Western Farmer-Stockman Logo

Uneasy conditions remain between stockmen, critics.

T.J. Burnham 1, Editor, Western Farmer-Stockman

June 27, 2013

2 Min Read

A compromise between Oregon ranchers and conservation groups like Oregon Wild over the state's depredating wolf pack may be uneasy, but for the time being some resolution appears to be reached.

Hopefully, a 2011 lawsuit brought by environmentalists fighting the right of ranchers to kill attacking wolves is now history.

The conservationist suit accusing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife decision to allow ranchers some leeway in wolf control – including use of lethal protection of their stock – now appears to be resolved.

Part of the resolution comes in the form of a promise by the ODFW to rethink standards under which a wolf may be taken.

The Oregon Cattlemen's Association, involved in the settlement dispute since 2012, issued a statement that it is "content with the settlement that was reached."

While the OCA, ODFW, the Oregon Department of Justice, Gov., John Kitzhaber and the petitioners "worked through concerns towards finalizing a settlement agreement," says OCA Executive Director Kay Teisl, "the cattle ranchers in Wallowa County have suffered several more depredations, injuries of livestock and missing livestock."

OCS Wolf Committee Chairman Rod Childers labels the stricken ranchers as the "unsung heroes of this entire process."

He says the ranchers  "have patiently waited for a resolution to this ongoing wolf depredation problem, and have applied non-lethal measures that were applicable to their operations as directed by ODFW.

"As a rancher, I am relieved to see we now have all the tools in the box necessary for effective implementation of Oregon's Wolf Conservation Plan."

The litigation resolution, which halted the ongoing implementation of the Oregon Wolf Plan adopted  in 2005, "comes at a critical time with seasons changing and depredations again increasing," says Teisl.

OCA is particularly pleased, she adds, that the agreement includes a provision to authorize  permit-less take of wolves that are chasing livestock."

About the Author(s)

T.J. Burnham 1

Editor, Western Farmer-Stockman

T.J. Burnham has covered western agriculture for 42 years. A University of Michigan journalism program grad, he worked for The Sacramento Bee for 15 years before moving into specialty farm magazine writing. He has been on the Farm Progress staff for 10 years.

"A lot of my uncles back in Michigan were farmers, but my interest was primarily to become a hot shot city desk reporter. Once I was given a job at the Bee on the metro desk, they told me that they’d hired too many new reporters, and half of us had to go. However, they said there was an opening in the newspaper’s ag division, and if I worked there until the probationary period was over, I could be reassigned to general reporting. I took the job, but by the time the probation period was ended, I found I enjoyed covering ag so much that I never asked to go back to the city side.”

T.J. joined Farm Progress as a California Farmer reporter, then became editor of the Western Farmer-Stockman. He has earned a reputation in the West as a strong source of direct seed information, and has affiliated Western Farmer-Stockman as the official magazine of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association.

His wife, Sally, writes for the magazine and helps with bookwork concerning freelance writers from the eight western state arena which the magazine serves.

T.J. likes hiking and fishing, and dabbles in woodworking projects. He also enjoys gardening and photography.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like