Wolf Development Group created by WDFW

In a move by the WDFW that will authenticate what WA State, the environmentalists and the animal right’s groups have been promoting for years, will become the next step in giving way to allowing wolves another foot-hold outside of their natural ranges. Washington hasn’t had established free-ranging packs, according to the WDFW.

This gives special credence to the wolf in WA. It will allow them to grow and compete for game and livestock throughout the state where they will become a nuisance to hunters, ranchers and property owners.

I remember well what the people living around Yellowstone Park, in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho have had to contend with in trying to stop wolves from wiping out their livestock and pets, along with their stable animal herds. If the people of this state allow wolves, then the already shrinking herds of deer and elk are sure to be reduced and even removed from the hunting community. We have already seen what has and still is taking place with the mule deer population all over the state as a result of cougar & bear predation/overkill.

Remember the past Initiative that took away bear baiting and hound hunting of cats that has played an immense roll in increasing populations of these two predators without a way to manage their numbers. Now hunters will have to contend and compete with wolves for their own existence.

Maybe it’s time to work with hunter and other organizations from within and outside this state to help put a stop to this anti madness. You would think that the WA Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Bureau would also be interested in fighting this.

Dan Bihary

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Wolf working group named

-----Original Message-----
From: Public Affairs
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 3:42 PM
Subject: Wolf working group named

NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091
Internet Address: https://wdfw.wa.gov

January 8, 2007

Contact: Rocky Beach, (360) 902-2510

Working group named
to develop state wolf plan

OLYMPIA – Eighteen citizens have been selected as members of a working group to guide the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in developing a plan for conservation and management of gray wolves that are expected to make their way to this state from growing populations in neighboring states and Canada.

Ten of the working group members are from eastern Washington, and eight are from the west side of the state. They represent livestock ranching and agriculture, local government, conservation groups, biologists, the timber industry, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The working group members are:
Daryl Asmussen of Tonasket, cattle rancher
John Blankenship of Tenino, Wolf Haven International executive director
Duane Cocking of Newman Lake, sportsman
Jeff Dawson of Colville, cattle rancher
Paula J. DelGiudice of Seattle, sportswoman, National Wildlife Federation Western Natural Resource Center director
Gerry Ring Erickson of Shelton, former Defenders of Wildlife Washington state field representative
Jack Field of Ellensburg, Washington Cattlemen’s Association executive vice-president
George Halekas of Deer Park, retired Forest Service biologist
Kim Holt of Snohomish, Wolf Recovery Foundation secretary-treasurer
Derrick Knowles of Spokane, Conservation Northwest outreach coordinator
Colleen McShane of Seattle, consulting ecologist
Ken Oliver of Newport, Pend Oreille County Commissioner
Tommy Petrie, Jr. of Newport, Pend Oreille County Sportsmen’s Club president
John Stuhlmiller of Lacey, Washington Farm Bureau assistant director of government relations
Arthur Swannack of Lamont, Washington Sheep Producers president
Bob Tuck of Selah, consulting biologist, former Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioner
Greta M. Wiegand of Seattle, retiree, outdoor recreationist
Georg Ziegltrum of Olympia, Washington Forest Protection Association wildlife biologist

“This is a diverse group of people representing a wide range of interests that could be affected by future resident wolf populations in Washington,” said Jeff Koenings, PhD., director of WDFW. “We selected individuals who have a track record of building consensus.”

A total of 56 people submitted applications or were nominated for the working group.

Although gray wolves were largely eradicated in Washington by the 1930s, sightings have increased since federal wolf-recovery efforts began in Idaho and Montana in the mid-1990s. The success of those efforts has prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose removing gray wolf populations from the federal list of endangered species in three states and parts of four other states, including Washington.

“If gray wolves are removed from federal species protection status, Washington and other western states will have primary responsibility for managing their wolf populations,” Koenings said. “We need to prepare for that possibility by developing a conservation and management plan that works for people and wildlife.”

The gray wolf is also designated as a state endangered species in Washington, so the plan must identify population objectives and appropriate conservation and management strategies, as well as addressing wolf management in Washington after the species is removed from the federal list of endangered species.

The working group will convene next month and will meet approximately every other month over the coming year. A draft plan is scheduled for completion by Dec. 30, and will be followed by a public review period. The final plan is expected by June 30, 2008.

A separate technical advisory group of biologists from state and federal agencies also will be formed to provide information and expertise to the citizen working group.