Hooray for the state of Wyoming

[rifleman25]

Win or lose, I like seeing the state standing up to eddie bangs and the feds.

Wyoming notifies feds of intent to sue over wolf management

By BEN NEARY

Associated Press

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The state of Wyoming has filed notice that it intends to sue the federal government over both last month's rejection of the state's wolf management plan and federal inaction on the state's request for changes in wolf management regulations.

"So far, their position has been their way or the highway," Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Wednesday of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We've chosen neither; we're going to court."

Last month, the federal government rejected Wyoming's petition to remove wolves in the state from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. In addition, the federal agency has yet to take action on the state's request to amend regulations.

Wyoming has proposed a wolf management plan that generally calls for leaving the animals alone in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks while allowing trophy hunting for them in areas outside the parks. The state has also proposed allowing them to be shot on sight as predators elsewhere in the state. In addition to their preying on livestock, Freudenthal has said he sees the spread of wolves in Wyoming outside the national parks as a public safety concern.

"It seems to me that we have a plan that satisfies the scientific obligation that they have imposed on us," Freudenthal said.

In rejecting Wyoming's proposal, federal officials said last month that they can't remove protections until the state sets firm limits on how many of the animals can be killed and agrees to minimum population figures. The state is now home to an estimated 252 wolves.

Ed Bangs, coordinator of the Fish and Wildlife Service's gray wolf recovery effort in Helena, Mont., said Wednesday he hadn't heard of Wyoming's formal notice that it would sue the federal government over wolf management. But Bangs said it was no surprise.

"They said they would pursue this thing in court, not matter how long it took," Bangs said. "I had hoped we could work out something more productive than litigation."

The Fish and Wildlife Service has already turned management of wolves over to state agencies in Montana and Idaho. Bangs said that about 400 wolves have been killed in those states for preying on livestock and for other reasons since 1987.

"They're continuing to kill wolves that are chronic problem animals," Bangs said, adding that his agency doesn't intend to leave Wyoming ranchers facing problem animals on their own.

Bangs said the federal government continues to manage wolves in Wyoming outside the national parks and said 106 have been killed since the reintroduction of the species. Last year alone, he said 41 wolves were killed in the state. "Those wolves killed last year 54 cattle and 27 sheep, confirmed, and one dog," he said.

[whitetailtrax]

Re: Hooray for the state of Wyoming

It should be noted though, that the state governments of Montana and Idaho are not happy with Wyoming. By not coming to agreement on wolf management in their state, they are holding up delisting of that species from the endangered species list across the entire Rocky Mountain Region. Montana and Idaho are managing wolves in their states, but still don't have complete flexibility because they are still protected under ESA. The feds will not allow delisting in a portion of the species range - has to be all or nothing.....so Montana and Idaho are completely frustrated with Wyoming. Once delisted, I believe some hunting of the species will be proposed by the states.....but not until Wyoming gets their management strategy approved.....could be years now as litigation drags on.

[rifleman25]

Re: Hooray for the state of Wyoming

IMO the idiots should never have reintroduced wolves anyway. Look at whats happening in Yellowstone. The elk herd is aging with not alot of age dispersion. I saw a story about it on another western big game forum but can't find that now. Wolves are to blame for that among a host of other issues. They say that hunting can't take place on part of their range it has to be all or none? I got to kill a wolf on a Canadian Moose hunt a few years ago.

[whitetailtrax]

Re: Hooray for the state of Wyoming

It's seems ironic to me that most of us in the lower 48 states dream of big game hunting in Canada and Alaska - just can't beat the hunting in Canada and Alaska....and where have wolves been established for decades and decades???? Canada and Alaska!!!! It is possible to have wolves and sustainable big game populations - just ask our friends up north. It won't happen overnight though - in fact it might take 25 years before we reach a balance and get a good management strategy in place....but it will never happen if the three states don't all get on the same page.

As for the species range, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Endangered Species Act in the U.S. and has no say across the border. Except in very rare instances, we don't hunt our threatened and endangered species in the U.S. However, delist the wolf and I do believe wolf hunting will again be a reality in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

[rifleman25]

Re: Hooray for the state of Wyoming

All three states need to get on the same page forsure. Especially as these wolves are begining to spread out some as well. I read some reports of wolves being seen in the Routt National Forest of Northern Colorado.