NEWS BRIEFS
WOLF NUMBERS DOWN TO 20
The future of Oregon’s gray wolf is on the line. Again.
With the state wolf population decreased to 20, after a recent illegal shooting of a male member of the
Wenaha pack, coinciding with the introduction of an updated five-year wolf management plan, stakeholders of
all viewpoints are concerned.
“Wolves are not like any other animals, as they have such an important pack dynamic,” Rob Klavins,
roadless wildlands advocate for Oregon Wild, said. “Upsetting this structure could create much more
problems than those avoided by killing a wolf.”
On Sept. 30, a federal official discovered the body of the 3-year-old radio-collared wolf in the Umatilla
National Forest. Although not the alpha male, this wolf was one of four adults in the Wenaha pack. The
U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife determined that the wolf was killed by gunshot and announced a
$2,500 reward to information leading to the arrest of those involved.
Oregon Wild, along with other state wildlife conservation groups and concerned northeast Oregon
residents, added another $7,500 to the reward after hearing of the incident.
“Oregon’s budding wolf population can’t sustain this,” Josh Laughlin, campaign manager for reward
contributor Cascadia Wildlands, said. “As a conservation organization, we want to see wolves on the
landscape where they once were and are meant to be.”
This is the third incident of wolf poaching since the species returned to northeast Oregon 10 years
ago, after the government eradicated the entire state population in the 1930s.
While wildlife conservationists encourage any increase in the small population, many ranchers feel
threatened by the wolves’ presence near their cattle ranches. The Oregon Wolf Conservation and
Management Plan update on Oct. 1 upset ranchers as it tightened restrictions on the right to lethally
stop a wolf from harming livestock.
However, most ranchers hope to find a balance between sustaining the wolf and livestock populations.
Bill Hoyt, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, said the OCA denounces the most recent
poaching incident.
“The thing most people don’t realize is that we use the data from the radio collared wolves to track
their influence on our livestock,” OCA President Bill Hoyt said. “We’re trying to coexist with these animals.”
Laughlin echoed Hoyt’s hope for a cooperative future.
“We need to create an atmosphere of acceptance and an open dialogue with all involved,” Laughlin said.
“It’s both an exciting and challenging time.” — Alex Zielinski
slant
• Is there really a progressive majority or “Gang
of Three” on the Board of Lane County
Commissioners? This myth originated in R-G news
coverage and editorials and is perpetuated in
every often stenographic R-G story that talks
about the “progressive majority.” It turns out the
five commissioners reach consensus on just about
every decision. They debate and negotiate
extensively before anything goes to a vote. In
2009 there were 159 issues that went to a vote,
and only two votes were split decisions. So far in
2010, the pattern continues as commissioners have
voted in agreement on every issue but one.
However, the voting record does show a difference
in attendance at board meetings. Commissioners
Faye Stewart and Bill Dwyer missed a lot of board
meetings in 2009 and 2010.
• Everybody knows that football ratings are
meaningless. Even Chip Kelly says, maybe honestly,
that he doesn’t pay any attention to Oregon’s.
After all, we’re only halfway through the season.
And look at some of the teams that have gone into
that six-game winning streak. Portland State?
Gimme a break. Nevertheless, isn’t it fun to be
Number One? All across the country people are
saying, “Oregon?” So enjoy it while it lasts. Some
tough teams are coming up.
• Are you thinking of voting for Art Robinson for
Congress? You might want to reconsider. There
are distinct advantages for Oregon’s economy in
having an effective advocate for Oregon in
Washington, D.C. We’ve all heard stories about
Oregon doctors not accepting new Medicare
patients because the federal payments were too
small. Last year DeFazio insisted on more
equitable Medicare reimbursements for Oregon
doctors. He even defied Obama and threatened to
hold up his vote on health care reform. As Obama
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promised, the increased reimbursements came
through last week, improving access to health care
for 137,000 seniors in our region. What would Art
Robinson do if elected? Work to kill Medicare. Do
you really want Grandma to have to buy health
insurance on the open market today?
DeFazio also wrangled $13.5 million in federal
funds to finish rebuilding a vital 133-mile rail link
between Coquille and Eugene. What would Robinson
do if elected? Keep such project funding in private
hands, essentially delaying repairs for decades, if not
forever. DeFazio understands how government-
funded infrastructure bolsters private enterprise.
• Remember all the hoopla last year about Measures
66 and 67 making Oregon a bad place to do
business? We see those same arguments today as
conservatives complain that our taxes and
regulations are killing our state economy. But a new
study by Forbes magazine shows Oregon rising to
sixth-best state in the country for business and
careers. Last year Oregon was ranked 10th. The
Forbes study looks at business costs, labor pool,
regulatory environment, current economic climate,
growth prospects and quality of life. We’re ranked
high (fourth) on our labor supply. But what about our
high unemployment and poverty rates? Oregon is a
highly desirable place to live, so jobless folks are
hanging around rather than migrating to North
Dakota, where there is abundant work. Companies
looking to relocate or expand appreciate not only our
quality of life but also our educated and trained
workforce. The Forbes study indicates we are
positioned better than most other states for eventual
economic recovery.
• City Manager Jon Ruiz is pushing Envision
Eugene in the R-G and elsewhere as a sensible
alternative to years of expensive and time-
consuming lawsuits over Urban Growth Boundary
expansion decisions. This form of mediation with
broad community input is a noble process, but the
outcome is predictable: some kind of compromise
involving UGB expansion and infill. We generally
favor conciliation and compromise, but our
environment and quality of life are already
compromised by sprawl and destruction of
productive farmland. Look at our low density. We
really have no shortage of buildable residential,
commercial and industrial land. State law requires
that we identify an adequate land supply for future
growth, but we can do that through proactive
planning for infill, reclaiming brownfield sites such
as old railyards, and growing up, instead of out.
There’s no true leadership in doing the same old
sprawl planning, year after year, driven in large part
by the greed of land speculators.
• Some welcomed grants have come to local
environmental nonprofits lately. Congrats to the
Oregon Toxics Alliance for a $63,350 “capacity
building” grant over the next two years from the
Meyer Memorial Trust. And Nearby Nature, an
education nonprofit “dedicated to fostering
appreciation of the outdoor world and providing
tools for ecological living,” landed a $10,000 grant
from Staples Foundation for environmental
education programs. Eugene is home to hundreds
of nonprofits doing exceptional work, usually on
shoestring budgets. It’s good to see some love
flowing their way, whether it’s from volunteers or
foundations.
• Just a reminder : Friends and coworkers of the
late EW art director Kevin Dougherty are
gathering at EW between 4 and 6 pm Thursday,
Oct. 21, for a casual get-together on the
anniversary of his passing.
SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations and rumor-chasing
notes compiled by the EW staff. Heard any good rumors lately? Contact
Ted Taylor at 484-0519, editor@eugeneweekly.com
EUGENE WEEKLY
OCTOBER 21, 2010 13