Large predator resolution signed
On Friday, Mineral County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt resolution 3.29.13, which details the counties policy towards large predators.
The resolution was composed with help from the Mineral County Resource Plan Committee and details the counties policy on dealing with both large game animals and large predators. According to Commissioner Laurie Johnston the final draft of the policy was reviewed and approved by County Attorney Marcia Boris.
“Basically that’s the main message (of the resolution),” Commissioner Roman Zylawy said after going over several points of the resolution. “Should we discuss this or do we want to go ahead and adopt it?”
The introduction of the resolution states that according to the Montana Code Annotated “the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks shall ensure that county commissioners…in areas that have identifiable populations of large predators have the opportunity for consultation with state and federal agencies prior to state and federal policy decisions involving large predators and large game animals.”
Resolution 3.29.13 further states according to MCA “in managing large predators, the primary goal of the department, in order of listed priority are to: protect humans, livestock and pets, preserve and enhance the safety of the public during outdoor recreational and livelihood activities and preserve citizens’ opportunities to hunt large game species.”
According to the MCA code, a “large game species” is defined as deer, elk, mountain sheep, moose, antelope, or mountain goats. “Large predators” are defined as bears (with no excepted species), mountain lions, and wolves.
Commissioner Zylawy added that Mineral County is in a “unique” situation when it comes to the policy due largely to two facts. One being the 1913 purchase and transplant of elk into the Sloway area for “future hunting and economic opportunities” and the second being the adoption of the Mineral County Resource Use Plan in 2004, which according to the resolution the Federal government is in direct violation of due to their introduction of large predators.
“Mineral County opposes any government, private or other entity’s attempt to introduce predators or increase the predator population through introduction of animals from elsewhere,” pages 29 and 30 of the Resource Use Plan state. “The reintroduction of individual animals from outside the area serves to upset the existing balance.”
The resolution portion details seven points of policy adopted by the Mineral County Commissioners including a requirement that the commissioners be involved and aware of any new “policy, discourse, rules or regulations” involving either large predators or large game animals.
“We recognize that large predators are part of our natural landscape and are willing to coexist with them as long as they do not have an adverse impact on the health and safety of our citizens, domestic livestock producers, large game populations, natural resource production and our county base,” the resolution states.
The last point in the resolution states that the county will have “direct” involvement in decision making that “will impact our way of life, custom and culture.”
“The Mineral County Resource Use Plan is the basis and guideline for agencies intending to manage resources in Mineral County,” the resolution states. “We expect that any future decisions will consider and respect all who reside here.”
The Commissioners had a brief discussion on the resolution, during which Dennis Hildebrand of the Resource Use Plan Committee thanked the commissioners for keeping the “strong” language of the document intact.
“I think it’s well worth adopting,” Commissioner Duane Simons said. “It’s long overdue. Enforcement of it is going to be the key and that’s the idea of taking it national.”
Commissioner Johnston made a motion to adopt the resolution, which was seconded by Commissioner Simons. The motion passed unanimously and was signed by all of the county commissioners.