Wyoming Introduces FLAWED Draft Wolf Plan!
July 21, 2003

Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and Department have introduced the Draft Wolf Management Plan. The Department will be responsible for management; the Commission has determined the classification of wolves within the state.

Unfortunately, although not surprisingly, Wyoming has decided to leave out sufficient public commenting and limit public input to two meetings to be held in Sheridan, Wyoming on July 28, from approximately 2:05 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. and on July 29 from approximately 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Within these two hours of possible oral commenting, the Commission will also be discussing many other issues, not simply focusing on wolf management. This is the extent of public commenting that they are allowing. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE! The Fish and Game Department has announced that there will be no written comments collected. However, I urge you to submit letters of "opinion" on their plan and the way they are skirting the legal issues of public review. They are barely sliding by with the two short public meetings and calling that a comment period. Please let the Wyoming Game and Fish Department know that this is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Talking points to argue the plan:

• Wyoming has committed to maintaining at least 15 packs of wolves statewide including the National Parks, Parkway, National Elk Refuge and potentially the Wind River Indian Reservation. Wyoming defines a pack as an adult and female wolf producing pups. Of these 15 packs, 7 packs will be maintained outside the National Parks and Parkway. With recent control actions, there are only 4 producing packs that truly reside outside of the Park (Washaki, Sunlight Basin, Absaroka and Greybull River). The alpha male of the Green River pack was killed last week for a calf depredation, that pack can no longer be counted as a pack, they are not reproducing since the female is alone now with pups. The Teton Pack resides mainly in the Teton Wilderness, the Gros Venture pack is not producing anymore, and the Beartooth pack resides in the N. Absaroka Wilderness. The requirement of 7 producing packs outside of the park is simply NOT BEING MET!
• From the date wolves are delisted, they will be able to be shot on sight outside of the Park and adjacent wilderness areas, as long as 7 packs manage to survive in these areas. Wolves in Wyoming will be managed under a dual-classification of trophy game inside the park and contiguous wilderness areas, and as predators outside of this safe zone, wolves in Wyoming will be legally hunted throughout the entire state. The only difference is that a permit will be required inside certain wilderness area. Wolves have only been on the ground in Wyoming since 1995, they reside in less than 2% of their native territories in the US. How can wolves possibly be at a level to survive with unregulated killing?
• Currently, Wyoming state law may not provide Wyoming Game and Fish the authority to even implement this plan. The law and the plan do not agree on several issues. One section of the law calls for a minimum of 15 packs statewide "or" seven packs outside parks. That could be interpreted to mean that 15 packs inside Yellowstone and Grand Teton; and none outside. This would conflict with the plan. Contrary to the law, the plan states that once trophy status was expanded (if pack numbers fell below 7 outside the Park) it would remain permanent and deemed necessary to maintain a viable wolf population, which is required by federal law. But that interpretation conflicts with state law, which requires Game and Fish commissioners to regularly monitor wolf numbers and withdraw trophy game protection once the population rebounds to seven packs. State legislators are not scheduled to meet until after the first of next year to possibly change the state law. How can this plan be legal if it conflicts so greatly with state law?

Please let Wyoming officials know that this plan is NOT ACCEPTABLE! You do not need an invitation to submit written public comments; they need to hear our opinions!

Contact information:

Brent Manning, Director
WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT
5400 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82006
(307) 777-4600
Fax: (307) 777-4699

Bill Wichers, Deputy Director
WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT
5400 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82006
(307) 777-4600
Fax: (307) 777-4699

Jerry Sanders, President
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
405 Upper French Creek
Buffalo, WY 82834

Ralph Morgenweck, Regional Director
US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
PO Box 25486
Denver, CO 80225
(303) 236-7920

Dave Freudenthal
GOVERNOR OF WYOMING
State Capitol, Room 124
Cheyenne, WY 82002
governor@state.wy.us
Phone: 307-777-7434

Copy to:
Ed Bangs
US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
100 North Park Avenue, Suite 320
Helena, MT 59601
Ed_Bangs@fws.gov