|
|
|
Commission wants wolf
plan to give ranchers ability to protect herds
By JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press 3/21/03 3:45 PM NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon's plan for dealing with gray wolves moving into the state will include provisions for ranchers to protect their livestock, but the details are still a long way from being worked out. "We will try to get as much flexibility as the federal law allows so that if an animal is being attacked (by a wolf), people can protect their property," John Esler, chairman of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, said Friday. "That needs to be handled carefully so we don't have open season on wolves. The commission on Thursday directed the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to be ready to propose a process for developing a management plan for wolves consistent with the state and federal Endangered Species Acts by April 11, when the commission meets in Portland. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has downgraded wolves from endangered to threatened, throwing basic management of the predators to the states. Federal regulations now allow ranchers to shoot a wolf attacking livestock or pets on private land, but the state law does not. The federal rules also allow ranchers to obtain permits to shoot wolves that go after livestock on public land, while state law does not. However, under Oregon's Endangered Species Act, the commission has the power to adopt a management plan that would allow ranchers to kill wolves threatening their herds, but not to shoot wolves on sight, according to advice from the state attorney general's office. The commission wants a taskforce made up of various interests, such as ranchers, conservationists and Indian tribes, to develop the management plan. The commission would take into account the management plans already developed by six other states and the 12 themes that came out of a series of 15 town hall meetings held around the state. The themes range from killing any wolves that enter Oregon to barring any killing of wolves. Commissioner Marla Rae noted that while public opinion is sharply divided over wolves, testimony at a public hearing Thursday demonstrated there is also a lot of common ground. "The commission is not looking to reintroduce wolves," said Ron Anglin, chief of the department's wildlife division. Though there are no confirmed wolves in Oregon, three have strayed into Oregon from Idaho, where they were reintroduced under a federal program, and there continue to be three to six sightings a month, said Craig Ely, northeast regional manager for the department. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|