HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown It appears not all of our state legislators in the House of Representatives are impressed with the way the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sets up and manages public working groups and task forces dealing with wildlife issues, especially those pertaining to elk and salmon fishing. Rep. J.D. Rossetti, a Democrat from Longview, wants to see someone other than a WDFW employee in charge of those working groups and task forces, and has introduced legislature to accomplish the change. House Bill 2446 would require any working group or task force whose purpose is to collect expertise and opinions from other state agencies and outside groups to be chaired by a non-WDFW employee. Longview's Daily News reported Rossetti said his bill is in response to the WDFW public work group that has been discussing hoof rot since 2013. The group is chaired by Sandra Jonker, WDFW regional wildlife manager for southwest Washington, and includes Fish and Wildlife workers, county elected officials and interested citizens, One member of the group is Mark Smith of Toutle, who is lobbying in favor of Rossetti's bill. He said having a WDFW employee in charge of such groups allows the agency to control the direction, study and findings of these groups without investigating or listening to the group. WDFW biologists and a task force of scientists from other agencies who advise them believe elk hoof rot is caused by the treponeme bacteria which results in similar problems in domestic sheep and cattle. WDFW has changed the name of the condition to treponeme-associated hoof disease. However, Rossetti pointed out a retired public health official, Dr. Boone Mora of Skamokawa, believes hoof rot is caused by leptospironis, a disease common to humans and animals, and has been unable to get a WDFW permit to test his theory on a live elk. According to Rossetti, WDFW hasn't done anything to accommodate live tests with Mora. Another theory advanced by some individuals is that herbicide spraying is linked to hoof rot, but WDFW scientists say there is no evidence of this. But Rossetti said, "We need to look at all these hypotheses and direct research to all of these possibilities. There needs to be citizen research. I think the citizens know best. They're the ones on the ground seeing these problems every day.GÇ¥ Rossetti added he has heard complaints about the leadership of other WDFW public work groups. A group that has been meeting about Willapa Bay salmon management has yet to come up with a comprehensive plan to create fishing opportunities for both sports and commercial fishermen. Another working group is addressing the contentious wolf management issue in eastern Washington. Rossetti has asked Rep. Brian Blake, a Democrat from Aberdeen, to hold a hearing on HB 2446 in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. WDFW spokesperson Craig Bartlett said department managers plan to meet with Rossetti about the bill. The department "is reserving comment on this legislation until we have a chance to talk with Rossetti," Bartlett said. That ought to be an interesting conservation.
Bob Brown, who lives in Roy, is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net
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