The Hunting of Wolves and the Fight to Stop It
Published September 02, 2009 @ 06:37AM PT
Hunting wolves hasn't been legal in the contiguous United States in decades. That changed yesterday, when it became legal to kill wolves in Idaho as a result of the wolves' inappropriate delisting. Organizations such as NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife, and Earthjustice are fighting to stop it--and to stop the hunting of wolves in Montana too as of September 15--but it's up to the court at this point. I appreciate the way a New York Times editorial opposing the hunt ended yesterday:
To us, the wolf hunt in Idaho and Montana seems indecent. Hunters want to kill wolves because wolves kill elk — and the human hunters want the elk. A second reason is a love of killing things. A third is an implacable, and unjustified, hostility to the wolf. It is well past time to let gray wolves find their own balance in the Rockies.
Precisely.
And for an insider's look at what's happening in the legal arena as nonprofits present their solid arguments and fight to stop the killings, see "Wolf Delisting Court Battle 2.0" from NRDC's Switchboard. Here is one frustrating (but telling) relay of information, from outside the courtroom:
We were greeted at the courthouse at 8 am by a small antiwolf rally with signs that read:
"nuke Canadian wolves"
"wolves are wildlife terrorists"
"the only way to manage wolves is to get rid of them."
A bunch were wearing blue t-shirts saying "save our elk." They were occupied with taking pictures of each other and hardly noticed when I took theirs.
We once again encounter the ridiculous logic that pervades so many of these discussions about whether to kill or protect certain predators--there is no real desire to "save" certain animals; this is about not letting their natural predators kill them because we want to be the ones to kill them. Later in the post, Willcox notes overhearing a resident tell a reporter there will be a "civil war" if the judge blocks the hunt. (Overreact much?) Translation: "If you don't allow us the joy of killing, we will rebel; killing is a fundamental right." Incredible.
As of this writing, there's no word yet on a decision from the judge.
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service photo; retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
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Comments (44)
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Author
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Stephanie is an independent animal rights advocate, a vegan, a tree-hugging environmentalist, and a freelance editor and writer. She lives in St. Louis with an aging corgi-lab and an adolescent rescued pit bull.
"Wildlife terrorists"? It infuriates me--and saddens me, too--that this type of unfounded hostility is taken seriously. I wouldn't even know where to begin arguing with such people.
Posted by Shannon Davis on 09/02/2009 @ 08:42AM PT
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This is very disheartening! I would like to think that the Governments of our planet would have a better solution to this and many other problems that have to do with preserving the lives of our furry friends.
What happened to the Flag fencing? It was said to be working, and farmers were willing to use them they may just need a little help with the purchase. If the Government can be as frivolous with money and has been in recent past, then why can’t they put a little of the/our cash towards this Special cause. Or is just killing the easy way out?????????? Just because one can not speak to be understood by certain individuals does not mean they have no meaning or feelings, therefore it does not make it right to shed BLOOD!
Posted by Nan Bongiovanni on 09/02/2009 @ 02:34PM PT
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I look forward to the opportunity to hunt wolves hear in wisconsin.
Posted by Thomas Berg on 09/02/2009 @ 09:04PM PT
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Thomas, Thomas, Thomas...
If I weren’t such a vengeful person, I’d probably hope you were ‘accidently’ shot at by a fellow hunter, mistakenly believed to be a wild animal yourself; that I so often hear (and chuckle) about. Put the gun down and go get yourself an education. Hopefully then, you’ll realise that the blood sport you participate in isn’t only uncouth but destructive, meaningless and vile amongst your community. You contribute nothing to this world apart from your thirst to kill, and to be honest, you about a century in the past. Perhaps, once you’ve acquired an education, your positive input into your community means you might even switch side on the hunting debate. It’s hard for me to explain it any further to you… kind of like arguing with a senseless moron.
Please try to become something your parents can be something to be proud of at go back to school.
Posted by sarah baddams on 09/06/2009 @ 03:03AM PT
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God put these creatures on our beautiful Earth to admire, learn from and appreciate.
You are committing a sin by killing a defenseless creature. You are a deviant, a criminal, and sadistic like the rest of your ilk. Go read the bible instead to reform your head.
Pauvre type.
Posted by Jade Golden on 09/07/2009 @ 11:57AM PT
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I love hunting accidents.
Posted by Jamie Rivet on 09/07/2009 @ 10:18PM PT
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have you ever held a wolf as it struggles for the last breath between whimpers and the fear it exhibits cannot be soothed by words-if you need to eat by all means hunt but those days are eons past
Posted by Jennifer Perugini on 09/10/2009 @ 11:24AM PT
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Thomas, your spelling clearly shows your lack of education. The word is HERE, not HEAR. So why am I now picturing some redneck punk, outfitted to the hilt with all the trappings (pun intended) of hunters, with a big ole wad of Skoal puffing out his cheek? As you spit the vile tobacco juice, you are also spitting out vile thoughts of murder of a defenseless and innocent creature. Get a camera and "shoot" it that way. Help to preserve what tiny bit of the beauty of wolves that remains by hanging THAT on your wall.
Why do you look forward to killing? Why would anyone with even a modicum of intelligence want to snuff out the life of a being that has done you no harm, but is only trying to survive in what's left of his/her habitat after humans have pillaged most of it? What pleasure is there in being the cause of immense fear, pain, suffering and death in a being that just wants to live his/her life the same way you do?
I simply cannot wrap my brain around the mentality of someone who sets out one day to inflict pain and death upon the innocents. I weep for the mate of that being, who is now left alone, and possibly the babies in the den, waiting for a mother or father that will never return. How would you feel if you waited for someone you loved to come home, and found that they had been gunned down for no other reason than because somebody decided they felt like killing that day?
Those are the ones who need to be gone from this earth - the ones who kill simply because they can and because they get some kind of sick pleasure out of watching an innocent being die at their hands. That's the same mentality the terrorists have - to kill all Americans simply because we exist. There is no difference whatsoever between the two.
Every life is valuable and precious, whether it walks on 2 legs or 4. Every single one. The days of cavemen dragging their knuckles has long passed, but sadly that mentality seems to still exist.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 09/29/2009 @ 11:19AM PT
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When I read hear instead of here I thought he did that on purpose. Still, I agree with you Bonnie, the animals are our neighbors and our friends, I respect and love them. The change has been slow, but it's picking up speed. We will reach critical mass because empathy, compassion, and love have more power than killing, disrespect, greed, or ego. But, don't slow down, we need to work harder than ever, don't underestimate the animals, they know the ones that care. We all lash out if we are in survival even the animals, we put out our endorphins when our needs are met, so do the animals. We love our young and would kill anyone who would attack them, so would the animals. We would like to mate for life, the wolves, coyotes, geese, and so on DO, 'Till death do they part'. Some animals save lives of people they have never even met. We have a lot of favors to return, and a lot of wrongs to right.
Posted by Joyce Dean Jones on 11/10/2009 @ 11:33AM PT
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First of all, I apologize for going off about spelling. I was enraged and my fingers got started typing before my mind got in gear.
You are so right, Joyce. Actually I firmly believe the animals are smarter than humans. We are the only species that kills for pleasure instead of need. We are the only ones who torture and maim, just because we can.
We have to begin by teaching others about kindness and compassion. We have to be their voice, and in doing so, be loud and be heard. We can't quietly sit back and whine about these situations, but we must speak up where it matters and where changes can be made. I see so many horror stories about teenagers and even younger children torturing animals for fun. They have become desensitized to the potential suffering of other beings and it means nothing to them. We have to start with them. It's up to us to set the example, enlighten others when and where we can, and do whatever it takes to change the mindset of those whose hearts have become closed to the suffering of animals.
I watched a new television show about pit bulls and parolees today. One of the parolees working with the dogs said that by doing that work, he found an opening in his heart that he never knew existed. It changed him. It shows that people, no matter what age or background, CAN change. So, we must try to help them find that spot in their hearts that has been shut down and open it for them.
We could all take some serious lessons from the animals. They love unconditionally. They have the ability to not hold grudges and still love humans, even when humans have treated them horribly. They know what truly matters because they are innocent when compared to humans. We could learn a great deal from them, if we only open our eyes and hearts and allow it.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 11/10/2009 @ 12:04PM PT
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Bonnie, your are so right on. Thank God for people like you. I have 3 kids and & 4 grand kid &4 great grand children. My point in sharing that is because the path seems so hard and steep, but there is light. An every single one loves, supports, and is kind to animals. I was not taught to be, but just knew to be loving to animals. When my children would bring home a stray that needed love and help could I say no? One look in the little creatures eyes and I was putty. The kids knew all to well all they had to do was show it to me and I'd adore it, -and so on to their kids, and on and on. Your right, teach the kids, if the parent is knowledgeable and loving the children will be too, even when is life horribly difficult they will still love and protect an animal and they will heal too. Also right again, if one wasn't brought up with respect for animals just let him see their great personalities, read of their wonder, and pet them and he will rescued as well.
Posted by Joyce Dean Jones on 11/10/2009 @ 12:55PM PT
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mankind is the only terrorists, mass murderers, hypocrites! to call the right to kill and damn the wolves for doing so? the wolves are not allowed to kill for food? they are carnivores, wth is man's excuse? I am so angry at America, and most of this country allows the assualt on animals.
have you ever been on a cruise? the amount of animal flesh, not eaten, thrown overboard. yah, the water life gets it, but that's not why there is the waste. it is because man is a glutton, a disgusting, selfish glutton. ask your local butcher how much beef is tossed into the dumpster behind the shop after closing time.
Posted by Sheila Gredzinski on 09/03/2009 @ 02:14AM PT
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i hope you are a vegan, for your stance is pretty much indefenceable otherwise. If any predator or just average critter population is not monitor and kept in check with legal hunting, the population will outgrow the the food source.
I recently starting feeding a lovely young cat I named socks;boots. A beautiful and young looking cat. I supposed the cat to be male (all right I hoped), but my desires were crushed when SHE had FIVE, COUNT THEN FIVE kittens. So cute. But feral as heck. I did not discover them in time to hand gentlh them. My husband and worried that at least 3 of the 5 were female. so soon i would have 5 breeding female cats at my house. I am on retirement with an income that is laughable and the budget will not allow the medicical intervention and upkeep these cats. So with great pain, i went to feeding them every other day to save money and so the cats would be forced to do more hunting. and they did. But their own area is small and does not have enough prey to support 5 cats.
And mama just had three more!!! i think I will be able to hand gentle these and thus they will be able to find good homes. I called the trap, neuter, release people who are helping me in the endeavor. they will provide the traps, that must be returned and they will provide the nec surgeries so there will be no more kittens from these 6 adult cats. Otherwise I was in for watching them slowly die from starvation, or have them humanly put down. Why? Not enough food in their area to support them.
What does this have to do with deer, elk and wolves. A lot. without monitoring and maintaining a count of all of these animals (and more) they will slowing starve to death when there are too many for the geographic are to support. To many, as I read their rectoric, it sounds as if starvation is better than a quick death that being shot by a hunter would provide. If that is so, that someone is a sick puppy.
Starvation is a horrible way to die, slow, full of pain and weaknessl All of that could have been avoided by judicious use of hunting licences that also bring in revenue for the state for their animmal projects.
I am so tired of people putting animals and even plants above the needs of humanity. That is why God created the abundance of animals and plant life. to support and care for humanity. But for those who have abandoned God, it seems obviouse they could care less about Heavenly Father's plan.
I doubt any thing I said got thru to anyone who ws already convinced of their rightness. A certain politcal party can here raise their hands as the deaf, blind, and dumb.
Have a good day while the poor animals suffer from starvation.
Posted by YVONNE MURRAY on 09/08/2009 @ 09:34PM PT
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Yvonne,
I don't think that you realize that the over-population of humans is the reason that the wildlife has very little room left on this planet.
The elk, deer, and wolves do fine without human interaction. We destroy their natural habitat and push them out. Do you know that there will be 9 billion people by the year 2050 if we keep having so many children? NINE BILLION! And only 1600 wolves in Idaho is called too many!
People who fight for animal rights do not put animals and plants above humanity. They see them as a different species who deserves the rights to their lives, as we do ours.
If we left the animals alone and did not take all of their natural food and habitats away, the animals would survive just fine. They do not starve in the wild without humans taking away what they need. That is rubbish. It's a poor excuse made by someone who does not know the facts.
It's not about being right, Yvonne. It's about being real about what humanity and the over-population of our our species has done to destroy our planet.
Why are humans still having more children when there are so many dying of starvation? When the parents cannot provide for one child- yet they continue to have 5 more? Did you know that animals do not reproduce in the wild when the population gets to a certain point? They inherently know how to keep their numbers in check. Something humans do not. We just build taller buildings to accommodate more people. We stack them on top of each other. It's not about being right. It's about being "smart" and taking responsibility for our actions. Accountability.
It is rare for animals in the wild to starve to death. That is an ol' "hunters" wives tale. They manage fine without humans trying to "manage" them. Until we can manage our own species, we should not try to control another.
If you believe in the Bible, then you have read that animals were here first, right? And, you also know that the Bible was written by men. You can interpret the Bible in your own way, as most do, but you also know that humans are not perfect. I am so tired of people using the Bible as an excuse for their actions.
People who care about others and other species are not "sick puppies". It is called compassion. That is something that I find lacking in people who claim to love God and all of His creatures, and use their religion as an excuse to kill. The KKK also uses the Bible for their belief system. Do you think they also kill for our "Heavenly Father's plan"? Or, is it their interpretation and excuse for their bigotry?
"An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind" -Mahatma Gandhi
Walk a mile in the animals' "shoes". See what it would be like to raise a family and be pushed out of your home and have your children shot and killed in front of you. We did the same thing to the Native Americans. We wanted what they had, so we took it. It is still going on today because they have oil on their land and John McCain wants their oil, so he is driving them out of Arizona. One of the last places that is left that they can live peacefully. What does that say about us, as humans? Greed and money. It runs our country.
Look at the truth and see the real reasons that people kill. It isn't in the best interest of the animals. It is in the best interest of greedy humans. Doesn't make me hate humans. People that don't feel empathy (5% of the population) cannot understand what it is like to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and care as much for all species as your own. It's an "all about me" world, isn't it?
You can continue to be "right" in your own mind and ignorant to the truth. Do your research. Wildlife Fish and Game will tell you that they are helping the animals and manage the population. They are hunters- it is in their best interest.
By the way...what you are doing to save the feral cats is wonderful. I hope you continue to do your part in the entire animal community and realize that it is human intervention that put them where they are today, and it will takes human accountability to get things back to where they were.
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/09/2009 @ 09:49AM PT
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off topic, forgive me, but here is a chance to make a bigger difference, the country doesn't care about animals and their rights because it doesn't care about us, our rights. go here, be in D.C. next week, if you can possibly make it:
http://912dc.org/2009/08/are-you-a-member-of-the-official-912-social-network/
Posted by Sheila Gredzinski on 09/03/2009 @ 02:15AM PT
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Go ahead government upset the balance of nature! We do a great job of forcing animals out of their natural habitat, and then kill them because they encroach on our turf. We will ever get it right?
Posted by Richard Oakley on 09/04/2009 @ 10:52AM PT
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http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=11044636
Idaho wolf killer being harassed and threatened.
Does he now know what it feels like to be hunted?
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/05/2009 @ 04:44PM PT
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http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2009/09/02/wolf-hunt-is-on-in-idaho--for-now.html
Read the comments. Not so intelligent people carrying guns.
Scary.
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/05/2009 @ 05:03PM PT
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The wolf "issue" sickens me.
The case for killing them is pointless, baseless and fact-less. The desire to kill the few we have is not predicated in fact - but based in deep rooted fear and control issues in the people who cling precariously and dangerously to them.
Wolves, Bear, Cougars all eat domesticated animals because they have no choice. They also eat: elk, deer, buffalo etc.
But they do not prey on the kinds of game animals human hunters go after; the big robust trophy prizes. They are another of natures clean up crews; they prefer to take down the sick, old and infirm, strengthening the ecosystem for all. Yes, they will take healthy animals but will always opt for the other because it's safer and easier.
Now, somebody; find me a hunter that will do that so I can shake his or her hand.
Many moons ago I had quite the interest in wolves. It was fostered by watching the pure unadulterated visceral reaction and utterly stupid comments resulting from discussions about wolves with those whom were apparently uneducated about them past common rhetoric and children's fables.
This is what I found;
The only recorded, verified attack on a human by a wolf at the time was 1867 or 1897. My memory is a little foggy so forgive me on that date. But the point is that that event was over 100 years ago.
Your average, healthy wolf stays as far away from us as is possible.
I don't wonder why.
And I don't agree with the stupidity of any government that approves the killing of them when they are just getting a small hold back into ecosystems they were driven from.
I sympathize with ranchers of any kind who loose animals to wolves or other predators, I truly do. But stock animals are insured and albeit the loss of stock is distressing, it is an insurance issue and under the current circumstance does not require the hunting of wolves as a response.
By-the-by; I don't condone the response from the anti-wolf hunt faction to the first killing of a wolf in Idaho... it is not acceptable. It is on par with the response that motivates some to kill wolves. The only thing it will achieve is yet more polarization on the issue and that leads us nowhere.
But having said that in the article: http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2009/09/02/wolf-hunt-is-on-in-idaho--for-now.html
It states that in Idaho the quota is 220 wolves but they sold 10,700 permits. Do the math... hunters are required to present the pelt and skull within 24 hours of the kill. The math doesn't work - at least not in favour for the quota to be upheld. I want to know what provisions there are in place to ensure that once the quota is met hunters stop going after wolves. But I bet no one thought about that in the offices where they arrived at those numbers and let so many permits be sold. The numbers point to a money grab and potentially catstrophic result for the wolf population which, in the article is estimated at a scant; 1650 in the Rockies (not in Idaho). Based on this information it is easy to extrapolate that; depending on population distribution and the zeal of those hunters with tags the wolf population in Idaho could be decimated beyond recovery.
What a mess and all I can say is that as a thinking species; we're still failing... badly.
Donning my flame suit because I just opened the door on all sides of the issue.
Thanking those in advance who might see and agree with at least some of my comments.
Posted by Ingrid K. on 09/07/2009 @ 08:15AM PT
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I am sick to death of the backwoods good ole boy attitude of "we don't like 'em and we're gonna kill 'em". When we allow mother nature to do what's natural and normal, there is a balance. When humans step in, which they ALWAYS do, the balance is turned upside down.
The wolves only kill to survive. What's the hunters' excuse? Humans were not created to be carnivores, so that's not it. No wolf has come and killed someone in their family, so again, that's not it. Oh wait, I know......it's because they CAN. Because that big ole gun makes them feel all macho and powerful. Heaven forbid that a wolf kills a sickly elk because by cracky that hunter should have been the one to kill it! How DARE that wolf do what's natural and normal in an effort to just SURVIVE. A wolf killed a cow or a sheep. The crime of the century! So the wolves ALL DIE now because of it and how dare anyone try to stop the those hunters from their job of wiping out the entirety of the wolf population!
How many hunters are going to be honest and truly turn in the numbers of wolves gunned down? Let's get real here. These are HUNTERS we're talking about. They don't have a moral bone in their anencephalic, knuckle-dragging bodies. They will shoot and kill and shoot and injure and shoot and maim until there's nothing left standing to shoot at. THEN they'll say "oops, I forgot to tell 'em about those 10 wolves; just a lapse in memory; sorry buds, but it's too late now, huh?".
Whatever greedy, unfeeling humans touch turns to dust. This is madness and it must be put to a stop. I want my grandchildren to inherit a planet that reveres ALL living beings. I don't want them to have to see wolves or polar bears or elephants, tigers, you name any endangered species in a book, because they've all been hunted and exploited to extinction. And all for what? HUMAN GREED. It's the only motivator. A need to feel all powerful with that high-powered rifle and scope in an unfair matchup from the outset. The pictures of these maniacs practically drooling over the bloody dead body of what was once a majestic living, breathing entity makes me physically ill. The absolute lack of any kind of morals or concscience when it comes to the murder of innocent creatures makes me ashamed to even be part of the same "human" race.
I totally agree with the gist of an earlier post........I LOVE HUNTING ACCIDENTS.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 09/07/2009 @ 10:22AM PT
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Just a note the backwoods are now our backyards because we have destroyed too much of our precious forests and the wolves and all animals housed and protected by nature are exposed to man's incessant cruelty.
Posted by Jade Golden on 09/11/2009 @ 01:20PM PT
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I do not sympothize with any human on the destruction of the ecosystem. And if you saw how the ranchers worked in Idaho you would quickly change where your sympothy lies. Ranchers leave their cattle on wildlife santuaries where they destroy the habitat that was put into protection and fight for food with the wildlife. Dairy cows are cramped onto lots where they spend their days on muddy manure. The young are prepared for dinner plates by being caged in a makshift dog keenel with a waterbottle to fill their bellies. And the stench these farms given off is horrid, abosoutly horrible so that you can not breathe and your eyes burns. You do not have to live next door to experience this toxic air either.
There are plenty of Elk, deer and prong horn for the hunters and wolves to share. I have seen thousands and thousands of elk and pronghorn since living in Idaho for the past three years. There are very few natural predators, if one is spotted it is killed by fish and game. Apparently it is ok for humans to improach on land but if one animal strays out of its shrinking territory it is seen as an immediate threat and killed. Kill before being killed is their motto.
Soon the deer, elk, pronghorn will become dieseased due to the lack of natural predation. Hunters only kill the healthy animals, leaving weak genes. These animals will then become culled for fear of inflicting the illnesses on the cattle, and then the wild lands will become empty....well with the exception for the cattle and ORVs.
People should of taken a lesson from the Yellowstone incident. No wolves equal no wildlife.
I think the Fish and Game needs new employees to people who actually care about the wildlife and habitat, to people who do not cater to hunters but to the scienctific facts.
Posted by Kimberly Tilley on 09/07/2009 @ 10:33AM PT
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Exactly Kimberly. US FWS is nothing but a tool, a proxy for the small minority of freaks that got off by arming themselves to the teeth and killing defenseless animals.
Posted by Jamie Rivet on 09/07/2009 @ 10:17PM PT
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I don't live in Idaho... so can't really comment. Other than my usual; if you break the rules there should be hell to pay.
Your point expands on my comments and as far as ecolgical balance goes your absolutely right. And that's the problem; the people that want to kill wolves don't understand the role they play and it's a vital one.
Posted by Ingrid K. on 09/07/2009 @ 12:02PM PT
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Wildlife killing organizations (aka hunting groups) have to be stopped. For such a small group of murderers, they have way too much power and influence on gov't; here in Canada, wildlife abusers have almost complete control of what goes on in provincial and federal parks. You can learn alot about the damage they do to our environment, in addition to killing our wildlife, here:
http://www.peacefulparks.org/
Posted by Jamie Rivet on 09/07/2009 @ 10:24PM PT
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I notice that this side of the fence (the conservation side) has a lot of people calling the other side freaks and murders.
I've also noticed the other side of the fence secretly call us the same if not worse.
Instead of slinging mud can we not spend a little time refraining from the name calling and writing letters to our representatives calmly pointing out the fiscal stupidity of supporting hunting over conservation. The numbers exist and are actually easy to find, making writing the kind of letter that will get their attention easy to write.
Calling them names will not get us anywhere, pointing to where the money really is (conversation and pleasure use) will... eventually if enough say it often enough, nicely enough.
Cheers
Posted by Ingrid K. on 09/11/2009 @ 06:26AM PT
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I think you might be confusing venting frustration with inactivity. I call them murderers, because they are. At the same time, while I vent and get this pent up rage off my chest by posting in various blogs including my own, at the same time I'm out there doing research, making phone calls, writing letters, sending emails, signing petitions and doing all that I possibly can to make a difference for the animals.
I may be mistaken, but I think pretty much everyone here is doing the same thing. It's just that I feel comfortable enough in the company of people of like mind to be able to speak freely on an emotional level, while at the same time speaking logically and intelligently to whomever I have to "on the other side of the fence" to try to implement change.
Maybe I'm way off base, and if so, then I need to just sit on my fingers and stop posting.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 09/11/2009 @ 06:51AM PT
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Michigan Wolf Awareness Week will be coming up around thge 3rd week of October. I have funded wolf restoration in Denali National Park, Alaska by being a sponsor for Wolfsong of Alaska, though I never lived there, a friend did. I have worked on the powwow trail, in five states, but mostly Michigan, educating the public the truth about wolves and it saddens me that the lies and misinformation about wolves still continue in an age when anyone with a semi-thinking brain can research the fact vs. fiction about wolves, they are just to lazy to.
Once all the wolves gone, which looks eminant, we will see the unhealthy animals these hunters don't want, except maybe for target practice and they will produce sickly progeny. Humans are some of the most disgusting creatures on earth and the only ones who kill for the sake of killing anything, especially themselves.
Posted by deborah lonewolf on 09/07/2009 @ 11:00PM PT
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Problem is that a tag to take an Elk does not provision the hunter the right to cull an animal with a broken leg. Hunting tags are for the animal whether it be healthy or otherwise... Hunting as it is controlled by State or Provincial authorities do nothing to actually replace the role of predators.
Posted by Ingrid K. on 09/11/2009 @ 06:20AM PT
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Now let's be honest about this & give the wolves a gun so they can also shoot back at hunters! This is a two way game to play, but hunters will account for their satanic actions when we have to account for ourselves come judgement day!
I certainly would not want to be in their shoes! All animals on the face of this earth have the "RIGHT" to be here. It is all in God's plan. How dare that another human take upon himself the right to kill innocent animals.
Animals kill another animal strictly for survival! What is a mans logic reason to shoot down another?????
Man is as EVIL as UNBELIEVABLE!
Posted by Henriette Matthijssen on 09/08/2009 @ 11:06AM PT
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Why are humans so barbaric and hateful, so mean and insensitive, especially towards "creatures" who have no voice,or say, in their defense or their future?? Is it because of ignorance, plain stupidity, or perhaps it's because of fear, or maybe humans are cowards, or powerhungry???? Why have you humans gone through so much to bring "us" back from the brink of extinction(which by the way, you caused, just in case you forgot), and returned "us" back to the wild where "we" belong, only to slaughter and wipe "us" out AGAIN???? YOU are the evil monsters and the bloodthirsty killers!!!! Have you forgotten how "we" helped your early ancesters, and, have you also forgotten where your dog came from???? What goes around, comes around....when you kill God's natural predators, prey animals soon become overpopulated and sickly, when you kill a species, mankind will soon follow to his own extinction.PLEASE SAVE US, DON'T KILL US!!!! signed, "a wolf"
Posted by Valerie Wehmueller on 09/08/2009 @ 12:13PM PT
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stupid and specious arguments. not worth more response.
Posted by YVONNE MURRAY on 09/08/2009 @ 10:22PM PT
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Yvonne, this is a matter of life, death, agony, torture, animal dignity, and human morals & ethics. It is worth every ounce of our strength, deep thought, and will to make CRUCIAL decisions for the wolf's survival which is a mirror of our own.
Posted by Jade Golden on 09/11/2009 @ 01:26PM PT
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Compassion for other species is not "stupid", Yvonne. Do you really have so little value for life that is not your own?
Not worth a response? The right to life? Not worth it?
Or, does that mean only for humans in your Bible? Or...un-born humans? Think about it. Who made you superior? Your God? If He did, He would not be the type of God that I would follow. I would want to believe that my God would have compassion for all species the same.
Be thankful that you are a human and have that right. Be thankful you were not brought here as a wolf.
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/09/2009 @ 09:59AM PT
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Michelle McCown. Thank you for the response to Yvonne,who is an incomplete human and perhaps always will be.
Yvonne: Humans are the cancer on the face of the earth. You obvioulsy do not know that in a wolf pack, that only the Alpha pair are the ones who breed. Usually, but not always a litter is born per year. Wolves mate with one other wolf for life and if one of the pair dies, the surviving wolf will often time remain alone and not breed again. Wolves live usually without humans slaughtering them, about 7 years if they are lucky. Many of the pups born do not survive to adulthood. The wolf really has not gotten back to a healthy sustainable level and already they are being slaughtered again in the name of greed. As with wars, humans always repeat the same mistakes over and over and seem to never learn from their past mistakes.Wolves never "overkill" any species and hunt for survival. The lie about wildlife starving do to the wolves over killing prey animals is totally untrue. Yes some animals do starve to death in winters, but why do you think that is so. It is from human incrouchment into the animals habitat to over hunting of the healthiest animals and invading the animals territory to house their own over populated species of other humans, who have gone forth and multiplied with no common sense unlike other species on the planet, who do not reproduce when food os scarce.
As for your cat situation. Many Humane Society branches in this country have a low cost spay/nueter certificate that low income people can take advantage of one per year to have your excess cats fixed. If you are on a lomited income you probably qualify. I do not let my animals breed at all, let alone excessively as many people do with their domestic animals as well as themselves in many instances. However, this over breeding does not apply to wolves. Cats and many domestic dogs can produce a litter every 2 months, wolves do not.
Once this disaster of a hunting program-last count over 10,000 permits for 225 wolves to be slaughtered were sold, there will be no more wolves and in a few years you will loose all the trophy animals to the Great White Hunter(as this is what they usually are, but not really great) the only animals left to replenish the gene pool will be sick and unhealthy and then perhaps these morons who have this wolf hatred, which if you study history and religion, is a lie promoted mostly and kept alive by the churches of the world, as are the lies about bats,owls, cats and any other animals that is mostly nocturnal(night active).
From the last post about stupid and specious arguments not worth more response, this is usually how "religious so called believers" respond to a topic which they think they know more about than those who actually do know about wolves. I have sponsored and worked with the DNR in my state about education the population to the truth about how all of nature is conected and should work, and it works best with less interference from humans, who have done nothing but harm more of the planet than they have helped.
Posted by deborah lonewolf on 09/09/2009 @ 10:23AM PT
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An incredibly sad update on the wolf hunt in Idaho. I just received this from my email subscription to Defenders of Wildlife:
Court Rules to
Continue Hunts
A federal court has rejected our motion for a preliminary injunction to stop wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana, but ruled that we are likely to prevail in our challenge to the federal government's elimination of federal protections for wolves in Idaho and Montana.
Bonnie,> Read the judge's ruling. (PDF)
I've got some bad news: At 7:53 PM last night, a federal court decided not to take immediate action to stop wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana.
I'm sure you share my profound disappointment that the wolf hunts will -- at least for the moment -- continue, but today's decision does have an important silver lining:
The court also ruled that, based on the merits of our case, we have a strong chance of ultimately prevailing in our legal challenge of the Interior Department's delisting of wolves in Idaho and Montana and restoring vital federal protections for these wolves.
You can read the judge's ruling here. (PDF)
While we are disappointed that the court did not issue an injunction, we are encouraged that the court seems to agree with us that the Obama Department of the Interior's delisting the wolf was illegal and appears -- as we have repeatedly said -- to have reflected a political, rather than a science-based, decision.
Defenders of Wildlife will continue to move quickly in the days and weeks ahead to win our lawsuit and restore protections for these wolves. And, with your help, we'll continue to vigorously pursue our five-point plan to save the lives of these wolves. Specifically, we'll:
Continue the fight in court to restore protections for wolves. Counter anti-wolf lies in the media. Work on the ground to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock producers. Mobilize wildlife activists to save wolves. Bring lawless wolf killers to justice.
Thank you for all you've done to help save our wolves! Together, I know we can prevail.
For the Wild Ones,
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife
So while the court battle wages on, the wolves are being gunned down and by the time the courts finally get around to realizing this is wrong, it will be too late. The precious lives will already have been lost.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 09/09/2009 @ 11:53AM PT
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http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4844
One wolf pack gets a break...for now. Read the story.
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/09/2009 @ 02:54PM PT
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Thank goodness for one tiny ray of hope. One loses, one gets a reprieve.
And this week, Cloud, the head stallion, was captured in the Pryor Mountain wild horse "gathering". The picture of him being chased with one of his mares was heartbreaking. They SAY they will set him free IF others in his herd are healthy. But it has been discovered that the BLM intends to sell off to slaughter all of latest wild horses they have "gathered". His tiny herd of 190, which is the only herd that can be traced back to the Spaniards, is being taken down to just over 100, which isn't enough to sustain a healthy bloodline.
It's the same excuse for the wild horses as for the wolves - there isn't enough land for both the cattle AND the horses. But it's OUR LAND. It belongs to the taxpayers and NOT the cattle ranchers. I've made phone calls, written letters, begged and pleaded at every turn for these causes. It all falls on the greedy, deaf ears of these power-drunk monsters. Even when we try to be the voice for the voiceless, we end up hitting nothing but brick walls of good ole boy greed.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 09/09/2009 @ 03:37PM PT
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Both the wolves and the Pryor Mountain mustangs made our local news tonight, and the people interviewed were the Wildlife Fish and Game and the BLM. Neither one is in the business of protecting wildlife. They help the cattle ranchers.
Our politicians wear cowboy hats and like to pretend to be the last of the "wild west cowboys". Their campaign advertisements show them riding horses and moving cattle, or shooting guns. They are hunters and ranchers. Shameful. Governor Schweitzer was the one at the Democratic Convention wearing the "bolo tie". Very embarrassing.
Our Governor had the chance to stop the horse slaughter. He chose not to. He thought it was another opportunity to bring more money to Montana. Hunters and cattle ranchers run the state. Montana is a hundred years behind the rest of the country and they want to keep it that way. Not many Native Americans left either. Very few people of any color other than white. Like I said...shameful.
Montanans like to call the state- the Last Best Place, and if you don't like what we stand for, you can git and go back to where y'all came from.
SHAME to the F. U. L. !
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/09/2009 @ 05:19PM PT
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A female wolf pup was poached and killed in Idaho on Sunday in an area where hunting is illegal. The man was cited, but his name was not released. He shot the pup from the road behind his pickup truck.
The laws don't matter to people who want to kill. Will they count this death as part of the 220 allowed murders?
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/10/2009 @ 09:00AM PT
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http://www.2news.tv/news/local/58127392.html
Just found an article from the local news about the poaching story.
Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/10/2009 @ 09:05AM PT
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I knew it was only a matter of time. I'm surprised he reported it, but I guess he was trying to "follow the rules" before he realized where he was. It didn't matter one lick to him that it was just a pup. They better count this precious baby in that 220, but something tells me they will consider it separate, since it was gunned down outside of the "legal" area.
My heart just breaks thinking about all the misery going on every second of every day around the globe with the animals. The horse "gatherings" so the BLM can send them to slaughter and the cattle can use the land, the wolf hunts, again thanks to the cattle ranchers' greed. This added to the horrors of factory farming, fur farming, dog and cat murder in China, Korea, the Philippines, the latest announcement that China is to begin a new dog "cull" today with their squads of club and stick wielding monsters, now telling families if their dog is over 1 foot tall, THEY must kill the dog and if they don't, the squads will tear their family member away and bludgeon him/her to death, the Taiji dolphin slaughter which appeared to be stopped thanks to the movie The Cove, but which cranked up yesterday slicing and dicing the dolphins and whales......the list is endless.
This week has been especially awful, because every day there is another video or another story about some new horror being committed by humans against the innocent animals. Some days are more overwhelming than others, and I guess every day this week has been like that.
Posted by Bonnie Snider on 09/10/2009 @ 09:42AM PT
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Thomas,thank you for confirming my belief that those who are heartless,and cannot think-kill.
Posted by mike downs on 09/29/2009 @ 07:21AM PT
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Folks, in a few different threads now in the last couple weeks, I've seen a couple animal advocates mock non-advocates for their spelling or grammar or perceived lack of education. I understand that emotions run high in these threads, particularly when people are being intentionally antagonistic regarding their disregard for animals, but let's please keep those kinds of irrelevant (and elitist) personal attacks out of these conversations. No one -- hunter, vegan, farmer, animal rights advocate -- has to have perfect spelling and grammar or a certain level of formal education to post his or her point of view here, whether it's a compassionate message or one challenging compassionate messages.
Posted by Stephanie Ernst on 09/29/2009 @ 11:30AM PT
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