Kretz: Wolf Management Must Be A Priority in Washington

Managing the growing gray wolf population is not a top of mind topic this legislative session in Olympia.  Unless you talk to Northeast Washington Representative Joel Kretz.  The Republican said 17 of Washington’s 20 wolf packs call his district home, and with more and more depredations and wolf and human interactions being reported, he says something must be done.  He noted wolf is a four-lettered word that evokes passions and strong emotions.

“And I t’s been frustrating because you’ve got four counties with 90% of the wolves in the state and the rest of the state really have very few or none, and it’s doesn’t really make anyone want to talk about it except me.  So, they’re tried of me coming back but I got to keep coming.”

Kretz said the reception is a bit better this year, but there’s a long way to go.  He added most ranchers think reintroducing the wolves was a mistake, but since they are here, they are willing to try to coexist, assuming their livelihood is not sacrificed.

“But I think most of them are willing to work on it, I think the general feeling is we’re willing to coexist with the wolves but we’ve got to have necessary tools to both protect and to avoid problems and then when those things don’t work there has to be a lethal end to this thing.”

In response, Kretz has introduced legislation to "level the playingfield" for ranchers across Washington.  House Bill 2771, would require the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife to immediately initiate and expedite the translocation of wolves in regions where multiple packs range to areas with fewer wolves.  That legislation cleared the state House Tuesday.

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