Conservation Groups Sue To Stop Wolf Killings
Four conservation groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday to stop federal wildlife managers from killing two wolves in northeast Oregon. OPB's Ecotrope blogger Cassandra Profita reports.
DiscussU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans Monday to kill two young wolves from the Imnaha Pack.
The agency confirmed Imnaha wolves killed a calf. Its carcass was found Saturday near Joseph. The calf is one of several killed by wolves in the area over the past year.
Noah Greenwald is with the Center for Biological Diversity. His group's lawsuit says new environmental reviews are needed before the feds can kill any wolves in Oregon.
Noah Greenwald: "There's fewer than 25 wolves in eastern Oregon, so killing two wolves from that population is substantial. Until the wolf population in Oregon is more recovered, lethal controls should not be used and they should proceed with non-lethal measures."
Janet Lebson is a spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service. She would not talk specifically about the lawsuit. But she says wolf attacks on livestock in Wallowa County have become chronic, and non-lethal controls aren't working.
Janet Lebson: "We made a commitment when this agency reintroduced wolves into the Rocky Mountain region that we would address the damage caused by wolves for cattle ranchers who are suffering livestock losses from it."
The agency has a policy that allows for lethal controls when a wolf pack kills at least two livestock.
The lawsuit could stall agency plans to capture and kill two juvenile wolves. A similar kill order was lifted last summer after conservation groups challenged it in court.
© 2011 OPB
1 comment:
It is unbelievable how most conservation groups, such as these, have no idea how to manage wildlife, contribute very little or no finances to enhance wildlife or wildlife habitat but are the first to challenge the professionals that do know. They will allow the destruction of other wildlife by the same animals they chose to protect. They will label an animal as Endangered even when the USFW Service has de-listed it as Endangered. As far as the wolves are concerned and in my opinion it is more based on the appearance of the wolf and somehow relate the wolf to there own cuddly canine. I'm sure that if there pet was out killing elk,deer and cattle on a daily basis they would find that acceptable too. Hypocrisy! They should learn to work with those that know how to manage wildlife and contribute there time and finances to bettering "all" wildlife concerns instead of mis-informing the general public and hampering those that are truly trying to benefit wildlife.
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