, and we don't know how well wolves will do in our state. Whatever we do today, it will not be the last word."
Nate Pamplin, assistant director of the state wildlife program, said the state has five confirmed wolf packs and three other areas of reported wolf activity. The animal has been federally delisted in the eastern third of the state, but remains listed as endangered in the western two-thirds.
The goal of 15 successful breeding pairs statewide would likely mean a population of about 360 wolves and between 17 and 42 packs, he said. After the animal is delisted, it is anticipated the wolf would be recommended as a game species.
Phil Anderson, director of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is "anxious" to downlist the wolf as soon as possible and turn over management to the state.
Before the final vote, several changes were offered by commission members, who represented a cross section of state perspectives and regions.
David Jennings, from Olympia, proposed a change in the "lethal control" element of the plan. That modification, which was approved, allows livestock owners, their family members and authorized employees to kill wolves when such action is approved by the state.
He said lethal control would also help in the "active dispersal" of wolves into other areas.
Chuck Perry, from Moses Lake, said livestock owners are not so much concerned about the killing of their animals as they are about how their stressed animals behave under pressure from the predator. "We need to issue permits on the facts of the individual situations."
Brad Smith, of Bellingham, added, "Permits need to be very well considered."
Another modification Jennings suggested specified how to measure the wolves' impact on ungulates, specifically deer and elk. He said Washington should learn from other states' dealings with the predator and its impact on livestock and wildlife.
By tracking the fragile wildlife population, the state can "stay ahead of the wolf population growth," said Rollie Schmitten, of Leavenworth.
Perry said the modifications made the plan more workable for people who live in the countryside.
Gary Douvia, from Kettle Falls, said the state is behind the curve of the wolf population and needs to "pick up the pace."
Wecker wrapped up the comments by pointing out how the plan is designed to be flexible as conditions change. "This is not a rejection of the concerns of impacted communities," she said. "Our intent is to rebuild trust."
http://www.capitalpress.com/content/SB-wolf-plan-120911-art?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
