[ODFW-News] Wolf Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 12-13

[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	Friday, January 2, 2004

Wolf Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 12-13

SALEM - The second meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee formed by the
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be held Monday, Jan. 12, and
Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Agricultural Services Center just outside of
LaGrande in Island City. 

The agenda of the second meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee
includes a review and adoption of committee operation guidelines,
briefing on wolf biology and ecology, briefing on federal interim
strategy for wolves in Oregon, briefing on historical wolf issues in
Oregon, discussion and adoption of Wolf Advisory Committee goal
statement, and a discussion of a meeting schedule for various wolf
topics.

The official meeting will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 9 of the Agricultural
Services Center on Monday, Jan. 12. Monday's discussions are expected
to conclude at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will re-start at 8 a.m., Tuesday,
Jan. 13, and will conclude at 12:30 p.m. The Agricultural Services
Center is located at 10507 N. McAlister Road in Island City.

The 14-member committee was appointed last year by the Fish and
Wildlife Commission 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. 

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. 

The Commission decided earlier this year 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. 

Members of the public may watch the proceedings of the Wolf Advisory
Committee. No oral public comments will be taken at this meeting.
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. 


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