Wolves in the San Luis Valley? Reg'l Forester Says No

There has been some recent speculation that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to reintroduce wolves in the San Luis Valley to help manage elk and other species. It is important to set the record straight: the Forest Service in fact has no plans and no intent to reintroduce wolves in the valley. The confusion about the Forest Service's intent arose from a draft plan to manage overabundant elk populations affecting vital wildlife habitat on the San Luis Valley's National Wildlife Refuges. The draft plan references a suggestion by some members of the public that the Forest Service consider wolves as a potential management tool. By law, the Forest Service is required to analyze the comments and suggestions we receive; we do not, however, believe that wolf reintroduction is the appropriate management strategy for this area. We have instead put forward three other options including public hunting, which we believe will help ensure that the wildlife refuges in the San Luis Valley continue to provide high quality habitat for elk and other species — as well as recreational and economic benefits for local communities...more

Forest Service Regional Director Guertin saying the Forest Service has "no plans and no intent" to introduce wolves is a pretty strong statement.  However, no one should take comfort from this as it is the Fish & Wildlife Service, not the Forest Service, who designates critical habitat for the wolf. 

Guertin goes on to say:

We encourage members of the public and our partners to review and comment on this important draft plan as we work to finalize it over the next two years.

I find it interesting that the public is still commenting on a draft plan that won't be finalized for two years and yet Guertin already knows the final decision.  This tells us two things.  First, it's a good example of how much credence the FS gives to public comments.  And second, Guertin has just set himself up for a nice little lawsuit from the wolf advocates.