PRINEVILLE, OR -- Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz (R) met with local ranchers to discuss wolf management on Thursday in Prineville. He was joined by state and federal officials, including from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, ODFW, and the Oregon Cattlemen's Association.

Paulina rancher Trent Smith told them Oregon is capable of managing wolves, “We don't have a wolf issue. We have a people issue. We have a great management plan in the state of Oregon if we can do it.”

He feels wolves aren’t welcome, but knows they aren’t going away either. “We know that the populace wants to see these animals here. So that needs to be a manageable number that does not pressure our businesses.”

Bentz doesn’t believe Oregon needs federal oversight, “The state of Oregon has a very good wolf management plan. And under that plan, the wolf still exists, there's still a couple of 100 of them roaming about the state of Oregon. And we need to point at that success from the standpoint of the environmental interests. This is what's going to happen in the event that the entire chore protecting this endangered species is delegated to the states.”

Bentz says he wants to keep the dialogue going between government agencies and ranchers to meet increasing challenges with wolves and livestock. Bentz tells KBND News he appreciates ranchers’ resiliency, “It's one of those situations where you're not allowed to help yourself, you have to follow the law and that means you have to work with the type of people who are here today and figure out a way to properly manage this new challenge.”

He’ll use the information gathered this spring when his Water, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Natural Resources subcommittee discusses the Wolf’s status on the Endangered Species list.