Morton encourages ranchers to attend public meetings on proposed wolf management plan
State needs to ensure balance between ranchers’ livelihoods, return of predators

October 7, 2009

Olympia…Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, said today he hopes ranchers and other interested citizens will attend the public meetings in Colville and Omak on the proposed wolf management plan. 

The meetings will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

• Colville – Tuesday, Oct. 26, N.E. Washington Fairgrounds Ag-Trade Center;

• Omak – Monday, Nov. 9, Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex

“Wolves have returned to our state and citizens need to weigh in on how the state will manage these predators,” Morton said. “We have two confirmed breeding pairs from Canada – one in Okanogan County and one in Pend Oreille County. Others wolves have been sighted and known to have killed livestock in Stevens County. Wolves shy away from people, but not livestock. Wolves primarily feed on elk, deer and moose, but when wild game is not readily available and they’re hungry, ranchers lose part of their livelihood.” 

In September 2008, there was a confirmed wolf kill of a calf in Stevens County near Laurier. Another calf, whose carcass was found first – within 100 yards of the confirmed kill – was also likely killed by a wolf, but there was not enough left of the carcass to positively determine its cause of death.  

For more information about the plan, the public meetings and the public comment period visit the Gray Wolf Conservation and Management page on the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Web page. 

Morton has been a key player in efforts to help ranchers recover their losses caused by predatory wildlife.  

“There has to be a balance. We can’t ‘manage predatory wildlife’ without a component for the loss of livestock,” Morton said. 

Cougar-tracking dogs
Morton also encourages people with cougar-tracking dogs who are interested in helping the Department of Fish and Wildlife with public safety cougar removal to sign up before the Oct. 19 deadline.  

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov