UPDATE! Governor of Washington Addresses Wolf / Livestock Conflicts

​worldanimalnews.com/washington-governor-jay-inslee-orders-new-rules-to-be-drafted-using-non-lethal-methods-to-address-wolves-involved-in-conflicts-with-livestock/

A couple of weeks back, I reported on a story that depicted the WDFW as negligent in their responsibility to protect wolves and prevent livestock conflicts. Their negligence and lack of a reasonable management strategy has resulted in 34 endangered wolves being killed, 29 of which were killed for conflicts with the same livestock producer. It was clear that the WDFW had no clear plan to manage these conflicts, instead resorting to their only known method of managing these conflicts, shooting and killing endangered wolves.

Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington has now announced that the WDFW must come up with new rules in managing conflicts that are non-lethal and further investigate chronic conflict areas. In doing so, they will be required to be transparent, allowing for the public to comment and offer opinions regarding the rules. 

This news comes just shortly after the WDFW denied a petition calling for them to address non-lethal methods in managing the wolf / livestock conflicts. Now that this has been overturned, the WDFW will finally have to address their poor track record in wolf management and their pandering to the livestock industry over their required commitment to wolf conservation.

For too long, the WDFW has neglected their duty to serve the people of Washington and protect endangered wolves, instead, pandering to the livestock industry. They have repeatedly demonstrated a complete lack of transparency and have failed their duty to protect wolves. When you consider that 29 of the 34 endangered wolves killed by the WDFW were involved in livestock conflicts with the same livestock operator, that's when it becomes abundantly clear that they have no real plan to manage these conflicts, resorting to slaughtering the wolves. 

If they were truly committed to protecting and conserving wolves, there wouldn't have been 29 conflicts with the same livestock operator. You're telling me that after 29 conflicts you really haven't come up with any kind of preventative measures to protect both livestock and wolves? How about larger perimeter fences for the areas where livestock graze? Why are wolves able to access livestock so readily? It's unfortunately evident that the WDFW has made absolutely no efforts to prevent future conflicts because killing the wolves is easy and that's always the best solution for an organization that is happliy negligent.

With this new ruling, we can now hope that the WDFW will have to address their poor track record with wolves and come up with reasonable, non-lethal solutions in managing these conflicts. This will spare endangered wolves needless slaughter for simply acting on their instincts. Livestock has been served to them on a silver platter and they have paid the price. It's time for real change in managing Washington's wolf population and thanks to Governor Jay Inslee, that change is at our doorstep!

HAPPY VEG