Inslee Directs State To Rework Wolf Rulemaking Process

On Friday, Governor Jay Inslee sent a letter to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to initiate a new rulemaking process when it comes to wolf management. Last week’s letter comes following an appeal from the Center for Biological Diversity challenging WDFW’s current wolf management rules. CBD claims the state’s current rules fail to prioritize non-lethal management, endangering wolves.

Inslee’s letter says, in part:

"While I cannot legally prescribe the specific policies that must be included in this new rule, I ask that DFW include clear and enforceable measures in the proposed rule to achieve the following management outcomes:

• Standardized definition and requirements for the use of range riders;
• Requirements for use of non-lethal deterrents most appropriate for specified situations (wolf population and range, size and location of livestock operation, terrain and habitat, history of depredation);
• Action plans in areas of chronic depredation to end the need for annual lethal removal; and,
• Compliance measures where livestock operators do not implement the required non-lethal measures.

Inslee added he would like to see new rules and policies in place prior to the 2021 grazing season.

Click Here to read the entire letter from Governor Inslee.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com