OLYMPIA -- Nearly three dozen state citizens have been appointed to two groups which will advise the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on wildlife management issues.

One of the councils will focus on wildlife diversity (issues involving non-game wildlife) and the other will address hunting and game management. Similar advisory councils already have been formed to address fish management issues.

The wildlife councils will meet jointly September 27 and are scheduled to gather at least three times a year. In addition to offering advice, council members will communicate with wildlife interest groups.

The Wildlife Diversity Advisory Council will address topics such as endangered species listings, wildlife viewing and educational opportunities, land conservation, environmental projects and the department's wildlife diversity program, including species surveys, research and habitat acquisition.

Members of the Wildlife Diversity Council and their affiliations include: Helen Engle of Tacoma, Charles F. Lennox of Seattle, Tom Campbell of Langley and David Jennings of Olympia (Audubon Society); Penny Falknor of Mountlake Terrace (Puget Sound Eyes on Wildlife); Dr. Toni G. Frohoff of Bainbridge Island (Humane Society of the United States); Maureen Greeley of Olympia (Wolfhaven); Christine Holland of Tacoma (Snake Lake Nature Center); State Sen. Ken Jacobsen of Seattle; Dr. Wayne R. Marion of Olympia (Hancock Timber Group); Kate Stenberg of Seattle (King County Wildlife Program); Marilyn Stoll of Shelton (Washington Chapter of The Wildlife Society); Darci Teel of Kennewick (private industry biologist); Sally J. Van Niel of Mountlake Terrace (Everett Community College faculty); John Fleckenstein of Olympia (Washington Department of Natural Resources); Joe LaTourrette of Olympia (Washington Wildlife Federation), and Jim Wilcox of Olympia (Trout Unlimited). The Game Management Advisory Council will focus on hunting-related issues, including hunting season recommendations and other topics involving the management of game species.

Members named to the Game Management Advisory Council and their affiliations include Roger Barney of Rochester (Washington State Trappers Association); E. Reade Brown of Olympia (sportsman and professional wildlife biologist); Jim Cherf of Ephrata (Ephrata City Manager and member of Ephrata Sportsman's Association); Robert B. Cole of Spokane (Inland Northwest Wildlife Council); Paul Fielder of Wenatchee (Washington Chapter of The Wildlife Society); Dick Gates of Aberdeen (Citizens for Washington Wildlife); J. K. Johnson of Tacoma (muzzleloader hunter); H. Martin Keilwitz of Longview (Western Washington Wildlife Council); Rick Lind of Tonasket (sportsman and hunter education instructor); Frank Lockard of Olympia (senior regional director of Ducks Unlimited); Jim McGowan of Colville (U.S. Forest Service biologist); Linda North-Spaulding of Outlook, (rancher); Gary R. Peasely of Walla Walla (sportsman); Roger Peffer of Leavenworth (Washington State Bowhunters Association); Gerald W. Rowland of Olympia (Modern Firearm Hunters of Washington); K. Michael Thompson of Kennewick (Richland Rod and Gun Club); Ted Tiegs of Graham (Washington State Archery Association); George Ziegletrum of Olympia (Washington Forest Protection Association), and Ken Raedeke of Seattle, (University of Washington faculty).