04/19/05 Wolves coming to Oregon

04/19/05 Wolves coming to Oregon

Mike Colton and other Oregon ranchers knew it would only be a matter of time. Idaho began reintroducing grey wolf populations over a decade ago in the central part of the state. And as populations grew in Idaho, unchecked in most part because of strict Endangered Species Act regulations for takings of wolves, the day would come when wolves would migrate into Eastern Oregon. COLTON: They've only verified three wolves that came from Idaho. To verify a wolf in Oregon, you just almost have to catch them, and pull blood and do d.n.a.. And if they don't do that, they haven't verified any other sightings, which there actually has been hundreds of sightings. Colton is the Vice President of the Baker County Cattlemen's Association. And he has been involved in efforts to develop a wolf management plan in his state. That plan was adopted by Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife in February after a two year effort and a series of state wide public meetings. But Colton adds while the plan is now an administrative rule, the Oregon State Legislature is currently reviewing potential state statutes connected to the plan. COLTON: They did have three legislative changes they were going for to fully implement their plan. And one of those is to allow a lethal take of an endangered species, and to change the status to a special status mammal, and also they're trying to put together a compensation package that would compensate ranchers for wolf kills. Baker says he and other ranchers are opposed to the proposed changes. The only change ranchers might agree to is the compensation for wolf kills. But even then, Baker says compensation is not the first choice to control wolf populations. Now currently the grey wolf remains protected under both the federal and Oregon State Endangered Species Acts, so taking of a wolf is restrictive. And according to Colton, any statements that ranchers can kill wolves that attack livestock is misleading. COLTON: This would take affect only after we are federally de-listed. And at that time, then we could actually kill a wolf that we find in the act of attacking an animal. Well, the language is very clear and it says not testing and not scavenging. So if I go out one morning and check my cattle and I find a wolf eating on a dead calf, I don't know that he killed it. And can't shoot him for it. Colton says the only real solution to properly manage what will be a growing grey wolf population in Oregon is Endangered Species Act reform, allowing for the de-listing of the wolf.
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