Bentz Continues To Push For Wolves To Be Delisted

Eastern Oregon's Cliff Bentz continues to push for removing the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. He said wolves not only kill cattle, attacks on herds, Bentz noted, trigger chronic stress leading to fewer calves. Bentz said Eastern Oregon cattle ranchers feel a sense of helplessness.

"They see it, not only as a direct attack on their way of life, but on paying the bills," Bentz said.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the number of cattle killed by wolves has steadily increased in the last 15 years; 90 deaths were reported last year. And those attacks impact future cattle generations.

"When we checked on various studies, we found the cost across the United States is about $130 million a year to cattle ranchers," Bentz said. "Much of that cost is in diminished birth rates."

In addition to delisting the wolf, Bentz supports new federal payments to ranchers who suffer livestock losses. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order pushing the Interior Department to move ahead with delisting.

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