Group struggles to find a consensus on wolf policy

BRIGHAM CITY — Tracy Hatch was excited when he first spotted wolf tracks at his Rich County ranch.

The idea of seeing the endangered species in person was thrilling, despite the possible threat to his livestock.

"I guess I'm pro wildlife as much as any hunter or any environmentalists out there. I wanted to see one," said Hatch, whose ranch is just west of the Wyoming state line in northeast Utah.

But if Hatch saw a wolf attacking one of his cows or calves, under the law about all he could do would be stand and watch. Hatch is hoping a new state plan for wolf management will allow ranchers to take immediate action to protect livestock.

It's one of many sticking points the Wolf Working Group ran into as it drafted the plan. It's also one of many suggested revisions to the draft released in April.

Ranchers want the right to shoot first — on private and public land — and explain it later if livestock is attacked.

Big game hunters and guides don't want the wolves to reduce the population of trophy elk and deer and threaten the economy of a big industry in the state.

And environmentalists want to make sure the wolves remain adequately protected.

It's a contentious issue, but one the state wants to settle before wolves make their way further into Utah than border areas.

"I've worked on a lot of wildlife issues. This is by far the hardest I've ever worked on," said Debbie Goodman, a member of the state Wolf Working Group.

Goodman, a wildlife lobbyist from Bountiful, is also a member of the Northern Region Advisory Council — one of five regional groups that held meetings in the last month to discuss the plan and possible ways to improve it.

The Wolf Working Group is made up of 13 members representing ranchers, hunters, environmentalists and the Ute Indian tribe. Group members, who had polar opposite views on some matters, spent 18 months working up the plan, which was introduced in April.

The five regional councils held meetings where the public could ask questions and express opinions and there was no shortage of either. The revisions will go back before the Wolf Working Group this week, then the state Division of Wildlife Resources board will vote on the plan June 9.