Oregon Public Broadcasting

Whether to allow ranchers to graze their cattle on state wildlife lands is controversial question in the West. And it's  the topic at a public hearing in Ellensburg, Washington Tuesday night. Correspondent Austin Jenkins has this preview.

Eastern Washington ranchers don’t have enough grazing land. So the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is experimenting with allowing cattle on some of its lands.

Proponents say it can be a win-win. Ranchers get a place to graze their livestock. And the grazing – if managed correctly – can improve habitat for sage grouse.

Also for elk says Jack Field with the Washington Cattlemen’s Association.

Jack Field: “If you’d like to have late summer or fall or winter pasture for elk an early application of cattle grazing in the spring is often quite beneficial.”

Oponents argue the science does not support letting cows graze on wildlife lands.

Katie Fite is with the Western Watersheds Project in Idaho – a group that’s suing to stop grazing on wildlife lands.

Katie Fite: “What’s going on is we have a wildlife department that is pretty much under the boot heels of the cattlemen. They don’t need to be, they’ve just been bullied into this position.”
 
Grazing proposals around Ellensburg, Washington are in the early planning stages.

A pilot grazing program has already begun in Southeast corner of Washington State.