CODY, WYO. (LEE) -- Park County is seeking a seat at the table in the ongoing legal dispute between Wyoming and the federal government over the state's wolf management plan.

In a motion mailed Tuesday to U.S. District Court, County Attorney Bryan Skoric argued that Park County is uniquely impacted by wolves, and should have input on any decisions about their management.

Wyoming filed suit last month in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne seeking to compel the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to accept the state's wolf management plan.

"What it's come down to is Wyoming's plan would classify wolves in two different ways in the state," said Eric Keszler, public information officer for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Keszler said the state's proposal calls for protecting wolves in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and classifying them as trophy game in nearby areas and as predators that could be shot on sight in much of the state.

Skoric said the motion seeks intervenor status for the county, which would allow it to be a party to any settlement negotiations.

"What the county wants is for delisting to take place," said Skoric. "We've far exceeded the numbers needed for recovery, and it's time for the federal government to do what they said a long time ago and delist."

Filed on behalf of county commissioners Marie Fontaine, Tim French and Bucky Hall, the motion contends that the county's interests could differ from those of the state, and thus the county should be represented in the lawsuit.

Hall said the motion was a continuation of county efforts over the years to support the state management plan.

"I wasn't a commissioner when they started this," said Hall, "But we all feel somewhat passionately about this for different reasons, and we're all in agreement this was the thing to do.

"I think we should let the state where the wolves are be allowed to manage them as they see fit," he said. "We're the ones who are going to incur the cost."

The state has no objection to Park County seeking intervenor status, the motion said.

In pointing out Park County's unique position, the motion contends that "citizens in Cheyenne, for example, are not facing livestock losses due to wolves, nor are sportsmen losing local hunting opportunities."

The motion includes a declaration from rancher Alan Siggins, who leases federal grazing land adjacent to his ranch on the South Fork of the Shoshone River.

"Today, we are aware of three wolf packs in the area of our ranch," Siggins' declaration states. "The cows will no longer disperse throughout our grazing area as they did before."

Harassment by wolves has resulted in stress and weight loss to cattle, and reduced access by cows to federal grazing lands, the declaration said.

An exhibit outlined recent declines in elk populations and estimated a worst-case scenario for the annual statewide economic impact of lost elk hunting opportunities to be as much as $9.1 million.

State game officials contend that while no conclusive studies have detailed the impact of wolves on elk, cow-calf ratios in some elk herds are lower after the arrival of wolves.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has maintained that wolf predation of elk is less than state numbers suggest.

Contact Ruffin Prevost at rprevost@billingsgazette.com or (307) 527-7250.