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Public commenters urge stronger wolf protections and clearer rules for both ranchers and the department
Summary
Two public commenters told WAG the group lacks a strong pro-wolf voice and urged clearer, enforceable protocol rules. Ferry County Commissioner Theresa Jenkins also criticized WDFW for declining outside offers to help collar wolves and cited the agency's two-year operating budget figure.
Two public speakers used the WAG meeting public comment period to press sharply different concerns about wolf management in Washington.
Dr. Wayne Johnson, introduced himself and framed the broader conservation concern: "Wolves are under siege all over the country," he said, urging that the group include a strong advocacy voice for protecting wolves and asking why the advisory body lacked representation for that perspective (Dr. Wayne Johnson, public commenter, SEG 3218'3224). "Where are the committee members who speak for the wolves?" he asked.
Ferry County Commissioner Theresa Jenkins criticized perceived asymmetries between obligations placed on ranchers and those placed on the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Jenkins noted WDFW'related funding and offered local assistance: "You guys have a two-year operating budget of $791,000,000," she said, and added that local sheriff and cattlemen's groups have offered to purchase collars and provide technical support, offers she said the department has not accepted (Theresa Jenkins, Ferry County Commissioner, SEG 3288'3296).
The comments underscored public frustration from differing constituencies: one urging stronger institutional protection and representation for wolves, the other urging enforceable expectations and clearer parity between department practice and producer requirements.
WAG response and next steps: facilitators opened the record for additional public commenters and then returned to work-plan items; the group did not take formal action in response to the two comments during the meeting.
