[ODFW-News] Public Invited to Wolf Town Hall Meetings

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Ann Snyder 503-872-5264, Ext. 5363=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: 503-872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Thursday, October 31, 2002

Public Invited to Wolf Town Hall Meetings

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host 14 town =
hall meetings throughout the state in November and December to hear the =
thoughts, concerns and comments of Oregonians about wolves entering the =
state.=20

The comments recorded at the meetings will be provided to the Oregon Fish =
and Wildlife Commission for consideration. The Commission is the rule-makin=
g body for ODFW. The seven-member Commission has heard from experts in the =
past several months about the potential for wolves to become established =
in Oregon. The Commission now wants to hear from local residents to ensure =
that all opinions have been gathered.=20

Currently, no wolves are confirmed to live in Oregon. However, three =
wolves were found in Oregon in 1999 and 2000. One radio-collared wolf was =
returned to Idaho, one was hit by a vehicle and died in May 2000, and one =
was shot in October 2000. Biologists expect all three were dispersing from =
established packs in Idaho. Biologists also have told the Commission that =
more wolves are likely to arrive in Oregon. Oregon has no plans to =
actively reintroduce wolves into the state.

Wolves that enter the state from Idaho's packs are protected under both =
the state and federal endangered species acts. The Oregon Legislature is =
the only entity with authority to change the Oregon Endangered Species =
Act. The Commission, however, has the authority to add or remove species =
from the state list of threatened and endangered species.

Each Wolf Town Hall Meeting will open with a short introductory presentatio=
n about the history of wolves in Oregon, their current biological and =
legal status, and the issues surrounding their migration into Oregon. =
Meeting participants then will have the opportunity to voice their =
comments and concerns about wolves in Oregon to any of several facilitators=
 who will be available to record all comments. Participants also may =
choose to submit written comments on forms that will be available at each =
meeting. Some educational materials about wolves will be available at the =
meetings.=20

All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The =
town hall meetings are scheduled for the following locations and dates:

-Pendleton: Tuesday, Nov. 12, Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate;
-LaGrande: Wednesday, Nov. 13, Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Hall, Room =
309, One University Blvd.;
-Baker City: Monday, Nov. 18, Sun Ridge Inn, One Sun Ridge Lane;
-John Day: Tuesday, Nov. 19, Malheur National Forest Headquarters, 431 =
Patterson Bridge Road;
-Bend: Wednesday, Nov. 20, National Guard Armory Drill Room, 875 Southwest =
Simpson Ave.;
-The Dalles: Thursday, Nov. 21, Wahtonka High School, 3601 W. 10th St.;
-Medford: Tuesday, Dec. 3, North Medford High School, 1900 N. Keeneway;
-Klamath Falls: Wednesday, Dec. 4, Klamath County Fairgrounds, Exhibit =
Hall #2, 3531 S. 6th St.;
-Burns: Thursday, Dec. 5, Harney County Senior Center, 17 S. Alder;
-Eugene: Monday, Dec. 9, Lane Community College, Forum and Science =
Buildings, 4000 E. 30th Ave.;
-Roseburg: Tuesday, Dec. 10, Umpqua Community College, Whipple Theater =
Building, 1140 College Road;
-Salem: Wednesday, Dec. 11, Claggett Creek Middle School, 1810 Alder St. =
N.E.;
-Portland: Tuesday, Dec. 17, World Forestry Center, Miller Hall, 4033 S.W. =
Canyon Road;
-Coos Bay: Wednesday, Dec. 18, Southwestern Oregon Community College, Eden =
Hall, 2988 Newmark Ave.

More information about wolves will be posted to the ODFW Web site at =
www.dfw.state.or.us by Nov. 1, 2002.=20

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Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528