UPDATE: Jan 25, 2003;
Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJ0007) which is a statement of resolve and intent by the legislature. We had a committee hearing on the Resolution on Jan 23, 2003. It was very well attended with a lot of testimony in support of passage. Much of the testimony was truly heart-wrenching. In talking to the Senators following the committee meeting they said they hadn't realized the scope of the problem and the passion of those who are being damaged by the wolf. Former legislator Bud Betts lives in the Dunoir Valley northwest of Dubois, Wyoming. He is a rancher and outfitter, taking trail rides and pack trips into the wilderness area. There is a large pack of over 20 wolves near him. He testified that the Dunoir Valley historically supports 80 moose in the winter. There is only one cow moose this year, and she will be gone by the end of the winter. He also reported that his family dog, who was a pup when one of his kids was born 12 years ago, was attacked by a wolf in broad daylight in their front yard while they were in the house. They ran the wolf off, the dog lived for a month, then died.
Other outfitters testified that the wolf is literally putting them out of business. The moose herds are taking a real hit. The moose counts north of Jackson are year 2000 = 830, year 2001 = 589, year 2002 = 486. Those are the official Game and Fish counts. This year they will take the count the first week of February. It is a major decline. Also, the elk are getting hammered. One outfitter reported that of over 300 documented elk sightings this fall they saw a total of 2 calf elk.
Only two spoke against the resolution. The pro-wolf people said it was bringing a lot of tourism to the state. One outfitter countered by saying that they take trailrides into the back-country in prime wolf country and of thousands of inquiries over the past 3 years they haven't had one single person ask for a trip to see a wolf. In contrast, many people have expressed concerns of going into an area where there are a lot of grizzlies and wolves.
The bill died on a tie vote. Senator Keith Goodenough voted against, Senator John Hanes voted against, Senator Tex Boggs voted for, Senator Delaine Roberts voted for, Senator Bruce Burns abstained from voting. Those who voted against weren't necessarily against the intent of the Resolution but didn't like its demanding tone and said that "a Resolution is just a feel-good thing and has no legal clout. It is just a waste of time." After the meeting I pointed out to one of them that a Joint Resolution of the House and Senate is our 1st Amendment Right to Petition Government for Redress of Grievances as found in the Constitution. They hadn't thought if it in that light.
One House member may resurrect this bill on that side. It is also probable that a petition will be drawn up and signed by House and Senate members along the same lines.
Stay tuned.
2003 STATE OF WYOMING O3LSO-0444
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0007
Wyoming’ s wildlife-2.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Roberts and Representative(s)
Baker, Cooper, Iekel, Luthi, McMurtrey,
Miller, Olsen and Petersen
A Bill
for
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION demanding Congress terminate the
2 nonessential and experimental wolf introduction program, to
3 remove this wildlife population from Wyoming, and to
4 reimburse Wyoming citizens and the Wyoming Game and Fish
5 Department for losses incurred under this program.
6
7 WHEREAS, separation of powers is fundamental to the United
8 States Constitution and the power of the federal government
9 is limited; and
10
11 WHEREAS, the State of Wyoming has certain rights guaranteed
12 to the states by the Constitution of the United States; and
13
14 WHEREAS, under the United States Constitution, the tenth
15 amendment states “The powers not delegated to the United
1 SJ0007
2003 STATE OF WYOMING O3LSO-0444
1 States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
2 States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
3 people”; and those delegated powers do not include
4 wildlife; and
5
6 WHEREAS, Wyoming law, in particular W.S. 23—1—103, declares
7 in part, “all wildlife in Wyoming is the property of the
8 state”; and
9
10 WHEREAS, the State of Wyoming has never voluntarily
11 surrendered to the federal government any jurisdiction,
12 control or ownership of the wildlife within its boundaries;
13 and
14
15 WHEREAS, the United States Congress may not usurp
16 jurisdiction, control or ownership of any wildlife within
17 the State of Wyoming without the consent and approval of
18 the Wyoming Legislature; and
19
20 WHEREAS, the introduction of wolves within the boundaries
21 of Wyoming, under the federal Endangered Species Act of
22 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq., as amended, was designated a
23 “nonessential experimental” project and is detrimental to
24 Wyoming wildlife, livestock and economy; and
2 SJ0007
2003 STATE OF WYOMING O3LSO-0444
1
2 WHEREAS, the Wyoming State Legislature strongly objected to
3 the introduction of this wildlife species into Wyoming;
4
5 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
6 LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:
7
8 Section 1. That the Wyoming State Legislature
9 declares wolf introduction under the federal Endangered
10 Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., as amended, to
11 be detrimental to Wyoming’s economy, wildlife, livestock
12 and historical use of wildlife resources and the project
13 that introduced wolves is most assuredly not essential.
14
15 Section 2. That the Wyoming State Legislature demands
16 the United States Congress require the United States Fish
17 and Wildlife Service to immediately terminate this
18 nonessential experimental project and assume financial
19 responsibility for any and all damages to Wyoming wildlife,
20 wildlife habitat, livestock and other personal property
21 sustained by Wyoming and its citizens due to this
22 disastrous project.
23
3 SJ0007
2003 STATE OF WYOMING O3LSO-0444
1 Section 3. That the Wyoming
State Legislature demands
2 the United States Congress take necessary action to commence
3 the removal of this nonessential experimental wildlife
4 population from within the boundaries of Wyoming at the
5 expense of the federal government.
6
7 Section 4. That the Wyoming State Legislature demands
8 the United States Congress financially reimburse the
9 Wyoming Game and Fish Department for reductions in wildlife
10 populations owing to depredations caused by this
11 nonessential experimental population of wolves.
12
13 Section 5. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming
14 transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the
15 United States, to the President of the Senate and the
16 Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United
17 States Congress, to the United States Secretary of the
18 Interior and the United States Secretary of Agriculture and
19 to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.
20
21 (END)
4 SJ0007