Wolf war howls between western and eastern Washington
An epic and contentious battle is being waged in
Washington state over the expansion of wolves.
Len McIrvin describes the issue as a "war."
His family has been ranching for six
generations. Today, he says wolves are
threatening their livelihood.
"It's a different world over here in the back
country, in Stevens, in Ferry, and in Okanogan
County," McIrvin said. "It is so wild. We've got
areas on our range where it is just a boneyard
with cow skeletons, with what bones are left of
these cows. We've got one area where you can
almost step from skull-to-skull of dead cows,
where the wolves are running them into canyons,
or running them into heavy timber area where
they can't escape. It's a terrible disaster going
on over here."
Washington state over the expansion of wolves.
Len McIrvin describes the issue as a "war."
His family has been ranching for six
generations. Today, he says wolves are
threatening their livelihood.
"It's a different world over here in the back
country, in Stevens, in Ferry, and in Okanogan
County," McIrvin said. "It is so wild. We've got
areas on our range where it is just a boneyard
with cow skeletons, with what bones are left of
these cows. We've got one area where you can
almost step from skull-to-skull of dead cows,
where the wolves are running them into canyons,
or running them into heavy timber area where
they can't escape. It's a terrible disaster going
on over here."
The latest annual report in 2018 says the State of
Washington has 122 wolves in 22 packs, with 14
successful breeding pairs. But since the release
of that report wolf advocates say there are at least
three less wolves. Two more were recently added
to the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife kill list.
Therein lies the beef.
Wolf advocates
Amaroq Weiss, a wolf advocate from The
Center of Biological Diversity says the WDFW
is beholden to ranchers and continues to kill
wolves against science and the law. Weiss'
group has attempted to get temporary
restraining orders and preliminary
injunctions to halt killing of wolves. They
have so far been unsuccessful. There is a
lawsuit still pending over the issue. They
argue the state is violating the environmental
policy act.
"Because it has never conducted a scientific
analysis of their kill protocol and kill orders,"
"And the state is violating the administrative
procedures act. Because the actions they are
taking are not being done under a reasoned
decision making process. Quite the contrary.
Their decisions are quite irrational."
Center of Biological Diversity says the WDFW
is beholden to ranchers and continues to kill
wolves against science and the law. Weiss'
group has attempted to get temporary
restraining orders and preliminary
injunctions to halt killing of wolves. They
have so far been unsuccessful. There is a
lawsuit still pending over the issue. They
argue the state is violating the environmental
policy act.
"Because it has never conducted a scientific
analysis of their kill protocol and kill orders,"
"And the state is violating the administrative
procedures act. Because the actions they are
taking are not being done under a reasoned
decision making process. Quite the contrary.
Their decisions are quite irrational."
When wolves are suspected of killing cattle,
WDFW officers investigate. It wolves are behind
the attacks and non-lethal methods attempted
by ranchers don't stop the cattle killing, then
the agency's policy is to issue a kill order.
WDFW officers investigate. It wolves are behind
the attacks and non-lethal methods attempted
by ranchers don't stop the cattle killing, then
the agency's policy is to issue a kill order.
Recently, the WDFW has added the last two
members of the Old Profanity Territory pack
to a kill list.
Weiss says McIrvin is to blame for 17 of the 22
wolf killings by the WDFW, as well as the latest
two wolves added to the list. She argues that
McIrvin should have moved his cattle – that is
the core problem. The cows and the wolves
are mingling an area known to be a high-wolf
use site – where wolves keep their pups.
members of the Old Profanity Territory pack
to a kill list.
Weiss says McIrvin is to blame for 17 of the 22
wolf killings by the WDFW, as well as the latest
two wolves added to the list. She argues that
McIrvin should have moved his cattle – that is
the core problem. The cows and the wolves
are mingling an area known to be a high-wolf
use site – where wolves keep their pups.
"So the wolves are not going to go away," Weiss
said. "The reason the cattle are being drawn
there is there are salt blocks there for the cattle.
Not that the rancher placed them there on
purpose … the point is that once you know
that is causing a conflict, you need to move
the salt blocks and you need to move the cattle
away."
said. "The reason the cattle are being drawn
there is there are salt blocks there for the cattle.
Not that the rancher placed them there on
purpose … the point is that once you know
that is causing a conflict, you need to move
the salt blocks and you need to move the cattle
away."
Weiss says that action did not happen in 2016 or
in 2018 when incidents happened. The rancher
was instructed to move his salt blocks by the
agency, however, Weiss says.
"So you have a situation in which the wolves are
being set up to attack cattle because the cattle
are coming right into the site where they have
their pups," she said. "And nobody is doing
anything about it."
in 2018 when incidents happened. The rancher
was instructed to move his salt blocks by the
agency, however, Weiss says.
"So you have a situation in which the wolves are
being set up to attack cattle because the cattle
are coming right into the site where they have
their pups," she said. "And nobody is doing
anything about it."
Washington: West vs east
McIrvin says those salt blocks have been there
for over 60 years, and moving the salt blocks
wouldn't have made a lick of difference because
wolves are smart and they follow the food
source. He says this isn't about wolves.
for over 60 years, and moving the salt blocks
wouldn't have made a lick of difference because
wolves are smart and they follow the food
source. He says this isn't about wolves.
"This is a plan, a program, an agenda," McIrvin
said. "The wolf thing is an agenda. When they
hauled those wolves and dumped them on us,
it was an agenda to get cattle out of the
mountains."
said. "The wolf thing is an agenda. When they
hauled those wolves and dumped them on us,
it was an agenda to get cattle out of the
mountains."
McIrvin says at the end of the day, wolf
advocates shouldn't have a say in what happens
in the backcountry. He lays out a metaphor of
eastside cowboys starting a committee to interfere
with, and solve, Seattle's homelessness problem.
"The wolves are terrible, they've cost us well over
a million dollars," McIrvin said. "If there is a
problem we have to have local control … We've
got a terrible situation with wolves killing stock,
they are putting cattlemen out of business, they
are putting sheepmen out of business."
advocates shouldn't have a say in what happens
in the backcountry. He lays out a metaphor of
eastside cowboys starting a committee to interfere
with, and solve, Seattle's homelessness problem.
"The wolves are terrible, they've cost us well over
a million dollars," McIrvin said. "If there is a
problem we have to have local control … We've
got a terrible situation with wolves killing stock,
they are putting cattlemen out of business, they
are putting sheepmen out of business."
"And for the people on the left side of the state to
say they have a voice in this — they don't. This
has to be a problem taken care of locally, by our
local sheriff in each individual county," he said.
"Can you imagine the wreck if you got a
committee of a bunch of cowboys over here on
the eastside who said 'We are going to fix
Seattle's homeless problem? It can't be done.
It's the same wreck with a bunch of people on
the westside saying, 'we're going to fix the wolf
problem for those people on the eastside.'"
Meantime, Weiss says they hope the lawsuits
they have against the WDFW will bear fruit.
She says the public has become more aware
about the wolf issue.
say they have a voice in this — they don't. This
has to be a problem taken care of locally, by our
local sheriff in each individual county," he said.
"Can you imagine the wreck if you got a
committee of a bunch of cowboys over here on
the eastside who said 'We are going to fix
Seattle's homeless problem? It can't be done.
It's the same wreck with a bunch of people on
the westside saying, 'we're going to fix the wolf
problem for those people on the eastside.'"
Meantime, Weiss says they hope the lawsuits
they have against the WDFW will bear fruit.
She says the public has become more aware
about the wolf issue.
"The agency is overseen by a commission …
and those commissioners are appointed by the
governor – Governor Jay Inslee," Weiss said. "
…I encourage everyone to call Governor Jay
Inslee. To not only call the director of WDFW,
also call Governor Jay Inslee. The agency
needs to be reined in. It's violating the law.
It is not following the science. It is actually
violating several key components of the
state wolf plan as well. And it's time to stop."
and those commissioners are appointed by the
governor – Governor Jay Inslee," Weiss said. "
…I encourage everyone to call Governor Jay
Inslee. To not only call the director of WDFW,
also call Governor Jay Inslee. The agency
needs to be reined in. It's violating the law.
It is not following the science. It is actually
violating several key components of the
state wolf plan as well. And it's time to stop."
The WDFW has not responded to interview
requests.
requests.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment