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Fish and Wildlife Commission rejects proposed wolf ruletinyurl.com/4px9hy3uWashington’s wildlife commissioners have chosen not to enact a new rule that was developed with the goal of reducing the number of wolves killed under state orders due to conflicts with livestock.The rule would have designated areas of “chronic conflict” and required state wildlife officials to verify that livestock owners in those areas have taken appropriate measures to prevent conflicts before the state kills wolves after attacks on livestock.The vote by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at their July 8 meeting was 5-4, with the majority choosing to take no action on the rule that had been sought by Gov. Jay Inslee and wildlife conservation groups.Under the proposed rule, areas designated as “Chronic Conflict Zones” would have specific plans, developed by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in collaboration with livestock producers, for lethal and non-lethal mitigation of wolf-livestock conflict. Before any wolves could be killed, WDFW staff would have to confirm that livestock owners had proactively implemented appropriate measures to deter wolves from attacking their animals.The process of developing the proposed regulations governing wolf-livestock conflict began almost two years ago after Inslee ordered WDFW to work on an administrative rule to reduce the number of wolves killed on WDFW orders due to attacks on livestock.However the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which determines policy and provides oversight for WDFW, voted for a “no action” alternative under an environmental impact study developed as part of the rule-making process. The vote means no changes are required in the way WDFW manages wolf-livestock conflicts.“Science shows that nonlethal deterrents are effective in preventing conflicts, and it’s devastating to see the state fail to require them before gunning down a state endangered species.”photo: Kevin Bastarache Wildlife & Nature Photography ... See MoreSee Less

Successful Yellowstone wolf conservation suggested as blueprint for Westbit.ly/3bPVC5MConservationists today hailed a new scientific study that proposes a network of protected areas focusing on wolf and beaver restoration as a strategy for restoring native ecosystems and wildlife diversity on western public lands.The benefits of this proposal would also contribute to stream restoration and help mitigate drought, wildfires and climate change. The study used scientific modeling to identify 11 large-scale reserves, called the Western Rewilding Network, and then identified connectivity habitats to allow for the dispersal of native species across the network. “This scientific blueprint for large landscape conservation, and its focus on retiring public land livestock operations and restoring wolves and beavers, is a major call to action for policymakers in Congress and the administration,” said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist and executive director of Western Watersheds Project. “The ecological success of Yellowstone National Park shows that this combination restores biodiversity, and replicating this success across the West is an enterprise well worth our collective efforts.”Photo: Gregory Smith/ Flicker ... See MoreSee Less

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