Wyoming's new governor Jim Geringer has asked his state senate to eliminate theit proposed $1,000 bounty for wolves killed outside of Yellowstone National Park. In a letter to the state senate he asked that the only part of the bill he wanted was that which asked him to negotiate with the federal government over its efforts to restore wolves to Yellowstone. "It is time to move beyond symbolism of the bounty and to press for actual resolution in the state's role in recovery management," the governor wrote.The bill, HB214 is presently before the Wyoming state senate.
In other wolf action, the Idaho legislature defeated a bill last week that would have given Idaho Fish and Game Department a role in wolf management in central Idaho. The Fish and Wildlife Service had hoped for this joint management. In response to the defeat of the legislation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to sign a contract with the Nez Perce tribe of central Idaho giving them the joint authority to manage Idaho wolves.
) 1995 Ralph Maughan
Not to be reprinted, archived, redistributed, etc., without permission.