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Governor's decision to order wolf kills draws mixed reactions

Posted: Feb 17, 2011 5:48 PM by Judy Slate
Updated: Feb 17, 2011 6:27 PM


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Reaction is divided about Gov. Brian Schweitzer's announcement defying the Endangered Species Act and ordering Fish, Wildlife and Parks to kill entire wolf packs that are hunting elk and to stop investigating wolf killings.

KBZK reporter Judy Slate spoke with two people today representing two very different groups with completely opposite reactions to the governor's actions.

"It's disappointing to see politics trump silence in the law in this debate," said Jenny Harbine, an attorney for Earth Justice.

Earth Justice filed a lawsuit, and won, on behalf of environmental and animal rights groups to put wolves back on the Endangered Species List.

"Our goal is to ensure that when wolves are delisted it's done right. We have faith that the endangered species act works," Harbine said.

That's why she's frustrated with the governor who she says is jeopardizing Montana's ability to manage wolves.

"It's incredibly disappointing to see the governor essentially sanction the poaching of wolves in northwest Montana," Harbine said.

But many people, including outfitter Ron Arnaud, support the governor.

"It was a courageous statement that he made, very bold and very well needed," Arnaud said.

He and other outfitters say they've seen the effect of wolves.

"We see a lot less elk," Arnaud said. "Every wolf out there is going to consume somewhere around 8 to20 elk a year."

Arnaud says he and other sportsmen are frustrated with the feds. They want state control of wolves now.

"We want the wolf, we expect the wolf to be part of our community, we can control it, we can manage it, just like we do other animals," he said.

Earth Justice would not divulge its next move, but it wants to remind people that under federal law, wolves are still protected.

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