[ODFW-News] Wolf advisory committee to meet May 12-13 in Medford

[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, April 27, 2004

Wolf Advisory Committee to meet May 12-13 in Medford


SALEM - The sixth meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee formed by the
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be held Wednesday, May 12, and
Thursday, May 13, at the National Guard Armory in Medford

The agenda of the meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee includes a
review and discussion on draft chapters on wolf-ungulate conflicts and
wolf conflicts with other wildlife species, presentations on public
outreach and economic analysis related to wolf management, and
discussions to plan the June meeting. 

The official meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 12.
Wednesday's discussions are expected to conclude at 5:30 p.m. The
meeting will re-start at 8 a.m., Thursday, May 13, and will conclude at
12:30 p.m. The armory is located at 1701 S. Pacific Highway in Medford.
Before the meeting begins on Wednesday, some members of the wolf
advisory committee will be visiting the federal wildlife forensics
center in Ashland. 

Members of the public may watch the proceedings of the Wolf Advisory
Committee. Fifteen minutes will available at the end of the meeting 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