Ravalli County Predator Policy Slowed by Irrelevant Public Comments

Chairman Matt Kanenwisher gave clear instructions concerning the public comment period for this sixth meeting on the County predator policy. Furthermore Mr.Kanenwisher stated, “The purpose of the policy is to define a position that represents what we believe is the position of the majority of citizens in Ravalli County,” he said. “And protecting the tax base of the county.” The purpose of this meeting was to finalize the Ravalli County Predator Policy. Public comment would be taken on each section after the Commissioners had discussed it. Commissioners went through the draft item by item, addressing minor issues and making suggestions for changes. The public comment was meant to give public thought on the wording and contents of the policy. Unfortunately, some people took the opportunity to continue the debate on the merits of developing a policy in the first place and continue the wolf debate in whole.

Ravalli County will institute a Predator Policy

The delay means the County will require a seventh meeting prior to issuing their Predator Policy, designed to get Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to the table and give weight to County concerns regarding management of wildlife in the Bitterroot National Forest.

The public had six meetings along with open comment periods to voice their position on wolves, predators and the County’s position on developing a predator policy in the first place. It is time the public realizes Ravalli County will issue a Predator Policy. The discussion now is what the policy will contain.

Most of the comment period simply rehashed old arguments. Tony Stark of Stevensville said that wolves might be in danger of becoming extinct in the area again if the hunting season is extended into June, when wolves are denning.

“Wolves have been extinct here before,” she said. “If we are hunting during denning season, then we can in fact render them extinct again.”

Wolves are not going to go extinct because of a hunting season. The one thing this hunting season proved is that fair-chase hunting isn’t even enough of a tool to manage wolves, let alone cause them to go extinct. Many biologists predicted that hunting seasons wouldn’t have a great impact on wolves. Wolves are extremely smart animals and hunting isn’t what exterminated them in the past. It was an all out effort at extermination, utilizing many means that rid this area of wolves.

There were additional concerns about hunting wolves during the denning season. Another resident pointed out that all animals are pregnant when we hunt them. If there is a biological reason to not hunt wolves when they are carrying young, that should be considered. Commissioner Foss stated her concern for mountain lions stating, “not let mountain lions get thrown under the bus”. I know from previous conversations with Commissioner Foss, she is concerned about killing female mountain lions. Hunters brought to her attention that it would only take one season of over hunting female lions to severely harm the population. I don’t know that this is a concern with wolves, as wolves procreate much more effectively than do lions. I have my doubts that hunting wolves during denning will adversely impact the population to a significant degree. I do know that fair chase hunting will not stop the proliferation of wolves and destruction of our ungulate herds.