Gray wolves to remain on endangered species list in Washington

WASHINGTON - Gray wolves will remain on the endangered species list in Washington state.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife commissioners voted 5-4 against downlisting the status of the species Friday morning.

Commissioners were considering downlisting the species to either 'threatened' or 'sensitive.' Motions for both reclassifications were voted down 5-4.

Gray wolves have been on the endangered list since 1980. Over the previous 14 years, the state has strictly followed a wolf recovery program that has assisted in boosting the wolf population.

Some commissioners felt there was enough promising growth to justify downlisting the status of gray wolves, arguing doing so would not create a serious risk of extinction.

"We have done incredibly well," said Commissioner Jim Anderson. "I think everyone would agree that the wolf numbers have showed way more robust numbers than we possibly expected."

Those in opposition, however, say there isn't enough biological data to support that the species is strong enough to survive without these protections.

"As of yet we are not in compliance with the recovery plan and are premature in downgrading," argued Commissioner Lorna Smith.

Smith, along with other dissenting commissioners, said they should continue following the guided recovery plan implemented in Washington 14 years ago, saying the state has not met the recovery standard necessary to justify downlisting.

Interestingly, the WDFW said there was enough biological information to confidently reclassify wolves.

Farmers and ranchers have also been huge advocates of kicking wolves from the endangered species list, which have wreaked havoc on livestock throughout the state.

"The wolves are killing our animals," said Kathy McKay, owner of 'K Diamond K Guest Ranch.' "I have cried and cried and we've had so much loss."

Wolves have feasted on McKay's livestock since they've been reintegrated in Washington. Wildlife professionals have visited her property, installing deterrents like flashing lights and bright flags.

They haven't stopped the bleeding.

The WDFW says the will reimburse livestock owners if they're killed by wolves, along with other services.

"We offer compensation for lost livestock and we offer assistance with conflict mitigation, non-lethal mitigation," said Julia Smith, an endangered species recovery manager with the WDFW.

McKay says she's still waiting to receive it.

"We have not seen a dime, not a dime, no compensation whatsoever," said McKay. "They said no compensation for donkeys, pigs, alpaca, my horses."

The Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is expected revisit this topic during their next status review hearing, which is in five years.

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