[ODFW-News] Wolf advisory committee to meet July 22-23 in Salem

[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, July 13, 2004

Wolf Advisory Committee to meet July 22-23 in Salem 


SALEM - The ninth meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee formed by the
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be held Thursday, July 22, and
Friday, July 23, at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
headquarters in Salem.

The agenda includes a review and discussion on a draft version of the
entire management plan. The next meeting of the committee, scheduled for
Aug. 19 and 20, is expected to be the committee's last before
discussing the draft plan in front of the Commission Thursday, Sept. 9,
at a special meeting.

The official meeting will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 22.
Thursday's discussions are expected to break at 5:30 and then
reconvene at 7 p.m. The meeting will re-start at 8 a.m., Friday, July
23, and will conclude at 3:00 p.m. The ODFW headquarters is located at
3406 Cherry Ave. N.E. in Salem.

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