A collaRed Wolf in Wollawa County, Oregon. Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.

The Casper Star-Tribune reported that Wyoming may finally be willing to negotiate on the future of wolves in the region. A legislative council will vote today on whether to contribute to hiring a lawyer for negotiations with Montana, Idaho and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which could help resolve some of the outstanding issues with delisting wolves in the Northern Rockies.

Emboldened by his re-election, Idaho Governor “Butch” Otter was at it again last week in an Idaho Mountain Express editorial, shouting down continued efforts to protect wolves. He blames “government” and “environmental absolutists” for upholding our country’s most important wildlife conservation law, the Endangered Species Act. He also points to the outdated recovery goals that require just 100 wolves per state (or 10 breeding pairs) as evidence that wolves are fully recovered, ignoring the latest science on maintaining genetically healthy populations.

A range rider and his dogs track wolves in Oregon's backcountry. Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Thankfully, wolves got a reprieve earlier in the week when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said it would have to conduct a full National Environmental Policy Act review of a proposal to kill wolves in a select region of Idaho. Idaho had requested to remove up to 50 wolves in a section of Clearwater National Forest in order to boost elk populations there, according to The Spokesman-Review.

Be sure to tune in next week for Oregon Public Broadcasting’s special report on wolves. The station’s outdoors show, Oregon Field Guide, ventured out to talk to ranchers to learn more about Living with Wolves.  The show will premiere Thursday, November 18 at 8:30 p.m. on OPB stations and will be posted online in coming weeks. Get more details here.

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