Wallowa County Commissioner Ben Boswell - September 7, 2004
by Kristen Kirkby

     We were visited by Wallowa County Commissioner Ben Boswell on an afternoon in the middle of our ecology session in the Hells Canyon area. He had ventured to our campsite on Starvation Ridge to talk to us about the imminent threat presented by gray wolves returning to Eastern Oregon. Eradicated from the area during the days of homesteading, these endangered predators have been successfully reintroduced to the wild U.S. through programs in the states of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. However, increasing numbers means increasing habitat needs and the wolves are now spreading throughout some of their historic ranges, including Eastern Oregon.

     Mr. Boswell is a member of a group of Oregon citizens who were chosen to construct a federally mandated (through the Endangered Species Act) wolf management plan for the state of Oregon. After much research, the Commissioner found himself representing the minority opinion that gray wolves should not be allowed to roam free in the area. In our discussion, Mr. Boswell shared with us the point of view of his constituents in Wallowa County and their fear of the destructive capability of wolves. This anxiety extended beyond the threat of physical violence to encompass the possibility of political, biological, economic, and social losses as well. While many of us Westies remained unconvinced by most of these arguments, Mr. Boswell's focus on the threat to western culture is an emerging theme that we have seen and, I don't doubt, will continue to see reflected in small communities all over the west.

     Change is rampant in this area as a "new" west (the high tech, outdoor enthusiast west of Aspen, CO and Jackson, WY) migrates into the old, bringing with it forced adjustments in economy, politics, and lifestyle. As the times change, long term local residents are often left struggling to hold on to a traditional way of life. In the minds of Ben Boswell and the constituents he represents, the reintroduction of wolves would be a very real threat to the "Wallowa County way". Mr. Boswell spoke of the culture of this county as one built upon a natural resource based economy (logging, grazing, recreation hunting, etc.), the safety of the community, and, perhaps most particularly, a strong desire for local control with little federal or otherwise outside intervention. All of these ideals, he believes, would be threatened by the presence of gray wolves in his area.

     Wallowa County's suggestion to the wolves? "Keep moving Lobo!"

     But it seems that Wallowa County, too, will have to keep moving in order to adapt to the evolving culture of the American west.