Colvilles Worry That Wolves Will Hurt Hunting

The Colville Indian Tribes are worried that the state's proposed wolf management plan may hurt subsistence hunting by its members.

The tribes told members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday that a plan to restore at least five breeding pairs of wolves in Eastern Washington has the potential to reduce herds of elk, deer and moose on its reservation.

Tribal members harvest up to 1,000 deer, 400 elk and 50 moose each year, and worry a large increase in the number of wolves will increase competition for the animals.

The comments came as the commission held the final public meeting on its proposed plan in the Spokane suburb of Airway Heights. The commission is expected to take final action on the wolf plan at its December meeting.

Associated Press