Editorial: Wolf rider implements needed state plans

Federal wildlife authorities were on the right track two years ago when they proposed removing gray wolves in Montana and Idaho from the endangered species list and turning over wolf management to the states that had developed management plans to meet federal standards for species survival. The effect of a one-paragraph rider in the federal budget bill passed last week will put that 2009 plan from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into action. The effect of the wolf rider is implementation of a practical solution to balance species protection with hunter-rancher interests. However, the means by which it was achieved may set an undesirable precedent. Opponents of the rider point out that this is the first time in the 30-year history of the Endangered Species Act that Congress has intervened to remove the law’s protection to allow killing of wildlife. Rider proponents argue that the gray wolf case is unique and justified congressional intervention. Both of Montana’s U.S. senators supported the wolf rider. Max Baucus gives his opinion elsewhere on this page. Jon Tester collaborated with Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, to add the wolf rule to the budget bill. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., voted against the budget bill, but previously criticized relisting of wolves. “We fixed this problem,” Tester said. As Gov. Brian Schweitzer said last week: “Montana must have the ability to manage wildlife, to do our job, to seek a balance among predator and prey.” Montana now must prove it will strike that balance: Preserving a viable population of gray wolves while protecting livestock and maintaining game herds...more