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NEWS RELEASEWashington Department of Fish and WildlifeMarch 18, 2013WDFW schedules meeting in Colville on wolves’ impact on game speciesOLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will hold a public meeting March 27 in Colville to discuss the potential impact of wolves on area game species such as deer and elk. The meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Colville Ag Trade Center, 317 West Astor Ave.State and local WDFW wildlife managers will present information on monitoring efforts in northeast Washington along with population trends and harvest data for white-tailed deer, elk and moose. They’ll also discuss the status of wolves in the region and the impact wolves have had on deer and elk populations in other western states.Dave Ware, WDFW game manager, said the department has not yet documented any measureable impacts from wolves on game species in Washington, but recognizes that reports from other states have raised public concerns.“We want to talk to people in northeast Washington about this issue, because that’s the area of the state that has the largest number of wolves,” Ware said. “We’d encourage area residents who have concerns to attend this meeting.”
Please pass the wolf bills SSB 5187 and E2SSB 5193Dear Natural Resource Committee Members,I have lived in Northeast Washington my entire life and I cannot remember any issue that has polarized our area in the same way that wolves are. I am a fulltime hunting guide and have been guiding hunters since 1977, I know the area extremely well. In areas where we have wolf packs our deer, moose, and elk are beginning to disappear. As natural prey disappears wolves will be forced to eat other animals. I live only 2 miles form Colville yet only 2 miles from my home my neighbors German Shepherd dogs were attacked by 5 wolves, fortunately the dogs were in a kennel, the landowner had to shoot in the air to scare the wolves away. Other neighbors to the south of us have to watch their kids wait for the school bus because wolves have been spotted several times and they fear for the safety of their children. An elderly lady who used to walk everyday now is afraid to go outside after wolves have been seen several times by her neighbors. The McIrvin family has suffered huge cattle losses exceeding $100,000, they say they cannot support that kind of loss again.The most serious problem is that wolves are now established and problems are going to increase further. The people of this state were promised that wolves would be managed and we would be able to protect ourselves. The time has come for the legislature to take care of the people who are bearing the full burden of wolves and suffering these losses. Please pass the wolf bills SSB 5187 and E2SSB 5193Respectfully,
Thank you for contacting me about the wolf legislation currently in the House. I am in support of SSB 5187 because it allows owners of livestock to kill a gray wolf if it is attacking or threatening their livestock or another domestic animal. I think it is important for people to be able to protect their livestock from harm and to protect their livelihood.E2SSB 5193 is another wolf bill and it is different than any that we have already heard in the House. I am going to support this bill as well. I do believe that owners of livestock should be able to claim compensation for damages by wolves. This is funded through the State Wildlife Account. So often times when cattle are up on their summer pasture which is often higher in the mountains, livestock are more exposed to wolf predation. If there are loses of livestock, this bill will allow specific dollar compensation for the loss of livestock.If these bills continue to move through the process and reach me for my consideration, I do intend to support both pieces of legislation.I appreciate hearing from you.Sincerely,Joe Schmick
I believe they just had the public hearing this morning.
