Wolves to be Slaughtered as Part of Federal Budget

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The wolves will be slaughtered in 60 days in Idaho and Montana. There are no packs in Utah and no plans to hunt in Oregon. In Washington wolves will remain endangered. In Wyoming, wolves will remain federally protected until the state develops a wolf management plan that’s approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Idaho and Montana, intend to kill many of the 1,270 animals last counted in their two states, which include approximately 80 breeding pairs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is likely to ramp up aerial gunning of wolves and campaigns that destroy pups in their dens.

There are 1,600 wolves in the Northern Rockies. 

Here is the text of the "wolf rider"

SEC. 1713. Before the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue the final rule published on April 2, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 15123 et seq.) without regard to any other provision of statute or regulation that applies to issuance of such rule. Such reissuance (including this section) shall not be subject to judicial review and shall not abrogate or otherwise have any effect on the order and judgment issued by the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming in Case Numbers 09–CV–118J and 09–CV–138J on November 18, 2010.

In Washington state Fish & Wildlife will keep wolves listed as endangered. There are only 2 wolf packs in Washington.

Here's a Q&A from the Spokesman Review with Madonna Luers, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman:

Q. How will the rider affect Washington’s wolves?

A. Washington has a much smaller wolf population than Idaho with only two confirmed wolf packs – one in the Methow Valley and one in Pend Oreille County.
Wolves will remain a “state endangered species,” said Madonna Luers, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman.
The department is working on wolf management plan to reduce future conflicts as Washington’s wolf population grows.
A public meeting on the draft plan is planned for June in Ellensburg.

Q. Will Washington someday have a public wolf hunt?
A. “The short answer is maybe,” Luers said. “In our state, it’s probably a long way down the road.”

At least one Washington has sense :)


For a truthful, to the point article on the delistings go here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/12/966283/-Tester,-Simpson-put-anti-ESA-rider-in-budget-bill