FWS: Livestock producers back under rules
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
September 24, 2014
Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in an interview Wednesday that in light of yesterday's federal court decision once again giving federal protection to wolves in Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act, livestock producers are under stringent rules on take or harassment of wolves. Wyoming wolves are once again classified as a non-essential, experimental population. That means that the ONLY time a wolf may be taken is if it is caught in the act of killing livestock, and this only applied to deeded property. In no other circumstance is a livestock producer allowed to kill or injure a wolf.
The FWS can issue shoot-on-sight permits to landowners in areas with a history of chronic wolf problems, but these permits must be approved by FWS before any action is taken against wolves depredating on livestock. Wyoming's wolf hunting season has been cancelled, and the state's defense-of-property law no longer applies, Jimenez said.
Here's the specifics of the 1994 federal rules under which wolves are now managed in Wyoming:
"No person may take this species in the wild in an experimental population area except as provided in paragraphs (i) (3), (7), and (8) of this section.
"(i) Landowners on their private land and livestock producers (i.e., producers of cattle, sheep, horses, and mules or as defined in State and tribal wolf management plans as approved by the Service) that are legally using public land (Federal land and any other public lands designated in State and tribal wolf management plans as approved by the Service) may harass any wolf in an opportunistic (the wolf cannot be purposely attracted, tracked, waited for, or searched out, then harassed) and noninjurious (no temporary or permanent physical damage may result) manner at any time, Provided that such harassment is non- lethal or is not physically injurious to the gray wolf and is reported within 7 days to the Service project leader for wolf reintroduction or agency representative designated by the Service.
"(ii) Any livestock producers on their private land may take (including to kill or injure) a wolf in the act of killing, wounding, or biting livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, and mules or as defined in State and tribal wolf management plans as approved by the Service), Provided that such incidents are to be immediately reported within 24 hours to the Service project leader for wolf reintroduction or agency representative designated by the Service, and livestock freshly (less than 24 hours) wounded (torn flesh and bleeding) or killed by wolves must be evident. Service or other Service authorized agencies will confirm if livestock were wounded or killed by wolves. The taking of any wolf without such evidence may be referred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
"(iii) Any livestock producer or permittee with livestock grazing allotments on public land may receive a written permit, valid for up to 45 days, from the Service or other agencies designated by the Service, to take (including to kill or injure) a wolf that is in the act of killing, wounding, or biting livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, and mules or as defined in State and tribal wolf management plans as approved by the Service), Provided that six or more breeding pairs of wolves have been documented in the experimental population area and the Service or other agencies authorized by the Service has confirmed that the livestock losses were caused by wolves and have completed agency efforts to resolve the problem. Such take must be reported immediately within 24 hours to the Service project leader for wolf reintroduction or agency representative designated by the Service. There must be evidence of freshly wounded or killed livestock by wolves. Service or other agencies, authorized by the Service, will investigate and determine if the livestock were wounded or killed by wolves. The taking of any wolf without such evidence may be referred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution."
Livestock producers experiencing problems with wolves must now rely on agency control. Producers may call Wyoming Game and Fish Department to investigate depredation events, or call USDA Wildlife Services. FWS will make the decision about what action is appropriate in each case.
USDA Wildlife Services can be reached at:
307-261-5336 State Office
307-362-7238 Rock Springs Office.
Rod Merrell is western Wyoming's Wildlife Services Supervisor, and his cell
number is 307-320-5109.
For those with further questions, Mike Jimenez's cell number is 307-330-5631.
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