Coalition forms to push back on predators

RITZVILLE - Law enforcement agencies, ranchers and rural counties are forming a coalition to push back against the state Fish and Wildlife Commission's failure to manage large predators effectively.

The coalition was announced Sept. 17 following a meeting here on large predators issues. The meeting attracted about 16-20 law enforcement officers, as well as two ranchers speaking about the effects of wolf, cougar and bear depredation on farms, ranches and rural communities.

"The goal (of the coalition) is to have a stronger collective voice when it comes to predators and public safety," Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke said.

According to Manke, the coalition will also work with lawmakers and state Department of Fish and Wildlife employees to mitigate depredations and their impact on rural communities.

The coalition is also calling on Fish and Wildlife staff to be more transparent in regard to predator locations, data and management plans.

Manke explained the coalition to local officials during the Sept. 17 meeting, where officers heard from two ranchers whose herds have been subject to wolf depredation.

They shared the challenges large carnivores have presented and explained the effects on their ranching businesses.

According to Manke, the Fish and Wildlife Commission's continued overbearing restrictions on cougar hunting and the lack of a spring bear hunting season have complicated ranching and increased depredations in rural counties.

"These decisions made by the commission have been in direct disregard to science and their own expert biologists' recommendations," Manke said. "Since the members of the commission are appointed by the governor, many feel their decisions are based on politics rather than science and expert advice."

In general, managing predators is the job of Fish and Wildlife employees, Manke said, noting law enforcement's role is to protect the public.

But with depredations becoming more frequent, the separation is becoming blurred, he said.

De-listing refusal

The discussion in Ritzville follows a July 19 state Fish and Wildlife Commission refusal to remove wolves from the state threatened species list, downgrading them to a "sensitive" species.

The commission voted 5-4 to reject delisting, with Commissioners Lorna Smith of Port Townsend, Melanie Rowland of Twisp, Woodrow Myers of Spokane County, Tim Ragen of Skagit County and Barbara Baker of Thurston County voting to reject delisting. Commissioners Steve Parker of Yakima, Molly Linville of Reardan, John Lehmkuhl of Wenatchee and James Anderson of Pierce County voted yes to downgrade wolves from threatened to sensitive.

The federal government removed Eastern Washington wolves east of U.S. Highway 97 from the endangered species list in 2011.

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 5092356184
• Twitter: @RogerHarnack