BuzzH
Well-known member
Brudno,
First of all, in the original plan there was no mention of 300 wolves for a population goal in the tri-state area...the original plan called for 30 breeding pairs (packs). A few years into the reintroduction it was discovered that wolf populations were growing fast and that the pack sizes were much bigger than anticipated.
The USFWS recognized that and revised the EIS to 30 breeding pairs OR 300 wolves. Its also fair to note that both of those were considered MINIMUM numbers that would trigger delisting and also need to be maintained for the states to keep control.
Another requirement was for all 3 states to come up with an acceptable plan. MT and ID met the requirements and Wyoming failed to do so. The reason for WY's failed plan is because once again, hunters laid down in the tracks while the landowners and stock growers had their way with pretty much writing WY's failed plan. I talk to quite a few local hunters here in WY that were never happy with the plan, and are also fed up with the grand-standing. They want to be able to hunt wolves, they want state management...and they want it NOW.
Dont confuse hunter complacency with being sold down the river....a vast majority of comments received during the EA and EIS processes were strongly in support of reintroduction. Even in Wyoming there was over-whelming support.
Finally, Wyomings plan isnt acceptable and if I were MT and ID I'd do everything I could to oppose it. Wyomings plan is setting the table for failure...and that failure will cause relisting in ALL 3 states. Once that happens, the states will very likely never see management of wolves again.
We have one shot to get this thing right...and not worth risking just to make some whining stockgrowers association happy.
First of all, in the original plan there was no mention of 300 wolves for a population goal in the tri-state area...the original plan called for 30 breeding pairs (packs). A few years into the reintroduction it was discovered that wolf populations were growing fast and that the pack sizes were much bigger than anticipated.
The USFWS recognized that and revised the EIS to 30 breeding pairs OR 300 wolves. Its also fair to note that both of those were considered MINIMUM numbers that would trigger delisting and also need to be maintained for the states to keep control.
Another requirement was for all 3 states to come up with an acceptable plan. MT and ID met the requirements and Wyoming failed to do so. The reason for WY's failed plan is because once again, hunters laid down in the tracks while the landowners and stock growers had their way with pretty much writing WY's failed plan. I talk to quite a few local hunters here in WY that were never happy with the plan, and are also fed up with the grand-standing. They want to be able to hunt wolves, they want state management...and they want it NOW.
Dont confuse hunter complacency with being sold down the river....a vast majority of comments received during the EA and EIS processes were strongly in support of reintroduction. Even in Wyoming there was over-whelming support.
Finally, Wyomings plan isnt acceptable and if I were MT and ID I'd do everything I could to oppose it. Wyomings plan is setting the table for failure...and that failure will cause relisting in ALL 3 states. Once that happens, the states will very likely never see management of wolves again.
We have one shot to get this thing right...and not worth risking just to make some whining stockgrowers association happy.
