Praise and criticism for draft wolf management plan

Washington Ag Today October 29, 2009 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife received plenty of praise for its efforts in preparing a draft wolf management plan at a public input meeting on the document in Spokane this week. But there was criticism too, not only from hunters and livestock producers but also from wolf proponents.

The preferred alternative in the draft plan requires 15 breeding pairs in Washington for three straight years before the wolf could be delisted as endangered. That would mean an estimated 150 to 200 wolves. Many of those making oral comments at the meeting found the breeding pair number, which Fish and Wildlife says is scientifically based, to be either too low or too high. Here’s a sample of the comments from both positions.

Audio: “Michael Sulay, the acknowledged dean of conservation biology, is clear that a recovered population consists of thousands, not hundreds of animals.” “I am also concerned about the number of breeding pairs that you are requiring in the state of Washington. You want 15 breeding pairs in the state of Washington with 58-thousand elk approximately. The federal government required 15 breeding pairs in the state of Idaho with over 100-thousand elk. You want the same amount of wolves but you only have half the population to feed them.”

There was a frequent question from those making public comment.

Audio: “My next question is where are you going to get the money? 02

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s response to that was once a plan is in place there will hopefully be enough support that the legislature will see fit to provide funding for wolf management.

Tomorrow, what livestock producers had to say.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.