Otter prepared to walk away from wolf management
by Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman, 09/08/2010 [here]
Gov. Butch Otter wants the federal government to draw up a new agreement giving the state a role in wolf management.
And if the feds don’t come up with a plan, and soon, Otter says he is prepared to break off negotiations.
Otter met Tuesday with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
“We will keep working with the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the coming weeks to craft an agreement outlining the state’s role in wolf management, providing additional flexibility for addressing depredation, and committing enough federal funding to cover wolf management,” Otter said today. “But if we don’t reach an agreement within a reasonable time — we’ve set Oct. 7 as a deadline — the state will no longer participate as a designated agent for monitoring, providing law enforcement support or investigating wolf deaths in Idaho.”
Here’s the full news release:
Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said today that his meeting with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar this week was aimed at quickening the pace of efforts to address the devastating impact of wolves on Idaho’s elk, deer and livestock and restoring State management over hundreds of wolves now roaming Idaho.
“We will keep working with the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the coming weeks to craft an agreement outlining the state’s role in wolf management, providing additional flexibility for addressing depredation, and committing enough federal funding to cover wolf management,” Governor Otter said after Tuesday’s meeting with Secretary Salazar. “But if we don’t reach an agreement within a reasonable time — we’ve set Oct. 7 as a deadline — the state will no longer participate as a designated agent for monitoring, providing law enforcement support or investigating wolf deaths in Idaho.” … [more]