While some California residents are showing excitement about the prospects of lone wolf OR-7 wandering into northern California from Oregon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month removed wolves  from the federal endangered species list, De-listing them in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Starting Friday, these three states will begin managing their wolf populations on their own.

TMJ4 article: DNR To Allow Hunting of Wolves Next Week.

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While wolf numbers have grown enough to allow this De-listing, Wisconsin state Department of Natural Resources is telling landowners they can start hunting problem wolves next week. In another story in California, Patrick Valentino of the California Wolf Center was quoted as saying “Historically and statistically there’s no evidence of wolves being a threat to people.  He goes on to say that there are only two known wolf attacks in the past 100 years in the U.S. or Canada.

With the idea that wolves do not have a history of “being a threat to people”, in Wallace, Idaho this story line hit the  mainstream media:   “A possible wolf attack in North Idaho has left one dog dead and some neighbors on edge.”

KXLY reporter writes this story.

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Last week, Oregon wildlife officials believe a wolf was responsible for killing a mule. “This is the first we’ve had a probable for anything like a mule or horse,” said Michelle Dennehy of Salem, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Oregonlive.com reporter writes:  Wolf probably killed mule near Joseph, state wildlife officials believe

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There is compelling evidence that suggests that as wolves continue to  increase in numbers and range, they are having a significant impact on the local wildlife and cattle.   Now, several chapters later in this wolf debacle it is acceptable for these wolves to attack backyard pets?  How can we be so blind as to allow these ranging predators to freely roam, destroying various wildlife populations that conservationist have worked tirelessly to restore?  Moreover, this all seems to suggest the notion that wolves are far more important than our public safety and the cattleman’s means of livelihood.  Left unchecked, this paradigm is beyond my comprehension.

Reading from KXLY’s report, The following quote has to be the most mindless statement I think I have read on the subject of wolves and their De-listing…(referring to the Wallace resident’s rottweiler that was attacked and killed in their back yard).  “I think the key thing for people to think about is to keep their dogs confined,” said Cooper. “If your dog is confined in a building or kennel they are less vulnerable to attack from other dogs and wolves.”…..REALLY???  So in other words, this attacks are to be accepted as something that could happen again?  What will be said when a “Janie Homeowner” goes out to see what the ruckus is in her backyard and she is mauled are killed?  Is this threat not eminent?   However, Cooper also said it’s legal in Idaho to shoot a wolf if it’s threatening you, your family, livestock or pets.

The subject of wolves and their propagation continues to stir controversy at every level.  As each of us form an opinion “for” or “against” the presence of these wolves, has society stooped to the point where forcing  our personal beliefs from afar and the many consequences coming at the personal expense of others, be socially acceptable?

 

Carl B Taylor

Tags: Wolves

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 4:52 AM and is filed under Conservation, Wildlife Managment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.