Wyoming legislature may seek federal reimbursement for dollar value of elk killed by wolves.

Jan. 29, 2002

The following is a draft of a resolution in the Wyoming state senate. It would have no force of law, but indicates that like Idaho, the attitude of Wyoming government is not conducive for them to gain management of wolves. Should the federal government pay Wyoming such a fee, perhaps it should charge Wyoming in return for federal grass the elk eat and for the tourist dollars wolf watchers bring to Wyoming.

Update. Louise Brannon emailed and suggested: 'It occurs to me that Wyoming state gov't is missing a huge revenue bet here -- A lot more elk are killed on Wyoming's highways than by wolves. So they obviously need a tax on the state's drivers (and a fee for out-of-state drivers, to be collected at check stations at the borders) to reimburse the state for elk killed by cars..."

Good point, but then I thought Wyoming Department of Transportation builds lots of high speed highways right though key wildlife areas, so a special court should be set up to help motorists sue WDOT for damages in the several thousand collisions with wildlife each year.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0004

Wolf Reintroduction-effect on elk populations.

Sponsored by: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources

Interim Committee

A Bill For

A joint resolution requesting Congress to direct all federal authorities

responsible for wolf reintroduction in the state of Wyoming to manage wolves

so that the elk population and elk feed grounds are preserved and to

reimburse the state for the loss of elk to wolves.

Whereas, the federal government is responsible for the reintroduction of

wolves in the state of Wyoming;

Whereas, elk are important to the recreational and economic interests of the

people of the state of Wyoming;

Whereas, the use of elk feed grounds provides positive benefits for the

people of the state of Wyoming by maintaining elk population objectives at

different locations in the state;

Whereas, wolves kill and displace elk, thereby posing a threat to the

maintenance of elk population objectives in the state and the use of elk

feed grounds to achieve those objectives;

Whereas, wolves kill approximately three hundred thirty (330) elk annually

in Wyoming, costing the owner of those elk, the state of Wyoming, an

estimated one million three hundred twenty thousand dollars ($1,320,000.00);

Whereas, the state of Wyoming does not have jurisdiction to regulate wolves

while they remain on the federal list of threatened species.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By The Members of the Legislature of the

State of Wyoming:

Section 1.    That the Wyoming state legislature recognizes the importance

of elk to the people of the state and the use of elk feed grounds to

maintain elk population objectives at various locations in the state of

Wyoming.

Section 2.    That the federal authorities responsible for the management of

wolves in the state of Wyoming must manage wolves in a manner consistent

with maintaining elk population objectives and the use of elk feedgrounds,

as determined by state wildlife officials.

Section 3.    That the federal government should annually reimburse the

state of Wyoming for the loss to the state caused by the killing of elk by

wolves.

Section 4.    That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this

resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the

Senate and the Speaker of the house of Representatives of the United States

Congress, to the United States Secretary of Interior and to the Wyoming

Congressional Delegation.

 

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