Tomorrow, July 19, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will ask the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to finally make a decision on WDFW’s proposal to downlist the status of gray wolves in the state from endangered to sensitive. In 2018, WDFW initiated its first status review of gray wolves in nearly 40 years. The department concluded that review earlier this year and, based on clear science showing wolves in Washington are “not in danger of extinction or becoming endangered,” asked the commission to downlist gray wolves in February.
Not surprisingly, the commission has been dragging its feet issuing a decision on the proposal. Monthly commission meetings since the proposal’s introduction have been like a recurring bad dream – loads of uninformed and emotional comments from animal extremists, highly disorganized or non-existent commission procedures, and commissioners unable or unwilling to understand and accept the scientific input and findings from the department and Tribal wildlife managers.
On multiple occasions – separately from the thoughtful status review and proposed rule – WDFW and its Tribal partners have presented the commission with undeniable data that gray wolves in Washington no longer meet the definition of endangered in the state. Still, the commission refuses to fulfill its mandate of scientifically managing the state’s wildlife.
“The ineptitude of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is absolutely mind-numbing,” said Dr. Todd Adkins, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Meeting after meeting, the commission repels science-based information from their in-house experts and Tribal partners. This commission has proven they completely lack or ignore any administrative processes for effective rulemaking.”
Despite its efforts to provide a “big tent” where all voices are heard, the commission has continuously ignored those voices that don’t echo its ideologies. Not only does this include hunters, anglers, trappers and the qualified staff of WDFW, but now the commission and animal extremists have made a habit of ignoring the input of Tribal partners.
Specifically, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation recently provided data to the commission showing a healthy, growing gray wolf population on the reservation. The Tribe has sovereign authority to manage wildlife on its lands. Notably, the Colville Reservation allows wolf hunting by Tribal hunters, and it also represents a significant portion of the state’s increase in gray wolf numbers over recent years. Now, animal extremists are disputing and attempting to discredit the accuracy of the Tribe’s work – which has been vetted by WDFW wildlife managers, who have a long history in coordination and cooperation with Washington Tribes to successfully manage wildlife across the state.
“Washington’s state endangered species act is designed as a pathway to protect those species at risk of extinction while providing tools to return these species to sustainable population levels,” said Torin Miller, associate litigation counsel at the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “The state ESA, however, is not intended to lock away species in perpetuity. The science is clear: gray wolves in Washington are no longer endangered, and that’s something to be celebrated. Willfully ignoring hard work and resulting successes is inexcusable.”
Attacking science – whether provided by the department, Tribal partners or other reliable sources – and ignoring voices that don’t further its agenda is nothing new for the commission and Washington’s animal extremists. The commission’s recently proposed ‘conservation’ policy – a move attempting to circumnavigate the commission’s mandate in pursuit of anti-science and anti-hunting, angling and trapping ideologies – was halted due to a glaring lack of consultation with Tribes throughout Washington. So much for a “big tent.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
