Bentz supports bill to delist wolves

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives Friday in support of House Resolution 845, titled the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. The bill that would remove the wolf from the federal endangered species act is being introduced by representatives from Colorado and Wisconsin.

The measure to delist the wolf would also allow states to manage wolf populations. In Eastern Oregon, the grey wolf is delisted already. However the wolves west of Highway 395 are still considered endangered by the federal government. Bentz also wants to see real payback to farmers and ranchers for their losses due to the reintroduction of wolves.

“If we are to properly allocate responsibility for the monetary cost of wolf reintroduction, those millions of dollars in cost unjustly imposed upon ranchers and farmers, each and every year must be paid back,” he said. “If society wants the world, society must pay for the wolf.”

He showed the members of the House several photographs of livestock that were preyed upon by wolves.

“There is nothing refined about how a wolf goes about feeding itself,” he told his peers. “You can imagine the feelings of the rancher when he or she finds livestock torn apart and dying. You can try to imagine the anger that they feel knowing that they are legally prevented from stopping the wolf that caused this pain and horror to their cattle and calves from doing this again, and again, and again.”

Bentz said that while spending measures seek to reimburse ranchers and farmer for the loss of each animal, the damages done go far beyond that.

“The impact of primal fear that cattle understandably feel when a wolf is near has dramatic and serious impacts on weight gain and on pregnancy rates,” he said. “These losses are real and they are serious.

---

• 
• 
• 

---

• 
• 
• 
• 

---

Elkhorn Media Group