10/16/06 State preparing for wolves

Washington Ag October 16, 2006 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking nominations for a citizen working group that will guide the department in developing a conservation and management plan for gray wolves in Washington. WDFW spokesman Rocky Beach says there are currently no resident packs in the state. Beach: "But we do have wolves coming in from other areas foraging and it looks like that within the next four or five years wolves could come to Washington." Beach says formation of the working group is an effort to get ahead of the issue. That group will have 14 members and Fish and Wildlife wants a broad range of interests represented. Beach says they have already heard from the livestock industry. Beach: "The livestock industry would be an integral part of this and indeed they have already been in contact with us in terms of the cattlemen and sheep organization and others are already calling and getting more information and submitting their letter of interest." A draft management plan is scheduled for completion by December 30th of 2007 with a final plan due the end of June 2008. I'm Bob Hoff.