Wolves: U.S. Fish and Wildlife goes for partial delisting
Written by Gib MathersThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday it had reached an agreement to lift gray wolf Endangered Species protections in Montana and Idaho, but not Wyoming.But it's not a done deal.The service has experienced increased pressure to delist by Western lawmakers and pressure to keep wolves under federal protections by conservation groups. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reached an agreement with the majority of plaintiffs, including Defenders of Wildlife, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and eight other conservation organizations, to settle ongoing litigation over a Federal District Court's 2010 decision to reinstate Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains," said a Fish and Wildlife news release issued Friday.
This fall, wolves could be hunted in Montana and Idaho, said Greater Yellowstone Coalition Director Mike Clark.
"Separate negotiations are ongoing between the service and the state of Wyoming in an effort to reach agreement on a management plan for wolves in that state. If a mutually acceptable management plan for wolves in Wyoming can be developed, then the service will be able to proceed with delisting proceedings addressing wolves throughout the northern Rocky Mountains," said the Fish and Wildlife release.
The Fish and Wildlife Service reaching an agreement with plaintiffs like the Greater Yellowstone Coalition will hopefully convince Congress that the agreement is a step in the right direction so the lawmakers will not pursue legislation that would delist the canines nationwide, Clark said.
But, Republicans, U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis have vowed to continue pushing for wolf delisting in Wyoming. "While we can appreciate that other states face a similar situation, we do not support the idea of delisting wolves in only part of the Rocky Mountain region," said Enzi and Barrasso in a joint news release. "We request you work with us to find language that delists wolves in all three impacted states." "I believe that the best way to ensure the success of any negotiation is to back it up with the force of law. That is why I continue to support national delisting of the gray wolf," Lummis said. "I won't rest until Wyoming sees a complete delisting of the wolf and its management returned to our state's on-the-ground wildlife experts."
Clark said he believes for Fish and Wildlife to accept a plan from Wyoming, the predator zone must be nixed. Wyoming's proposed predator zone, where wolves could be shot on sight, would cover around 90 percent of the state. Wyoming will stick to dual designation, said Rep. Dave Bonner, R-Powell. "The (wolf) concentration is in what everybody considers the trophy game area," Bonner said. Bonner also is publisher of the Powell Tribune.In the trophy game area, wolves could be hunted, but under a quota system to protect population objectives. Last week, Fish and Wildlife withdrew its appeal in Federal District Court that had questioned Wyoming's wolf plan, Bonner said."I think Wyoming's position is strong," Bonner said. The Wyoming Legislature did not pass any wolf bills during its last session that adjourned earlier this month, in part at least, due to advice by Gov. Matt Mead not to, Bonner said. And, Federal District Court's decision ordering Fish and Wildlife to re-examine Wyoming's plan was affirmation to Wyoming to stand by its plan."The decision not to modify that law turned out to be prudent," Bonner said.Fish and Wildlife's negotiations with Wyoming would likely entail state officials led by Mead, Bonner said.
Delisting wolves in Idaho and Montana under a "distinct population segment" is not a done deal.U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula, Mont., and all conservation group plaintiffs must sign-off on the agreement, too, Bonner said."And," Bonner said, "that is not all assured."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MERIL/WELSCH CORRESSPONDENCE ON GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION SUPPORTING DELISTING IN MONTANA AND IDAHO
From: Meril, Rick
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 4:59 PM
To: 'Jeff Welsch'
Subject: RE: Wolf settlement
Thanks Jeff…………….
Seems like better educated and motivated-to-act Ranchers who practice better husbandry practices is the key to one day not having a token number of wolves on the Western landscape……………
.I have not seen any peer reviewed Science that states that 1650 wolves in the Northern Rockies is an ecologically sound maximum for optimum ecological trophic services to occur.
Certainly, the heavy culling by Wildlife Services(and the States hunters to come) to reduce the wolf population in Montana and Idaho to just above 100 to `150 wolves does not take into account the social devastation that occurs within packs(upon being decimated by hunting)…………let alone the fact that a "zoo-like population of 100 to 150 wolves are nowhere near the number needed to keep the Range healthy and productive for all other living creatures and plants within the Rocky Mountain System.
Tough to cull coyotes to minimums due to their "lone wolf" habits and catholic food menus…………..the big meat eating Lobos are easier to stake out and crush due to their pack congregation living and eating style.
Only the Mountain knows the loss of it's wolves………….the ranchers and outfitters will go about their merry way of demonizing the critters in the name of God and Country……………….Talk about a need for an infusion of education and "right-to-life" humanity poured into their veins…………….I root for somehow this to happen over time.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Welsch [mailto:jwelsch@greateryellowstone.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 4:15 PM
To: Meril, Rick
Subject: Wolf settlement
Rick,
Good questions about what the settlement means for wolves in Idaho and Montana. The agreement would return the states to 2009 management levels, which were approved by USFWS. They have to at least maintain those numbers. If not, there would be an on-ramp back to the Endangered Species List.
From what we can tell, the ideal number of wolves in this region is roughly 1,200-1,500. As the numbers have progressed beyond that, there has been a noticeable increase in livestock predation. Currently numbers are at 1,650. We can expect to see a slight dropoff, but wolves are proving to be resilient and we are confident there will be healthy and sustainable populations here for a long time.
Jeff Welsch
Communications Director
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
P.O. Box 1874
Bozeman, MT 59771
406-556-2819 (direct office line)
406-600-9042 (cell)
e-mail: jwelsch@greateryellowstone.org
www.greateryellowstone.org
"Separate negotiations are ongoing between the service and the state of Wyoming in an effort to reach agreement on a management plan for wolves in that state. If a mutually acceptable management plan for wolves in Wyoming can be developed, then the service will be able to proceed with delisting proceedings addressing wolves throughout the northern Rocky Mountains," said the Fish and Wildlife release.
The Fish and Wildlife Service reaching an agreement with plaintiffs like the Greater Yellowstone Coalition will hopefully convince Congress that the agreement is a step in the right direction so the lawmakers will not pursue legislation that would delist the canines nationwide, Clark said.
But, Republicans, U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis have vowed to continue pushing for wolf delisting in Wyoming. "While we can appreciate that other states face a similar situation, we do not support the idea of delisting wolves in only part of the Rocky Mountain region," said Enzi and Barrasso in a joint news release. "We request you work with us to find language that delists wolves in all three impacted states." "I believe that the best way to ensure the success of any negotiation is to back it up with the force of law. That is why I continue to support national delisting of the gray wolf," Lummis said. "I won't rest until Wyoming sees a complete delisting of the wolf and its management returned to our state's on-the-ground wildlife experts."
Clark said he believes for Fish and Wildlife to accept a plan from Wyoming, the predator zone must be nixed. Wyoming's proposed predator zone, where wolves could be shot on sight, would cover around 90 percent of the state. Wyoming will stick to dual designation, said Rep. Dave Bonner, R-Powell. "The (wolf) concentration is in what everybody considers the trophy game area," Bonner said. Bonner also is publisher of the Powell Tribune.In the trophy game area, wolves could be hunted, but under a quota system to protect population objectives. Last week, Fish and Wildlife withdrew its appeal in Federal District Court that had questioned Wyoming's wolf plan, Bonner said."I think Wyoming's position is strong," Bonner said. The Wyoming Legislature did not pass any wolf bills during its last session that adjourned earlier this month, in part at least, due to advice by Gov. Matt Mead not to, Bonner said. And, Federal District Court's decision ordering Fish and Wildlife to re-examine Wyoming's plan was affirmation to Wyoming to stand by its plan."The decision not to modify that law turned out to be prudent," Bonner said.Fish and Wildlife's negotiations with Wyoming would likely entail state officials led by Mead, Bonner said.
Delisting wolves in Idaho and Montana under a "distinct population segment" is not a done deal.U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula, Mont., and all conservation group plaintiffs must sign-off on the agreement, too, Bonner said."And," Bonner said, "that is not all assured."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MERIL/WELSCH CORRESSPONDENCE ON GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION SUPPORTING DELISTING IN MONTANA AND IDAHO
From: Meril, Rick
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 4:59 PM
To: 'Jeff Welsch'
Subject: RE: Wolf settlement
Thanks Jeff…………….
Seems like better educated and motivated-to-act Ranchers who practice better husbandry practices is the key to one day not having a token number of wolves on the Western landscape……………
.I have not seen any peer reviewed Science that states that 1650 wolves in the Northern Rockies is an ecologically sound maximum for optimum ecological trophic services to occur.
Certainly, the heavy culling by Wildlife Services(and the States hunters to come) to reduce the wolf population in Montana and Idaho to just above 100 to `150 wolves does not take into account the social devastation that occurs within packs(upon being decimated by hunting)…………let alone the fact that a "zoo-like population of 100 to 150 wolves are nowhere near the number needed to keep the Range healthy and productive for all other living creatures and plants within the Rocky Mountain System.
Tough to cull coyotes to minimums due to their "lone wolf" habits and catholic food menus…………..the big meat eating Lobos are easier to stake out and crush due to their pack congregation living and eating style.
Only the Mountain knows the loss of it's wolves………….the ranchers and outfitters will go about their merry way of demonizing the critters in the name of God and Country……………….Talk about a need for an infusion of education and "right-to-life" humanity poured into their veins…………….I root for somehow this to happen over time.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Welsch [mailto:jwelsch@greateryellowstone.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 4:15 PM
To: Meril, Rick
Subject: Wolf settlement
Rick,
Good questions about what the settlement means for wolves in Idaho and Montana. The agreement would return the states to 2009 management levels, which were approved by USFWS. They have to at least maintain those numbers. If not, there would be an on-ramp back to the Endangered Species List.
From what we can tell, the ideal number of wolves in this region is roughly 1,200-1,500. As the numbers have progressed beyond that, there has been a noticeable increase in livestock predation. Currently numbers are at 1,650. We can expect to see a slight dropoff, but wolves are proving to be resilient and we are confident there will be healthy and sustainable populations here for a long time.
Jeff Welsch
Communications Director
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
P.O. Box 1874
Bozeman, MT 59771
406-556-2819 (direct office line)
406-600-9042 (cell)
e-mail: jwelsch@greateryellowstone.org
www.greateryellowstone.org
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