04/07/08 Wolf delisting and eastern Washington livestock producers

Washington Ag April 7, 2008 The recent removal of the Rocky Mountain gray wolf from the federal list of endangered species means there is no compensation available in the eastern third of Washington state for livestock producers who may lose animals to wolf predation. Jack Field, Executive Vice President of the Washington Cattlemen's Association explains. Field: "When the feds delist programs like the Defenders of Wildlife account no longer provide compensation. That program is only available as long as they are a federally listed species. So to the folks in the eastern third where they are going to have the problems, that ability to have compensation is going to be gone." The wolf remains protected under state law throughout Washington and an effort by cattlemen to get a state compensation program for certain predator losses, including wolves, failed in this year's legislative session. Washington is developing a state wolf management plan, which could include compensation, but that won't be ready until sometime next year. Field: "The wolves are here. It is not a question of when they come. They are already here." Field says trail cameras have snapped pictures of wolves in northeast Washington and of course there has been a confirmed wolf kill of livestock. I'm Bob Hoff.