Dave Moody of WY Game and Fish suspended for politically incorrect commentary on Wyoming wolf plan

Dave Moody of WY Game and Fish suspended for politically incorrect commentary on Wyoming wolf plan

April 16, 2003, updates April 17 - 23

I have learned from an informed source that when Mike Stark's Billings Gazette article on Dave Moody's presentation on the Wyoming Wolf Plan at Interagency wolf conference at Chico Hot Springs, Montana, hit the newsstands, Moody was suspended by Wyoming Game and Fish within the hour.
See my April 11 story: Wyoming's Game and Fish's Large Predator Coordinator sees holes in Wyoming wolf plan.
Moody has had a long and distinguished career working with large predators in Wyoming. Because the Wyoming wolf plan is obviously defective, it is difficult to see how an ethical state worker with even passing knowledge where the wolves live Wyoming could have said other than what Moody did.
Wildlife managers in Wyoming have long been subject to political reprisal. However, one month into the administration of new Wyoming Governor Democrat Dave Freudenthal, he told the state that he was ending the "one voice" approach in state government. In an article in the Casper Star Tribune April 10, Freudenthal was once again quoted as saying he had gotten rid of the "one voice" approach. Moody was suspended on April 10.
April 17. "Wyoming Game and Fish suspends wolf-policy critic" By Mike Stark. Billings Gazette.
April 18. Suspension of Moody draws fire. By Mike Stark. Billings Gazette.
April 18. G&F wolf biologist suspended. By Brodie Farquhar and Jeff Gearino. Casper Star Tribune.
April 19. The man who cried wolf. Editorial. San Francisco Chronicle.
April 22. Editorial. Casper Star-Tribune. Wrong to punish G&F biologist for wolf critique.
April 23. And finally, after a lot of backpeddling by Wyoming politicians and bureaucrats, "Wolf biologist back at work." By Brodie Farquhar Casper Star-Tribune staff writer.
April 11 (related -- on the topic gagging public servants). Jeff Ruch, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Grist Magazine.

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Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209