Wolves Slaughtered by Government at Behest of Cattle RanchersGREENLines, Monday, April 15, 2002, Issue #1604 ENTIRE WOLFPACK ELIMINATED: The entire 10-member Whitehawk Mountain wolf pack has been killed after non-lethal "experimental harassment techniques" failed to prevent repeated attacks on livestock says the Billings Gazette 4/9. According to wildlife officials "the pack was responsible for killing 16 sheep, one guard dog and one calf." Before the latest depredations, the Nez Perce Tribe and Defenders of Wildlife had "recruited volunteers to monitor the pack and try to deter them from further killings." "It was working pretty well for a while" said the USFWS wolf recovery coordinator. LIVESTOCK IN PROVEN WOLF HABITAT THE PROBLEM: The destruction of the Whitehawk Mountain wolf pack marked the second time that an entire wolf pack was eliminated in Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area, "prime wolf habitat" that is "designated for wildlife and wilderness protection" says the Alliance for the Wild Rockies 4/12. "Simply removing the pack will not remove the problem, other wolves will move in. The problem is livestock producers assuming ownership and rights to this land that is PROVEN wolf habitat." STATES WANT WOLF RECOVERY RULES SCRAPPED: Wildlife agencies in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico have asked the USFWS to "scrap rules they fear will delay removing the wolf as a protected species in states where reintroduction efforts have flourished" says SF Gate, AP 4/9. The states do not want wolf delisting in all 9 western states tied to recovery goals in only three states, fearing that it would result in litigation. Instead they favor wolf delisting in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to be considered on its own. YOU MIGHT CALL THEM LUCKY?: The USFWS plans to trap and return to captivity the remaining wolves of the Pipestem Pack, the "only established pack of wild Mexican wolves with territory in New Mexico" for "feeding on livestock carcasses" says the Albuquerque Journal 3/28. Although they were seen feeding on carcasses, there was "no evidence" showing they had killed the livestock and the Center for Biological Diversity believes that "ranchers might be deliberately allowing wolves to feed on dead cows" in order to have them removed. THE UGLY ENVIRONMENTALIST?: The coordinator of the USFWS's northern Rockies wolf recovery program was "inundated with angry e-mails" some from "as far away as Germany" after the recent killing of an entire wolf pack in Idaho says SF Gate, AP 4/9. It is not "uncommon for him to get flooded with angry e-mails when officials take actions to control wolves" and he has "learned to take it in stride" and tries to maintain a sense of humor, "My favorite says 'may your putrid corpse rot in hell.' That was a good one. I can appreciate witty insults."
|