Congressman Bentz Addresses the Nation on the Dangers and Costs of Wolves

Washington, D.C.– Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives addressing the growing gray wolf populations across the Western United States and the serious threats they pose to ranchers, farmers, and outdoorsmen. Here is what he said:

WATCH: Congressman Bentz Remarks on the Dangers of the Gray Wolf

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call out the injury and injustice being inflicted upon my state and my constituents by the inappropriate and unfair enforcement of the Endangered Species Act as it has been and is being applied in the reintroduction of the Grey Wolf.

This injustice is apparent in the federal government’s inability to manage and control the killing and maiming of livestock and in the failure of the government to properly pay for the costs of its decision to reintroduce the wolf.

I will address the lack of management first.

Let me begin my discussion of failed management by showing several pictures which are graphic illustrations of the reality that my ranching families all too often have to face: As you can see, there is nothing refined about how a wolf goes about feeding itself.  You can imagine the feelings of the rancher when he or she finds livestock torn apart and dying. You can try to imagine the anger that they feel knowing that they are legally prevented from stopping the wolf that caused this pain and horror to their cattle and calves from doing this again. And again. And again.

I have held meeting after meeting across my district listening over and over to stories about wolves attacking herds, scattering cattle, and ignoring the ineffective “hazing” efforts that owners of these cattle are allowed to use under the law to try to protect their livelihoods.  The anger that they feel, their intense frustration, is totally understandable and is why I’m on this floor today sharing their pain with you.

If we are to protect those who are trying their best to feed this country, to make a living, to keep their communities alive, to put out range fires, to pay their taxes, and to continue to be productive parts of this nation, we need to delist the wolf and move management of these animals back to the states.

Let me turn to the actual cost of the reintroduction of the wolf and the need for those that have created this cost to be responsible for paying it.

The actual annual cost of the wolf to cattle businesses, as of a few years ago, is estimated to be 128 million dollars. Again, this is the annual cost. This number is far higher now that cattle prices are higher.  Many think that the only cost of the wolf is the killing of livestock, but the impact of primal fear that cattle understandably feel when a wolf is near has dramatic and serious impacts on weight gain and on pregnancy rates.  These losses are real and they are serious.  In a time when even the President is concerned about beef prices, these losses affect everyone by reducing the size of cattle herds and herd productivity.

There has been legislation enacted, both in the big beautiful Bill and at the state level, to try to bring some reimbursement equity into play by providing at least some payment for the death of cattle caused by wolves, but these programs, although welcome, come nowhere close to making those damaged by wolves whole. In addition I can assure you that the rancher would absolutely be happier if he or she could completely avoid the losses that lead to asking for justice under these programs.

If we are to properly and fairly and logically manage the wolf, we must pass Congresswoman Boebert's and Tom Tiffany’s bill, HR 845, the Pet and livestock Protection Act. This would delist the wolf and allow states to manage those populations.

And if we are to properly allocate responsibility for the monetary cost of wolf reintroduction, those millions of dollars in cost unjustly imposed upon ranchers and farmers. Each and every year must be paid back. If society wants the world, society must pay for the wolf.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, I yield back.”