In an sparsely-attended meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee Friday, Montana Senator Conrad Burns (Republican) successfully diverted $200,000 of the $527,000 for next years' Yellowstone wolf program to study whirling disease in Montana trout.Burns' amendment passed on a voice vote.
Despite the absence of any conflicts between wolves in livestock since 14 wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone last January, Burns said he didn't think wolves belonged in Yellowstone.
Whirling disease is a serious threat to trout throughout the United States, not just a problem for Montana trout. Undoubtedly money needs to be made available. It seems to me that Burn's tiny contribution for Montana will make no difference.
1995 Ralph Maughan
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