Jan. 30–Does Anaconda-Deer Lodge County need a large predator policy? Madison and Jefferson counties sure seem to think so.
A heated discussion concerning large predators like wolves, grizzly bears and mountains lions took up the better part of the nearly two-hour Anaconda commission meeting Tuesday.
Avon rancher Brian Quigley, Madison County Commissioner Dan Happel, Jefferson County Commissioner Leonard Wortman and State Sen. Gene Vuckovich, D-Anaconda, urged commissioners to adopt a large predator policy.
“This is giving county government a seat at the table,” Quigley said. “It’s not being told by the state or federal government how to run the county. These resolutions have been adopted in Madison, Powell, Ravalli and Granite counties. This is a template. You can do what you want with it. It’s very important not just to people in livestock, but people who recreate.”
The predator policy Quigley provided for the commissioners is based on Montana Code Annotated, which states that Fish, Wildlife and Parks must include a county government in making decisions about the large predators and game species in the county. Quigley and others contended that the threat large predators pose to livestock costs Montana ranchers millions annually.
“We’re not talking about eradicating wolves or grizzly bears, but they don’t have a right to steal from the county tax base,” Quigley said. “When someone has a problem with a black bear, if Fish, Wildlife and Parks traps the bear and is bringing it into Deer Lodge County, they have to notify (the commissioners) they’re bringing a problem bear into this county.”
County attorney Ben Krakowka said he agrees with the other counties in passing the policy.
“We’re roping in FWP, to say, ‘Look, we want to be involved, at least tell us what you’re doing,'” he said. “I like the idea of saying we want to participate in these decisions. This resolution is a way to be a good neighbor. All the counties around us have passed this resolution. If we don’t adopt the resolution and FWP realizes we’re the only county that hasn’t, where do you think every problem mountain lion, bear and wolf is going to get dropped off?”
The proposed policy that surrounding counties have adopted doesn’t stop with requiring notification from Fish, Wildlife and Parks prior to game decisions. It also states that Deer Lodge County will “support and promote the delisting of the grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem from the Endangered Species Act.” It lists a litany of statistics related to wolf population control.
Carl Nyman, the county Superfund coordinator and liaison to the Environmental Protection Agency, said that the county commissioners need to take a step back and examine the proposed policy with constituent input before approving anything.
“This does nothing more than what’s already in state law,” Nyman said of the proposed policy. “This does a great deal of editorializing. If we do this, I think it’s important it be in our own words. To modify it does not mean we do not support livestock or wildlife. As a community we want to be involved in these discussions about predators, large game species and livestock. It’s important we find a way to participate, but in on our terms and in our words.”
Nyman gave the commissioners a copy of the policy he had edited down to what he felt more accurately represents the views of Deer Lodge. He removed the wolf statistics and the support of delisting the grizzly bear.
“I would propose it be a large predator policy, large game species policy, and an agricultural livestock policy,” he said. “The three of them are so interconnected. I feel it’s very heavily weighted to one side. A lot of the language has to do with the wolf. Between fedederal and state agencies, there’s a tremendous amount of protection out there for livestock.”
Quigley took the podium again after Nyman spoke.
“Three years ago I had one grizzly and three wolves attack my herd,” he said. “Come spend a month, a year on these places and experience it first hand. I cannot shoot a grizzly if he’s attacking one of my cows. This is just a tool for you to use at local level for the constituents you represent. It’s like having vague directions versus very explicit directions.”
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Chief Executive Connie Ternes-Daniels said that she agrees the county needs a predator and large game species policy, but that county farmers and ranchers need to weigh in.
“I greatly appreciate this policy, but I don’t know that it’s our policy,” she said. “It’s a bit much to take this on without a real understanding of how it’s impacting this county and its residents. It’s imperative we pull ranchers from the Big Hole and East Valley to join in good dialogue and move forward with a policy that fits us.”
County residents are encouraged to contact the county commissioners about a large predator and game species policy. Contact the chief executive’s office at 406-563-4000.