|
|
Stockgrowers frustrated with wildlife service decision to drop wolf delistingMontana Recently, the Montana Stockgrowers Association expressed frustration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to halt the Rocky Mountain gray wolf delisting effort. USFWS recently announced plans to withdraw the rule that removed wolves in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and parts of Utah, Oregon and Washington from the endangered species list. MSGA intervened on behalf of the state of Montana and the USFWS in a recent court case filed by a coalition of 11 environmental groups challenging the USFWS decision to delist the gray wolf. In July, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy granted a preliminary injunction to restore protections for the wolves pending his final decision in the case. If Molloy accepts the USFWS motion for withdrawal, the court case will end and wolves will be returned to the endangered species list indefinitely, severely restricting the ability of livestock producers to effectively deal with the predator. USFWS has stated that it will go back to the drawing board to rewrite the delisting plan. Jay Bodner, director of natural resources for MSGA, criticized the USFWS for its failure to defend the delisting decision. "The litigation was not a surprise," Bodner said, "We've known for years that litigation would follow any delisting effort. I expected the USFWS to be more prepared to defend its decision. The agency's lackadaisical effort and lack of preparation for this court case makes me wonder if they even wanted to succeed in delisting." The wolf population far exceeded the objectives originally set for delisting. At the beginning of the wolf introduction, the recovery goal was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs and 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years. That goal was achieved in 2002. The recently released summer wolf population count declares 1,455 wolves known to exist in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Meanwhile, confirmed wolf livestock depredations are on the rise with 411 cattle and sheep killed between January and June of this year compared to 296 last year. "This really is a disaster for the livestock industry in Montana," Bodner said. "Livestock producers opposed the reintroduction of wolves in the first place but tried to make the best of a bad situation by actively participating in this process and trying to make it work for everyone involved." "We were told that wolves would be delisted once certain objectives were met," Bodner continued. "We have exceeded the objectives for delisting five-fold. Science tells us that the gray wolf population is fully recovered." 9/29/08 Date: 9/24/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
