Governor optimistic about wolf negotiation
by Governor Freudenthal’s office
May 25, 2007
(Cheyenne) – On Thursday, May 24, Gov. Dave Freudenthal transmitted a draft wolf management plan to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that is based on recent discussions with the agency.
Freudenthal commended the Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to weave both Wyoming’s 2003 wolf management plan and the state’s 2007state legislation into a federal rule leading to the delisting of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List.
“I am encouraged that we have solved your demand that we submit a wolf management plan,” Freudenthal said. “I am pleased to think that, at long last, Wyoming will be included in the proposed gray wolf de-listing rule that is scheduled to be published in its final form in
late 2007 or in January, 2008.
By integrating the provisions of the Wyoming state statute that would govern management of the gray wolf into a new wolf management plan and submitting it to the Governor through a Wyoming state senator, regional director Mitch King did the state a great service, Freudenthal said.
“Your offered revisions seem to track the changes made by the Legislature in House Bill 213, in most places verbatim,” Freudenthal said. “As a result, it seems wholly appropriate for me to endorse these modifications as being consistent with my May 18, 2007 letter’s characterization of Wyoming law - should House Bill 213 become operative. It is therefore appropriate to include this draft plan in your proposed rule to delist gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains.”
Freudenthal said he’s optimistic that the new plan will advance the progress of delisting Wyoming’s wolves.
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