Wolf Weekly Wrap-up

Free-for-all in Idaho – Though a formal announcement isn’t expected until next week, Idaho wildlife officials told the AP yesterday that they are considering an unlimited quota for hunting wolves this fall. This would essentially allow hunters to kill as many wolves as they can over several months. Idaho Fish and Game has also said they plan to allow trapping of wolves during the fall and winter. Defenders’ wolf expert Suzanne Stone had this to say when she heard the news:

“So, just open season?” Stone said. “They don’t manage any other kinds of wildlife that irresponsibly. I’m shocked to think that’s OK with wolves. This is clearly a political and knee jerk reaction, rather than a biological need.”

Defenders will certainly have more to say next week once the full proposal is released to the public. Stay tuned.

Praise for Oregon wolf bill – Oregon’s newly minted livestock compensation and wolf coexistence program has been heralded by ranchers and conservationists alike. Defenders even got a nod from the Governor’s office this week, recognizing our efforts to create one of the most innovative compensation and coexistence programs in the country.

Here’s what Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber had to say:

“The Livestock Compensation and Wolf Co-Existence Act represents an historic agreement between livestock growers, rural communities, and wildlife conservationists. I applaud the hard work and good will demonstrated by Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Defenders of Wildlife, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, state and local agencies, and the Legislature in finding an equitable solution. Today, Oregonians have once more demonstrated the tremendous potential we have to solve tough issues if we do it together.”

Listen to the story from Idaho Public News Service:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Read more in the La Grande Observer.

DOI negotiates with Wyoming –Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso decided on Tuesday to lift his hold on the nomination of Dan Ashe as the next director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Barrasso did so in response to a promise from Salazar and Ashe to restart negotiations on Wyoming’s wolf plan. Wyoming’s existing plan, which was previously rejected by the Fish and Wildlife Service, allowed wolves to be shot on sight across nearly 90 percent of the state. In an attempt to win Service approval, Wyoming has suggested they might tweak their plan to allow wolves into the mountains of western Wyoming for a few months a year before being shot on sight. The plan would remain wholly inadequate and the Fish and Wildlife Service should not approve it but you never know in the whacky world of wolves.