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The gray wolf population in the Northern Rocky Mountains is thriving and no longer requires the protection of the Endangered Species Act, yet some states are keeping looser protection measures at bay.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just recently removed the gray wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in areas including all of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, as well as the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, and a small part of north-central Utah. However, the State of Washington has just announced that the gray wolves will remain protected as a state endangered species throughout Washington. Thus, under Washington state law, it is illegal to kill, harm or harass endangered species, including the gray wolf.
The federal action included the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves located in the eastern third of Washington state east of highways 97, 17 and 395 from the Canadian border to the Oregon border. Extending the federal de-listing into Washington was based on the expected dispersal of wolves from recovered populations in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
The wolf population in the Northern Rockies far exceeded its recovery goal and continues to expand its size and range. This is a remarkable conservation success story and there are currently more than 1,500 wolves and at least 100 breeding pairs in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.
"With hundreds of trained professional managers, educators, wardens and biologists, state wildlife agencies have strong working relationships with local landowners and the ability to manage wolves for the long-term," said Lyle Laverty, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. "We’re confident the wolf has a secure future in the northern Rocky Mountains and look forward to continuing to work closely with the states as we monitor the wolf population for the next five years."
“The federal action means that in the eastern third of the state, WDFW is the lead for wolf management, including response to suspected wolf depredation of livestock,” said Harriet Allen, WDFW’s manager of threatened and endangered species.
Allen confirmed that WDFW will continue to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services and the USFWS to investigate suspected wolf sightings, livestock depredations, or other problems. A comprehensive webpage with information about wolves, depredation response and agency contact information is available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/contacts.htm.
Where wolves are under federal protection, the private non-profit group Defenders of Wildlife funds compensation for livestock owners who have confirmed losses due to wolf depredation. There is currently no funding for losses to wolves where the species is not federally listed.
However, establishment of a state compensation fund for confirmed wolf depredation could be included in a state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which has been under development since January 2007. The plan is being developed in consultation with a 17-member citizen working group and is scheduled for completion by early 2009. For more on the plan process, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/index.htm.
Individuals in Washington wishing to report a wolf sighting or suspected wolf depredation can contact WDFW’s wolf hotline at 1-888-584-9038.
For more information on northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves, visit www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/ |
