Wolf return sought in state

Matthew Daly; The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Two conservation groups are calling on the federal government to restore gray wolves to Washington state, saying it's time to "hear the call of the wild again" on the Olympic Peninsula, in the Cascade Mountains and in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington.

Defenders of Wildlife and the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance said Wednesday that they have sent a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, requesting that the agency restore and protect gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act.


"Gray wolves have an important role to play in the ecological health and character of the Pacific Northwest, and the federal government should start getting serious about restoring the species here," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. "It's time to hear the call of the wild again in these beautiful forests."


The petition urges the service to establish a category known as a distinct population segment for gray wolves in Washington state.


"The wolf and the Pacific Northwest co-evolved. It is as much a thread in the fabric of our ecosystems as the salmon and the grizzly. We must seek to recover wolves wherever suitable habitat exists for the sake of the species and these ecosystems," said Joe Scott, conservation director of the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance.


Joan Jewett, a spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service in Portland, said Wednesday that she had not seen the petition, but that the agency would review it upon receipt.


"Any sort of petition like this requires a formal review process, and that takes some time," she said.


The gray wolf is listed as endangered in all lower 48 states except Minnesota, where it is listed as threatened. The species has been successfully reintroduced in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The Mexican wolf has been reintroduced in the southwestern United States near the Mexican border.


Two years ago, Defenders of Wildlife petitioned federal officials to restore the gray wolf to the Southern Rockies, and petitioned in April 2001 for restoration in California. Those petitions are pending.


Officials at the Fish and Wildlife Service believe the gray wolf has met the necessary three-year population targets that will allow the agency to consider a petition to change its classification from endangered to threatened as soon as next year. Such an action would remove many protections now in place.


About 260 gray wolves are believed to be living in Idaho, while Wyoming has about 218 wolves and Montana 85.

how many wolves does washington want, you can gladly have all of the wolves in mt.

larry

There arent too many that want 'em, that I can tell anyway. But thats never stopped groups like Defenders of Wildlife and the home grown anti-hunting/trapping groups like them from making it so. Northwest Ecostystem Alliance isnt hunt friendly and the took a stand against trapping in this state in 2000. These are anti-use groups and are no friends of Sportsmen. It's going to be interesting.

if they do bring them back they better be ready for the complaints from ranchers, heres an idea make it legal again to bait and run dogs and use traps,

I just got back from Idaho were they brought in some wolves and no body that I talked to is happy about it. With them, they just add another predeter to kill off the Elk and Deer. Doesnt that sound really good? Here in washington its getting hard enough to score on a Deer or Elk. They should bring in the wolves and grizzlies and protect them along with the Elk and Deer (there food supply). Shut down hunting, and let the green peace enviormentalist have it all I guess they must deserve it all?

If they succeed in transplanting wolves in Washington you can kiss your hunting goodbye, because eventually you won't have any game left to hunt. Here in Idaho our deer and elk are disappearing rapidly. The only population buildup that is occuring is wolves. The federal government is too stupid to realize, that the wolves will end hunting >>> then of course maybe that's what they want !!! If you have no game to hunt, then their is no need to hunt >>> If their is no need to hunt, then you have no need to have any guns >>> Get the picture ??? !!! The wolves in our area are already out of control, as far as the local people are concerned. What game they haven't already killed they drove plumb out of the country. We already had a predator problem with too many bears (getting fawns and calves), and too many lions getting the adults. We did not need our predator problem compounded. Since the winterkill of 96/97 our game recovery has pretty near been at a standstilldue to predation.

When we talk about large predators in WA I cant help but think about a couple things that are in the Draft 6 Game Management Plan being considered now. It looks to create bear and lion "reserves" to help protect them, which I find laughable given the current pops and safety issues we have. Then there is a recommendation to be ready to regulate coyote harvest to help protect wolves IF they are reintroduced. I am also reminded that they state [in the draft] that the public does not support reduction of predator populations to increase game populations.

Looks like somethins brewin in Oregon too...

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Ann Snyder 503-872-5264, Ext. 5363
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: 503-872-5700

For Immediate Release Thursday, October 31, 2002

Public Invited to Wolf Town Hall Meetings

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host 14 town hall
meetings throughout the state in November and December to hear the thoughts,
concerns and comments of Oregonians about wolves entering the state.

The comments recorded at the meetings will be provided to the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission for consideration. The Commission is the rule-making
body for ODFW. The seven-member Commission has heard from experts in the
past several months about the potential for wolves to become established in
Oregon. The Commission now wants to hear from local residents to ensure that
all opinions have been gathered.

Currently, no wolves are confirmed to live in Oregon. However, three wolves
were found in Oregon in 1999 and 2000. One radio-collared wolf was returned
to Idaho, one was hit by a vehicle and died in May 2000, and one was shot in
October 2000. Biologists expect all three were dispersing from established
packs in Idaho. Biologists also have told the Commission that more wolves
are likely to arrive in Oregon. Oregon has no plans to actively reintroduce
wolves into the state.

Wolves that enter the state from Idaho's packs are protected under both the
state and federal endangered species acts. The Oregon Legislature is the
only entity with authority to change the Oregon Endangered Species Act. The
Commission, however, has the authority to add or remove species from the
state list of threatened and endangered species.

Each Wolf Town Hall Meeting will open with a short introductory presentation
about the history of wolves in Oregon, their current biological and legal
status, and the issues surrounding their migration into Oregon. Meeting
participants then will have the opportunity to voice their comments and
concerns about wolves in Oregon to any of several facilitators who will be
available to record all comments. Participants also may choose to submit
written comments on forms that will be available at each meeting. Some
educational materials about wolves will be available at the meetings.

All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The town
hall meetings are scheduled for the following locations and dates:

-Pendleton: Tuesday, Nov. 12, Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate;
-LaGrande: Wednesday, Nov. 13, Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Hall, Room
309, One University Blvd.;
-Baker City: Monday, Nov. 18, Sun Ridge Inn, One Sun Ridge Lane;
-John Day: Tuesday, Nov. 19, Malheur National Forest Headquarters, 431
Patterson Bridge Road;
-Bend: Wednesday, Nov. 20, National Guard Armory Drill Room, 875 Southwest
Simpson Ave.;
-The Dalles: Thursday, Nov. 21, Wahtonka High School, 3601 W. 10th St.;
-Medford: Tuesday, Dec. 3, North Medford High School, 1900 N. Keeneway;
-Klamath Falls: Wednesday, Dec. 4, Klamath County Fairgrounds, Exhibit Hall
#2, 3531 S. 6th St.;
-Burns: Thursday, Dec. 5, Harney County Senior Center, 17 S. Alder;
-Eugene: Monday, Dec. 9, Lane Community College, Forum and Science
Buildings, 4000 E. 30th Ave.;
-Roseburg: Tuesday, Dec. 10, Umpqua Community College, Whipple Theater
Building, 1140 College Road;
-Salem: Wednesday, Dec. 11, Claggett Creek Middle School, 1810 Alder St.
N.E.;
-Portland: Tuesday, Dec. 17, World Forestry Center, Miller Hall, 4033 S.W.
Canyon Road;
-Coos Bay: Wednesday, Dec. 18, Southwestern Oregon Community College, Eden
Hall, 2988 Newmark Ave.

More information about wolves will be posted to the ODFW Web site at
www.dfw.state.or.us by Nov. 1, 2002.

###


Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528