Ranchers have no relief if wolves attack livestock

The Oregonian ^ | December 02, 2005 | BRAD CAIN

[crazyhorse691]

SALEM -- Despite strong objections from ranchers, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted final amendments Thursday to a management plan for protected gray wolves expected to migrate into Oregon from Idaho.

Currently, the management plan prohibits ranchers from killing wolves that attack livestock and doesn't include compensation for losses from wolf attacks.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission had included compensation and authority for killing wolves in the plan that was adopted in February, pending approval by the Legislature of provisions needed to change state law.

But lawmakers failed to agree on those provisions and bills to make the changes went nowhere during the 2005 legislative session that ended in August.

So the Fish and Wildlife Commission, wanting to have a wolf management plan in place, voted Thursday to "park" those provisions in an appendix of the plan until they can be brought up for discussion again in the 2007 Legislature.

The action drew criticism from the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, which recently approved a resolution urging ranchers around the state to close their land to hunters and anglers to protest the state's new plan for managing wolves.

Mike Colton of Baker City, president of the Baker County Livestock Association, said the management plan violates ranchers' property rights because it offers "no reasonable management of wolves."

Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental group that backs Oregon's wolf reintroduction plan, said it has paid $500,000 to ranchers in other Western states for lost livestock and is offering to do the same in Oregon when wolves arrive in this state.

It's a small price to pay to have wolves back in Oregon, said Amaroq Weiss, the group's spokeswoman who appeared Thursday before the fish and wildlife panel.

"Wolves are part of our wildlife heritage," Weiss said. "We should be rejoicing that they are coming back for future generations to enjoy."

The state's new wolf management plan sets a goal of seven breeding pairs in Eastern Oregon.

There have been no confirmed sightings of gray wolves in Oregon. Between 1999 and 2000, at least three wolves made their way from Idaho into Oregon. One was hit by a car, one was shot and one was captured and returned to Idaho.

Experts say it is just a matter of time before a pack takes up residence in Oregon.

[crazyhorse691]

Shot and dump is an old western tradition of relief. Notice that no plans are made for introducing the wolf to the Willamette Valley or Portland. I must point out that oversight to Defenders of Wildlife.

[MBB1984]

Yes, I think this might be the appropriate place for some "silent" and "buried" civil disobedience.

[george76]

"We should be rejoicing that they are coming back for future generations to enjoy."

Fine, then release the wolves inside the city limits of Portland, Eugene...and in the neighborhoods of those commissioners.

[Ladysmith]

Shoot, shovel, and shutup.

[bert]

There is a problem with corrosion on coastal structures such as piers and bridges. The solution is to provide sacrificial anodes. Sacrificial metal corroded at a faster rate is eaten away by the harmful electrical current.

The solution to the wolf problem is to protect the cattle by providing sacrifical prey.

Stray cats come to mind.

[bill1952]

Enjoy? What a freaking moron. Who enjoys wild predators that travel in packs and can kill and eat you?

I mean, wheres the fun in that?

Shoot and dump a few legislators and the state will be fine.

[planekT]

"We should be rejoicing that they are coming back for future generations to enjoy."

Yea, the old generations enjoyed them so much. I guess that's why they shot the crap out of them. /s

[Peter J. Huss]

I think the feds know what the ranchers will do and don't care. The wolf is not 'endangered' or rare and can live anywhere coyotes live.

What will eventually happen is some rancher will Shoot, Shovel and forget to Shut up. Some idiot group from Portland will raise a stink and literally make a federal case out of it.

Incidently, I used to own a wolf. Not a hybrid, but a cross between a timber and an Arctic. It was an impossible animal to own, though very loving and playful. My wife and I drove in an old Subaru with all our crap and this wolf from Portland, OR to Michigan. Somewhere in the UP of Michigan we stopped at a bar that had a wolf pelt on the wall for sale at $200.

My wife pointed out the pelt and the price... "are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?

We eventually had to have him put down. It was a sad situation, but he kept killing the neighbors 4H projects and would go nuts if we tried to confine him.

[Ditter]

It's called "shoot, shovel and shut up".

[crazyhorse691]

The solution to the wolf problem is to protect the cattle by providing sacrifical prey.

---

All those tasty stray cats and dogs and the well fed racoons would provide a stable source of wolf food in Portland for a few years, then maybe legislators. No, there are some things even a starving wolf wouldn't eat.

[Wayne07]

This is a powerful metaphor for what leftists would do to the country. Invite enemies in, use government to suppress the lawful citizens, and celebrate the destruction.

[LasVegasMac]

Lets be real here, you can't do that.

But I'm sure there are lots of ways "around" the issue.

LVM

[gotribe]

Notice that no plans are made for introducing the wolf to the Willamette Valley or Portland. I must point out that oversight to Defenders of Wildlife.

Yep. They never stock wolves or relocate bears into the urban areas whose residents are so anxious to live in peace with critters. It's the old NIMBY thing. Washington Park, up the hill from Portland would seem to be a great location for a pack of timberwolves. They could feed on joggers and tennis players, now and then make it up to the zoo and get a zebra or two.

[flashbunny]

Yep. Let the wolves start snacking on fluffy and other pets, and see how tolerant this idiots are then.

[FlingWingFlyer]

"Wolves are part of our wildlife heritage," Weiss said. "We should be rejoicing that they are coming back for future generations to enjoy."

That's what that Grizzly Bear guy was saying until a grizz ate him and his girlfriend.

[crazyhorse691]

they too represent a threat to economic survival the same as the wolfpacks...kill em too.

---

Possee Commititus(sp)tried that in the 1970s. Now, everybody just asks "what's a Possee?".

[apackof2]

Good observation

[dynachrome]

Wait till they start snacking on little Buffy.

[Shanty Shaker]

I am all for historic preservation. All elected goverment officials pay should be restored to 1850 levels.