[ODFW-News] Wolf advisory committee to meet June 30-July 31 in Pendleton

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	
For Immediate Release	Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Wolf Advisory Committee to meet June 30-July 1 in Pendleton 

SALEM - The eighth meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee formed by the
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be held Wednesday, June 30, and
Thursday, July 1, at the National Guard Armory in Pendleton.

The agenda includes a review and discussion on the first full draft of
the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, population objectives and
delisting criteria, economic impacts, and ungulate predation. 

The official meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 30.
Wednesday's discussions are expected to conclude at 5:30 p.m. The
meeting will re-start at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 1, and will conclude at 3
p.m. The Pendleton Armory is located at 1601 Westgate Ave. in Pendleton.
Members of the advisory committee may be meeting informally during
dinner Wednesday evening. An announcement of the dinner location will be
made during the official meeting. 

Members of the public may watch the proceedings of the Wolf Advisory
Committee. Fifteen minutes will available at the end of the meeting
Thursday for oral public comment. Members of the public may submit
written comments. Forms will be provided at the meeting. Written
comments also may be submitted to ODFW.Comments at state.or.us. 

No wolves are confirmed to be in Oregon at this time. However, numerous
unconfirmed sightings have been documented. Biologists expect wolves to
enter Oregon from the expanding population in Idaho and eventually
establish a permanent population in this state. Anyone who thinks they
have seen a wolf should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
Bend at (541) 312-6429. 

The Fish and Wildlife Commission appointed the 14-member committee in
2003 to help study all the issues surrounding wolves in Oregon and to
recommend management actions that will be used once a permanent
population establishes itself. The Commission decided to proactively
develop a wolf management plan so the state is prepared for wolves. This
decision came after hearing from many wolf experts and the results of 15
town hall meetings held in late 2002 and early 2003. 

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policy-making body for
fish and wildlife issues in the state. The Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife carries out the policies of the Commission. 

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002