We recommend these talking points on Washington’s wolf management:
- Wolves are a keystone predator that plays a valuable and important role in the health of our ecosystems. We strongly support natural wolf recovery, and value their place in our region and our environment.
- Wildlife is a public resource and belongs to all the people of the State. Whether one supports or opposes wolf recovery in Washington, the poaching of any wildlife is an unacceptable abuse of our natural resources. On both private and public land, all wildlife is a public trust in the care of all our state’s citizens.
- We understand the need to address and help resolve conflicts between wolves and the people who live and work in Washington’s wolf country. We want to help them successfully coexist with predators back on the landscape. And we accept that at times lethal removal may be required for responsible wolf recovery.
- It’s the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife’s responsibility to safeguard wolf recovery in Washington. We the public deserve clear, transparent and timely communications when it comes to wolf management. Especially before the lethal removal of wolves or other endangered species.
- Range riders, fladry, guard dogs and hazing can reduce risk of conflict if undertaken with diligence. Either independently or in partnership with the state or conservation organizations, ranchers must be thoroughly using these tools to avoid wildlife conflicts if they knowingly operate in wolf territory.
- WDFW needs to create more incentive for ranchers to embrace conflict avoidance measures, including entering into cooperative agreements with the state. As one incentive the state should mandate that lethal wolf removal will not be considered unless the effected rancher has made a genuine effort to avoid depredations.
- We believe the state should consider establishing an impartial “referee” that the people can trust who can judge whether a rancher has shown adequate due diligence and preemptive conflict avoidance measures before lethal removal of wolves is considered.
- We strongly want long term wolf recovery to work for people, wolves and all of Washington’s wildlife
Washington wolf recovery talking points — Conservation Northwest.