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Wildlife:
Wolf plan

Our Position: oppose
Bill Number: HB 2295
Sponsor: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Legislative Session: 2007

This bill would have affected the future management of wolves as they reestablish themselves in Oregon. Defined wolves as 'game mammals' which could be hunted in the future, and allowed the killing of wolves by ranchers without verification from wildlife professionals of wolf damage or predation.

Status

The controversy over this bill was such that compromise could not be reached and it ultimately died without a committee vote at the end of April.

More information

Contact Ivan Maluski at ivan.maluski@sierraclub.org

Background

In recent years it has become increasingly clear that wolves will soon begin to repopulate Oregon from growing populations in Idaho. In response, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife worked with diverse stakeholders to develop the Oregon Wolf Plan. The Wolf Plan contained a series of compromises on many major issues surrounding wolves, from what to do if they prey on livestock, to how to many packs would be allowed to roam without harassment in different parts of the state. In order to implement the wolf plan, the legislature needed to make particular changes to existing laws as wolves are currently protected under the state endangered species act.

The Sierra Club held a position of opposition to HB 2295 until the language was changed to bring it into compliance with the Oregon Wolf Plan. Specifically, HB 2295 would have defined wolves as 'game mammals' in a way that could allow the creation of regular wolf hunting and trapping seaons. Further, the bill would have allowed ranchers to kill wolves for damage to livestock without having to verify the wolf damage with wildlife authorities. Both of these are major steps backward from wolf legislation supported by the Sierra Club in 2005.