Mead says Wyoming, feds continue wolf talks
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead says he believes the state is making some progress toward getting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to accept that wolves should be classified as unprotected predators in most of the state.
Mead met last week with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in Cheyenne to discuss wolf management. The state and federal government have been wrangling for years over how to end federal protections for wolves under the Endangered Species Act.
Mead said Tuesday that his office continues to negotiate with the federal government on the wolf issue, including the number of wolves Wyoming should allow.
If the state and federal government come to terms, Mead says he hopes Congress would approve the deal to prevent any further litigation over the wolf-management issue from environmental groups.
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Baucus push for wolf hunt one step closer to reality
The Clark Fork Chronicle
Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 08:17 AM MDT
by Kathy Weber
Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus issued the following statement in response to news the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is one step closer to allowing a conservation wolf hunt in western Montana:
“This is a step in the right direction because Montanans know best how to manage wolves in our state. There’s no doubt wolves are hurting the elk population in this area of Montana and moving forward with a conservation wolf hunt makes good sense. However, the debate over wolves needs to end with a permanent solution that puts Montana in control of how we manage wolves in our state. I’m going to keep fighting for legislation that provides the certainty Montana ranchers and hunters deserve.”
Baucus has been working toward a solution to put Montana back in control of wolves since a 2010 court ruling that resulted in the return of the gray wolf to Federal management under the Endangered Species Act.
In September 2010, Baucus introduced legislation to return management of wolves in Montana and Idaho to state control. Also that month, he pressed the Fish & Wildlife Service to honor Montanans’ right to protect livestock from wolves. Last month, Baucus urged the Department of Interior to expedite the process for allowing a wolf hunt in Montana.
On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its draft Environmental Assessment of the Montana FWP request to control gray wolves in the West Fork Elk Management Unit in western Montana. They will allow for a 14-day public comment period on the Montana proposal to kill 18 out of an estimated 30 wolves along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River.
Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus issued the following statement in response to news the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is one step closer to allowing a conservation wolf hunt in western Montana:
“This is a step in the right direction because Montanans know best how to manage wolves in our state. There’s no doubt wolves are hurting the elk population in this area of Montana and moving forward with a conservation wolf hunt makes good sense. However, the debate over wolves needs to end with a permanent solution that puts Montana in control of how we manage wolves in our state. I’m going to keep fighting for legislation that provides the certainty Montana ranchers and hunters deserve.”
Baucus has been working toward a solution to put Montana back in control of wolves since a 2010 court ruling that resulted in the return of the gray wolf to Federal management under the Endangered Species Act.
In September 2010, Baucus introduced legislation to return management of wolves in Montana and Idaho to state control. Also that month, he pressed the Fish & Wildlife Service to honor Montanans’ right to protect livestock from wolves. Last month, Baucus urged the Department of Interior to expedite the process for allowing a wolf hunt in Montana.
On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its draft Environmental Assessment of the Montana FWP request to control gray wolves in the West Fork Elk Management Unit in western Montana. They will allow for a 14-day public comment period on the Montana proposal to kill 18 out of an estimated 30 wolves along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River.
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