SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 • THE BULLETIN
B3
REGON
a en acs The Associated Press YAKIMA, Wash. — Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse has introduced a bill to remove
O
protection in Washington and
F Q8 I Q I 1
"States are fully qualified to manage gray wolf populations responsibly and are better equipped to meet the needs of local communities, ranchers, livestock and wildlife populations."
Oregon. "We're talking about 12 wolves in Washington and another six or so in Oregon," The Yakima Herald-Repub- Gunnell said. "Until those CasRelated stories onlineat bendbulletin.cem/graywelf
the gray wolf from Endangered Species Act protections lic reported Friday that the bill in Washington,Oregon and would also prevent states from Utah. providing wolf protections that Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., are strongerthan those found and Rep. Chris Steward, in the federal Endangered R-Utah, co-sponsored the bill. Species Act. Removing wolves f r om A spokesman for Conservathe list is "long overdue" and tion Northwest, which works would allow state wildlife of- on wolf recovery issues, called ficials to manage wolves more the bill disappointing. Chase effectively, said Newhouse, a Gunnell said there are only a freshman who represents cen- few wolves receiving federal tral Washington.
Q BI1 WQ cade wolves are on stronger
footing, we think it's important to protect them."
— U.S.Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., in a statement
Decades after being wiped out, Washington's wolf population is growing as the ani- Fish and Wildlife. mals move in from Idaho and Wolves remain on the state's Canada. The population is es- endangered species list.
is much smaller and still listed as endangered. "States are fully qualified to manage gray wolf populations responsibly and
a r e b e tter
equipped to meet the needs of local communities, ranchers,
livestock and wildlife populations," Newhouse said in press statement.
Washington's management plan sets a target of 15 known breeding pairs — with at least timated at about 68 animals in But on the federal level, the list in 2011. three located in each region of 16 known packs, mostly in the state is split into two separate But in t h e w estern two- the state — as the point when northeast corner of the state, wolf populations. In the east- thirds of the state, wolves are the species can be considered according to arecent report from the state Department of
Northern R ocky
M o u ntain
population, which was removed from theendangered
ern third of the state, wolves
considered part of the Pacific
recovered. Currently, the state
are consideredpart of the
Northwest population, which
hasfiveknown breedingpairs.
AROUND THE STATE WOman CraSheS intOdridge —Authorities
.",'rt>$'jl t •:4 ei~ Don Ryan/The Associated Press
Cattle that are grass-fed, antibiotic- and growth-hormone free gather at Kookoolan Farm inYamhill on Thursday. Oregon legislators are considering strict regulations on the use of antibiotics in livestock, much like one now before Congress. If the state legislation passes, Oregon would be the first in the nation to mandate stricter rules on livestock antibiotics.
Le isature e atin ro osa imitin arm use o anti iotics By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press
PORTLAND — For decades, farmers have routinely fed anti-
biotics to livestock to fatten up the animals and protect them
from illnesses amplified by confined conditions. But critics say repeated use
of antibiotics has made bacteria more resistant to the drugs, resulting in people developing antibiotic-resistant infections.
injured in ashooting at a Portland strip club. Portland
Police shootingdeemedjustified —A MultnomahCounty grandjury has cleared aPortland police officer whofatally shot a manarmed with a double-bladed knife last month. Thegrand jury found no criminal wrongdoing byofficer ThomasClark, and determined he wasjustified in shooting 36-yearold Christopher RyanHealy during a burglary. The 36-year-old Healywas homeless andwasoriginally from Erie, Pennsylvania. Healywas fatally wounded when headvanced ontwo officers with a10-inch, double-bladed knife. Officials said Clark fired two shots after Healygot too close; the other officer used a stun gun onthe man.The confrontation happened after a neighbor whosawHealy breakinto his duplex called police. Authorities sayanother neighbor had allowed Healy to stay atherplace, causing a neighborhood dispute. — From wire reports
I
— Gordon Satrum, CEO of Willamette Egg Farms
'rs,
And in Congress, a bill seeks to prohibit adminitering antibiotics on farms for disease control — unless it's necessary
to prevent or reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Oregon's bill mirrors that legislation, but opponents say its language is too restrictive. "I would hate to lose our
ability to use antibiotics on a case-by-case, as-needed basis," said Gordon Satrum, CEO of Canby-based Willamette Egg Farms, which houses hundreds
of thousands of egg laying chickens. "If we had some sick birds, we would want to be able
to use the drugs and get them healed up." Satrum says his company has not routinely fed antibiotics to its chickens for 10 years, but instead requires staff to go
through foot baths, wear uniforms and disinfect their hands every time they come in contact withthe animals.
Farmers say the bill i sn't
Other farmers are supporting the bill. "I don't use antibiotics because my animals are dean
needed because the Food and
and healthy and don't need
them. Andbecause I'm not willingtophase outuse of low-dose ing to put those things in my antibiotics for animal growth body," said Chrissie Manion by December 2016 and to in- Zaerpoor, owner of Kookoolan crease veterinary oversight of Farms in Yamhill. The farm is the drugs. the largest small chicken proBut critics point to loopholes: ducer in the state, raising 8,500 Many of the antibiotics are birds a year and selling their used inlow doses for routine meat at farmers markets and protection from disease, not for through farm shares; it also Drug Administration is work-
New York,
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~
antibiot ics on a case-by-case, as-needed basis. If we had some sick birds, we would want to be able to use the drugs and get them healed up."
Meyer, a Grants Pass veterinarian and president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. "When symptoms tell us the disease process is going to start, it will go through that pen of cattle," Meyer said. "The best growth. And some antibiotics raises antibiotic-free grass-fed way to stop it before it spreads previously used for boosting beef. like fire is by administering an- growth can also be used for Meyer, the veterinarian, said tibiotics" to the whole herd. disease preventi on, meaning curbing the practice of farmA bill limiting preventive farmers may be able to contin- ers buying their own antibiotuse would result in more an- ue using them. ics-l aced feed would be a great imals getting sick and dying, Several states have unsuc- step forward. "Let's get antibiotics out of increased drug use and a rise cessfully tried to pass restricin antibiotic resistance, Meyer tions, including California, the feed store and make it availsald. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates antibiotic-resistant ba c t eria cause 23,000 human deaths
Strip ciud shooting — Threepeople havebeen
"l would hate to lose our ability to use
egon legislators are debating whether to curtail their use in agriculture. es eachyear inthe U.S. Doctors If the legislation passes, Or- say resistant superbugs cause egon would be the first in the infections and make antibiotics nation to mandate stricter rules ineffective in curing common on livestock antibiotics. diseases. The overuse of antibiotics by Scientists, doctors and public health officials are unequivo- patients, doctors and hospitals cal about the need to stop the is partially to blame, experts spread of antibiotic-resistant say. But farms are another big superbugs. Some farmers — in- part of the problem. ciuding industrial operationsOver 70 percent of the anhave already made the switch. tibiotics produced in the U.S. And many food chains and areused in agriculture,governrestaurants now offer antibiot- ment data shows, and most of ic-free meat. those antibiotic types are also The federal government is used in humans. Farmers can also pushing to phase out anti- buy the drugs in feed stores biotics used to improve animal without prescriptions. The growth. Proponents of Ore- CDC says that practice congon's bill say that's inadequate, tributes to the spread of superbecause the move still allows bugs that can be transmitted to operators to a dminister the people through food, water or drugs to prevent illness — and direct contact with the animals. "We're in danger of losing many farmers give them to animals that are not sick. antibiotics," said Dave RosenBut some farmers and vet- feld, executive director of the erinarians say the bill would consumer advocacy group OSessentiallybarthemfromusing PIRG that brought the bill idea antibiotics to prevent disease to legislators. "We need to prooutbreaks — a crucial tool in tect ourselves so at least Orethe treatment of large groups of gon is not breeding superbugs."
bacterial infection, said Charles
Mercy Corps is organizing to provide relief to the hundreds of peoplewho wereaffected by thedeadly earthquake inNepal.CEONeal Keny-Guyer said the group is assessing thesituation onthe groundfollowing Saturday's 7.8magnitude earthquake. Morethan 1,800 are thought to bedead in Nepal, with the toll expected to rise. Keny-Guyersaid Mercy Corpshas a large team inNepaland ischecking on the safety of its team membersandassessing the situation.
— Chrissie Manion Zaerpoor, owner of Kookoolan Farms
As public pressure mounts na-
the herd at the first signs of a
Nepal earthquake reaCtiOn — Portland-based
police said theshooting early Saturday at Portland Exotica International Clubmaybegang related. When officers responded tothe clubjust before 2 a.m., they found a security guard whohad beenshot. His injuries are not life-threatening, and he was transported to a Portland hospital for treatment. Officers later received information that two other gunshot victims arrived by private car at anareahospital, both with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators said these two victims are likely associated with theshooting at Exotica. Police said they donot haveany information about a suspect at this time.
"l don't use antibiotics because my animals are cleanand healthy and don'tneed them. And because I'm not willing to put those things in my body."
tionally against antibiotics, Or-
animals. Unlike in human medicine, on a farm it's critical to treat
said a womanstole an SUVfrom a Milwaukie hospital and crashed it on theHawthorne Bridge. Milwaukie Police said Alicia Nicole Davisapproached awoman sitting in her car in thehospital's parking lot and threatened to use aknife if the womandid not give her the keys.The32-year-old Davis then drove the carjacked vehicle to Portland. Shebrokethrough the guardrail on theHawthorne Bridgeonramp and crashed into abuilding. Shewastransported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Police saidanother woman, whowas onthe sidewalk belowthe bridge, was hit by flying debris from thecrash. Shewas transported to the hospital with anarm injury. Davis faces charges ofsecond-degreerobberyand unauthorized use of amotor vehicle.
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W est V i r ginia, able to farmers on a prescrip-
Pennsylvania and Minnesota. tionbasis only," Meyer said. Dozens of city councils have Still, he conceded, some vets passed resolutions calling for may be under pressure to overan end to the overuse of antibi- prescribe the drugs, just like and more than 2 million illness- otics in farm animals. human doctors.
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