By Ann McCreary
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking candidates to serve for the next two years on the committee that advises the department on wolf recovery and management.
WDFW Director Phil Anderson will appoint up to 12 Washington state residents to the Wolf Advisory Group, which makes recommendations to guide the department’s implementation of the state’s 2011 wolf management plan.
WDFW formed the advisory group in 2013 with nine members, who represent the interests of ranchers, wolf advocates and hunters. The current members’ terms expire Dec. 31, and Anderson said they are encouraged to re-apply if they wish to continue. The new appointees’ terms will run through December 2016.
“Wolf recovery and management raises challenging issues and concerns, and the group’s advice and counsel has been — and will continue to be — extremely helpful,” Anderson said.
WDFW may expand the group to as many as 12 members to ensure it reflects a wide range of perspectives on how the state can achieve the goals of the wolf plan. Anderson said the department will accept applications from interested citizens and nominations from organizations that wish to be represented.
Anderson said members should be available for meetings beginning as early as January 2015. The group holds at least four one-day meetings per year, and special meetings are sometimes conducted to address emerging issues. Upon request, advisory group members will be reimbursed by WDFW for travel expenses to attend meetings.
“We hear from people and organizations around the country that have strong views on wolf management, but we established this advisory group to represent the perspectives of Washingtonians,” said Anderson. “People and groups based in this state are in the best position to understand and work toward what is best for wolves and wolf management in Washington.”
Applications must be submitted in writing and address the following items: the applicant or nominee’s name, address, telephone number, and email address; the candidate’s relevant experience, organizational affiliations, and reasons why he or she would be an effective advisory group member; his or her familiarity with Washington’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and current wolf recovery status; and his or her experience in collaborating with people who have different values.
People or groups making nominations must also submit their own names and contact information.
Nominations must be postmarked by 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 and addressed to Dave Ware, Game Division Manager at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091; or by email to david.ware@dfw.wa.gov.
More information about the Wolf Advisory Group is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/advisory/wag. The department’s wolf conservation and management website is at wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf.
