Lawmaker Vows Measure To End
Funding For Predator Control

WASHINGTON —(AP)— U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio is leading a charge to cut funding for a program in which federal officials kill animals, mainly coyotes, that prey upon sheep and other livestock.

DeFazio, D-Ore., said the program, which allows authorities to shoot predators from airplanes or place poison baits on the ground (DeFazio is at least 25 years out of date on that one; we wonder what else he knows that just ain't so? — Ed.), is indiscriminate, resulting in the deaths of household pets, eagles and other innocent creatures.

But he mostly faults the federal wildlife services program for what he contends is an unfair subsidy to ranchers. DeFazio said cattle owners should have to take care of their own pest problems rather than rely on the government.

``If you got termites in your house, wildlife services doesn't show up to take care of your termites,'' DeFazio said. ``Why should they show up at a few private ranches to kill predators?''

He plans to offer an amendment on the House floor this month to cut $7 million from the Agriculture Department program. That represents the portion of the wildlife services budget that DeFazio believes benefits ranchers.

But backers of the program say it not only helps ranchers, but airports that want to keep runways clear of animals, urban and suburban parents who worry about wild animals harming their children, and the public at large that worries about diseases spread by animals.

The agriculture industry accounts for a third or less of the $12.8 billion in damages that problem animals cause each year, according to the American Sheep Industry Association.

``When Mr. DeFazio tells you this is a subsidy for Western ranchers he is not being completely honest with you,'' said Tom McDonnell, director of natural resources for the group.

DeFazio and Rep. Charles Bass, R-N.H., plan to offer their amendment to a $61 billion agriculture appropriations bill, which could spark a vigorous debate on the House floor.

A year ago, at DeFazio's urging, the House cut $10 million from the predator program by a 229-193 vote.

But after some arm twisting by farm groups, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and other allies of the program, the House reversed itself a day later.

One of the program's biggest allies is Rep. Joe Skeen, R-N.M., a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and rancher who has gained benefits from the program.

Skeen recognizes the broader importance of controlling predators, such as how the program helps keep meat prices low by protecting cattle, said Skeen's spokeswoman, Selma Sierra.

``Wildlife services is a benefit for every citizen in the country,'' she said.

The program in 1997 led to 146,000 deaths of 23 types of animals, but more than half of the deaths, 82,000, were coyotes, according to wildlife services program figures.

Other animals killed included 31,000 beavers, 7300 raccoons and 6800 skunks.

Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental activist group that backs DeFazio's effort, claims authorities often fail to kill the dominant pair of coyotes, the ones responsible for killing, and mistakenly take out innocent coyotes that are not causing problems.

``This program is run so that it basically wipes out anything on or near a ranch,'' said Caroline Kennedy, program associate for the group. (Now we wonder whether Kennedy gets her "facts" from DeFazio, or the other way around. We also wonder why the Associated Press would print such pablum as legitimate comment. — Ed.)

But others say wildlife services has been successful in focusing on troublesome animals.

``They are targeting their operations where they are receiving complaints,'' said Jason Campbell, executive director of the Public Lands Council, which represents agriculture interests.