Wolf Conflict Management

Wolf Conflict Management

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

On Wednesday Senate Bills 5187 and 5193, both which address wolf conflict management, are scheduled for public hearing before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Senator John Smith, who represents the 7th District and lives in northeast Washington, comments on why he sponsored these two measures.

SMITH: Anybody who lives in our district recognizes that the wolf issue is huge in our region. With eight of the twelve confirmed packs in the state right in our district, three of them within fifteen miles of my home, I understand the threats that this poses to our economy, to our culture, and to the public safety in our area.

So how will these bills deal with wolf conflict?

SMITH: First of all making sure that our local people who live in the environments where those wolves are beginning to encroach have their constitutional right to defend themselves. And then next, considering the massive economic impact that the cattle industry has in our area - the jobs it produces, the induced and indirect economic impact that it has, the county commissioners need to have the right to declare a state of emergency and to protect our vital interests.

In response to a reported wolf attack on a pet dog nine days ago in Twisp, which is in the same general area of the Lookout Wolf Pack’s territory, Smith stated that, “Our state needs to promptly take action so residents feel protected against the threat of wolves as they continue to multiply rapidly and relocate across the state. The state’s wolf conservation and management plan did not adequately plan for the extent or quantity of attacks on other animals.”
 
 

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.