The first public hearing on the delisting of the wolves in the Northern Rockies was held Feb . 27 in Cheyenne, and it was dominated by people who oppose delisting. This was the only Wyoming hearing planned, but a second hearing at Cody was recently announced under pressure from Wyoming’s lone US Representative Barbara Cubin, well known for anti-conservation views and ties to the oil industry. The date, place and time of the Cody hearing are so far being kept secret, leading to speculation that it will be a stacked hearing, with the details kept secret for as long a possible to make sure only anti-wolf voice is heard.
Story on the Cheyenne hearing. Billings Gazette. AP
Here is the story in the Casper Star Tribune. Wolf supporters show up in force. By Kathleen Miller.
Addition, March 1. Although I can’t find a media story, wolf supporters also had the large majority last night at the delisting hearing in Salt Lake City, Utah
Important note. Comments on delisting have just been extended to May 9.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
The usual suspects are already crying out loud that Cody is too far from where the action is. Copied this from the comments in Billings Gazette: ….They tried to schedule all of the meetings just as far from where the wolves are as possible. In our case, down in the southeast corner.
They scheduled Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah hearings in the state capitals.
Then there are hearings in Spokane, WA, which is in a sense the capital of eastern Washington state and Pendleton, where dispersing wolves into that state are most likely to show up, in fact several already have in the past.
Cody is but one town in wolf country. If Cody, then why not Jackson, WY or Bozeman, Montana?
None would fit. There is no rationale behind it. Just see this one (also from the Gazette and it sys all)…I’m sure that FWS tried to figure some way to have the meeting in Denver or Greely to make it easy for the enviros to get there. Cheyenne was a compromise in their view, I guess. It was as far as they could get from the wolves and stay in Wyoming. By having it during lambing, calving, and midwinter, they could hope to eliminate having those most affected crash the meeting.
YES !!
I would hope everyone has a chance to be heard. I would also hope common sense and science guide any future decisions. I’m optimistic about the first…not so much for the latter.