The leaders in Utah's contentious wolf management debate have apparently taken a step toward compromise by endorsing the state's first proposed policy regulating the animal.

Ranchers, hunters and environmentalists gathered Tuesday as the state Wildlife Board adopted the policy, which now begins the likely long process of gaining legislative approval.

Although not everyone walked away happy with every piece of the plan, the wolf management policy is a good compromise, said Bill Christensen, regional director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

"I don't think anybody is totally happy with this stuff, but maybe that's a sign that it's a good plan," Christensen said.

Under the plan, ranchers would be allowed to kill wolves threatening their livestock, and ranchers would be compensated for livestock killed by wolves, said Steve Phillips, spokesman for the state Division of Wildlife Resources.

The board will also ask the Legislature to establish a mitigation fund for wolf-caused wildlife damage, Phillips said.

"We've spent millions of dollars to improve habitats for those critters and we think that when wolves come they need to be viewed and managed in such a way to not have an impact on wildlife as well as livestock," Christensen said.

A wolf policy was requested by the Legislature so Utah will have regulations in place when wolves are removed from the federal endangered species list.

"This plan is an important step in the state of Utah being allowed to manage wolves in a way that benefits the state the most," said Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the state Division of Wildlife Resources.

"An important component in getting wolves off the federal list is for states to have regulations that ensure wolves will receive adequate protection if they're taken off the federal list," Bunnell added.

Officials have been working on a plan for about 18 months. Debate has pitted farmers and ranchers who fear harm to livestock against wildlife advocates who diligently — some argue religiously — work to protect wolves.

Wildlife officials, caught in the middle, say there is rarely any ground for calm, rational thinking when it comes to wolves.

"Yes, it has been a contentious few years, but we've finally made a compromise," Phillips said.

"Not everyone is happy with the plan, and not everyone is unhappy with the plan, so they must have done a good job. It represents a reasonable com- promise."

---

E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com