Jackson Hole Guide, Letter to the Editor, November 12, 2002
Predator Conservation Alliance is closely following the management process and decision of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission in regards to the delisting of the wolf as an endangered species. On October 28, we were extremely disappointed by the vote of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to label the wolf as a "predator" in Wyoming outside of National Parks and Wilderness areas. This decision surely will delay the delisting of the wolf as an endangered species, and further hamper efforts for appropriate wolf management at the state level.
During the Commission's proceedings, a program associate of the Predator Conservation Alliance, David Gaillard, provided some humorous testimony to illuminate the short-sightedness of the Commission's decision, praising them for helping assure that wolves will remain federally protected forever. This testimony, unfortunately, was misunderstood to represent the true position of Predator Conservation Alliance.
In response, we submitted a letter to both the Jackson Hole News and Jackson Hole Guide to clarify our opposition to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission's decision. The letter, below, was printed in both papers November 12, 2002.
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Predator Status
Dear Editor,
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission's position on wolves is bad for wolves, bad for people living with wolves, and threatens to waste time and money for all of the people of Wyoming.
During its recent meeting in Jackson, the Commission voted 4-2 in favor of keeping its earlier resolution that classifies wolves as a "predator" in all areas of Wyoming outside of national parks and those Wilderness areas on the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests. This means wolves could be killed anywhere else in Wyoming, anytime, and by virtually any method.
The predator status proposed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission is the wrong course of action. The Commission made its decision in spite of a recent letter by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that such a designation would be an impediment to delisting the wolf (removing its protections under the federal Endangered Species Act), and in spite of compelling testimony from Idaho and Montana representatives urging Wyoming to not obstruct the delisting process. The Commission dug in its heels, even ignoring a final plea by Acting Game and Fish Director Tom Thorne who questioned why the Commission would direct Game and Fish to put extensive staff time and money into a plan that is "dead in the water." It was among the most disappointing examples of public process and policy that we have ever witnessed.
At the hearing, a representative of Predator Conservation Alliance humorously offered testimony to highlight the absurdity of the proposal, praising the Commission for ensuring that wolves would remain under federal protection forever. Our testimony referenced a similar situation in Minnesota, where there are thousands of wolves, but they are still under federal management due to the lack of an adequate state management plan.
Clearly, a recovered Wyoming wolf population is most appropriately managed by Wyoming. Predator Conservation Alliance supports a strong wolf management plan for Wyoming, and we firmly oppose classifying wolves as "predators" in any part of the state, which we believe will only delay the successful completion of wolf recovery in Wyoming and throughout the Northern Rockies. Predator Conservation Alliance has no interest in joining the Commission as a "spoiler" of efforts to complete one of the greatest conservation success stories of the century: the restoration of wolves to the northern Rocky Mountains.
If you agree that wolves should not be classified as a "predator" in Wyoming, please contact the Game and Fish Commission and the Governor and tell them that "predator" status is not acceptable for wolves in Wyoming.
Sincerely,
Tom Skeele, Executive Director
Predator Conservation Alliance
P.O. Box 6733
Bozeman, MT 59771
406-587-3389
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