Wolves in Oregon?

[crabbait]

Thought this might be of interest:

For Immediate Release Friday, January 2, 2004

Wolf Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 12-13

SALEM - The second meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee formed by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be held Monday, Jan. 12, and
Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Agricultural Services Center just outside of LaGrande in Island City.

The agenda of the second meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee includes a review and adoption of committee operation guidelines,
briefing on wolf biology and ecology, briefing on federal interim strategy for wolves in Oregon, briefing on historical wolf issues in Oregon, discussion and adoption of Wolf Advisory Committee goal statement, and a discussion of a meeting schedule for various wolf topics.

The official meeting will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 9 of the Agricultural Services Center on Monday, Jan. 12. Monday's discussions are expected to conclude at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will re-start at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13, and will conclude at 12:30 p.m. The Agricultural Services Center is located at 10507 N. McAlister Road in Island City.

The 14-member committee was appointed last year by the Fish and Wildlife Commission to help study all the issues surrounding wolves in
Oregon and to recommend management actions that will be used once a permanent population establishes itself.

No wolves are confirmed to be in Oregon at this time. However, numerous unconfirmed sightings have been documented. Biologists expect wolves to
enter Oregon from the expanding population in Idaho and eventually establish a permanent population in this state.

The Commission decided earlier this year to proactively develop a wolf management plan so the state is prepared for wolves. This decision came after hearing from many wolf experts and the results of 15 town hall meetings held in late 2002 and early 2003.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife carries out the policies of the Commission.

Members of the public may watch the proceedings of the Wolf Advisory Committee. No oral public comments will be taken at this meeting. Members of the public may submit written comments. Forms will be provided at the meeting. Written comments also may be submitted to
ODFW.Comments@state.or.us.

cb - I know many of you are concerned with possible wolf predation on big game and livestock. Personally, I am of two minds on the issue. I don't want to see further reductions in big game numbers but I would love to add the howl of the wolf to the other sounds I love in the outdoors like bugling elk and honking Canadas.

Fewer coyotes and cougar and a few wolfs would be alright with me, I'm thinking.