Wyoming's Game and Fish's Large Predator Coordinator sees holes in Wyoming wolf plan

Wyoming's Game and Fish's Large Predator Coordinator sees holes in Wyoming wolf plan

April 11, 2003

At the 15th annual Inter-agency wolf conference this week at Chico, Montana, there was an interesting presentation by Dave Moody of Wyoming Game and Fish. He stated that under the wolf plan adopted and signed into Wyoming state law this March it would be very difficult, as well as very expensive to provide adequate protection for wolves in Wyoming. The reason is the area where wolves would be somewhat protected under the Wyoming law as "trophy game," rather than not protected at all as "predators," is too small. The state law limited trophy game status to only the designated wilderness areas on the National Forests adjacent to Yellowstone Park. By my reckoning that protects just one wolf pack -- the Yellowstone Delta Pack. That pack spends much of it's time inside YNP, but often migrates into the Teton Wilderness to the immediate south of the Park.

Despite being repeatedly told that there were almost no Wyoming wolf packs outside of Yellowstone National Park that used the wilderness areas as their range, the legislature passed this law giving wolves protection only in these wilderness areas. The conclusion Moody presented at the wolf conference should have been evident to the Wyoming legislators after a mere 5 minute search on the Internet for a map of the ranges of the Wyoming wolf packs.
Legislative actions like this are puzzling. Did they willfully pass this law, knowing there were few to no wolves in the areas they were willing to protect? Or is it that they are ignorant where the wolves live and unwilling to make the minimal effort to find out?
The Wyoming legislature also complained bitterly about the cost of state wolf management. Then they "crafted" a wolf plan that will not conserve a wolf population and at the same time will be very expensive.
Regardless, there is a good chance the federal government will not approve the Wyoming plan.
Here is an article in the April 10 Billings Gazette on Moody's presentation. "Holes seen in Wyoming wolf plan." By Mike Stark.

Return to Ralph Maughan's wolf report

Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209