Game and Fish posts all public comments on wolf plan.

Monday, Oct. 29, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department posted all public comments regarding its draft gray wolf management plan. Those comments can be found on the Game and Fish web site at gf.state.wy.us.
The public comment period on the wolf plan expired Oct. 10. The department received 352 individual comments by mail, fax or through the department’s new online public commenting system.
“Of course, there is tremendous public interest in this issue, and we have already received requests for copies of the comments,” said Game and Fish Director Terry Cleveland. “Throughout this process we have strived to be transparent and allow ample opportunity for public involvement. We hope that by posting all of the individual comments on our Web site, people will have the opportunity to understand the tremendous variety of opinions that exist concerning wolf management in Wyoming.”
Individuals who chose to submit comments to the Game and Fish were also given the opportunity to answer two questions related to Wyoming’s draft wolf management plan. The questions dealt with overall support of the plan as written and opinions about the minimum number of wolf breeding pairs included in the plan.
A summary of these responses will also be available on the Game and Fish Web site.
“It’s important for people to understand that responses to these two questions do not constitute any kind of scientific survey,” said Larry Kruckenberg, assistant to the director with the Game and Fish. “These questions were intended to provide the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission with a thumbnail summary of the opinions of those who chose to comment on this issue. In no way could the results from these questions be extrapolated to any larger segment of the population or be interpreted as opinions of the public at large.”
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will review the public comments and will then take final action on the draft wolf plan.
The latest draft of Wyoming’s wolf plan includes several changes submitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to Cleveland, if the the latest draft of Wyoming’s wolf plan is approved by the Fish and Wildlife, it will help lead to removal of wolves from the Endangered Species List in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Once delisted, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will assume management of wolves in that portion of the state where wolves will be classified as trophy game animals.  In the remaining portions of the state, gray wolves will be classified as predatory animals.
Wyoming’s original wolf plan was rejected by the USFWS in 2004.
According to the Game and Fish, the new draft plan is consistent with the requirements of House Bill 213, passed by the 2007 Wyoming Legislature. The department believes the plan is also consistent with USFWS requirements for acceptance of the plan.