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Opponents to wilderness are using the recent lawsuit in Federal District Court, regarding collaring elk and wolves in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness to claim that wildlife can’t be managed in wilderness. Hogwash. Nothing is further from the truth.

For 33 years I worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and in the last five years of my career (1995-2000) I oversaw the wolf recovery program in Idaho. I was also the assistant field supervisor of the Snake River Basin Office in those years. I became familiar the requirements of the Wilderness Act, and we, with the able assistance of the Nez Perce Tribe, successfully conducted wolf recovery consistent with those requirements. That included capture and collaring, monitoring, and control — all the while avoiding “landings” in wilderness.

Wilderness should not be made the “fall guy” in the recent lawsuit. The Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game should work closely on a mutually-acceptable comprehensive plan for scientifically-based management of wildlife in the Frank Church-River of No Return and Selway-Bitterroot wilderness areas. Management actions should be compatible with the protection of congressionally-designated wilderness values. The Forest Service should then accommodate the state agency while making sure it fulfills its role as the steward of these special areas. Both agencies should fully involve the public in the decision-making process. The best way to avoid a future legal challenge is to do the job right from the very beginning.

Idaho’s wilderness includes places where wildlife thrives. As the wolf recovery coordinator it was my duty to ensure that the Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the business of wolf recovery within the bounds set by federal law and executive-branch regulation. Obviously we accomplished that goal, and wilderness was not an impediment to success. Future wildlife management in wilderness can successfully accomplish its goals in the same way.

ROY HEBERGER

Boise

Fish and Wildlife Service (retired)