Mike Quinones
In the whole 37 –year history of the endangered species act, not one species has been delisted solely for political convenience. However, that recently changed when congress passed a budget bill last spring that strips federal protection for wolves in the Northern Rockies, Montana, and Idaho. It is shocking that this occurred since congress has had a relatively good record of basing these kinds of laws on science and not politics. By removing the wolves from federal protection, congress threw science in the back seat, putting politics in the driver’s seat. To some people out west, wolves are respected and loved, but to many others they are the complete opposite. This is what drove congress to remove them from federal protection. The scariest part of the wolves removal from protection is the wolf-management plans being approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In Idaho, their management plan sets no limit in most of the state. This makes little sense since the 2010 population was estimated around only 700. It gets worse, hunters are given this limitless season seven months of the year. But not to worry, Idaho will only allow this as long as the wolf population remains at a minimum of 150 in the state. Along with gun hunting, Idaho is allowing trapping and snaring, with a limit of three per person. Trappers are only required to check their traps every 3 days, giving the caught wolves plenty of time to die a slow and painful death. This is the first time ever, in modern times, that this has been allowed in the lower 48 states. Montana has a slightly better management plan, but there is still something to worry about. Montana’s wolf population is roughly 550. The state is allowing up to 40% of the population to be hunted for a length of 3 months. A few months ago, Wyoming decided to give their residents permission to shoot wolves on sight, with no license required. Wyoming’s open wolf season extends into the denning season, a crucial time when wolves raise their pups. Wyoming’s wolf population is around only 350. The only area where the wolves would get a break is a small area near Yellowstone National Park. And even there, they can be hunted if the hunter has a license in hand.
Being a keystone predator, wolves keep other species such as elk and deer in check. This is a delicate balance. It has been shown in the past that with deer removed from a system, species like elk and deer consume a devastating amount of vegetation. After the wolves were reintroduced into this region in 1995 and 1996, plant species such as aspen and cottonwood started to recover. Wolf populations need to be kept at a fair number. Allowing them to be hunted can be a good thing, but only if they are hunted in proper numbers and at the proper time of the year.
Works Cited
“Budget Bill Leaves Wolves, ESA Vulnerable.” Defenders Fall 2011: 12-13.
“Northern Rockies Wolves Win!.” Defenders Fall 2010: 26
5 comments:
You state population numbers of wolves, but I sit here wondering if those populations are back to the old levels or are they low or high? Aren't wolf territory ranges around 14 square miles? Isn't it possible that population numbers are good enough to hunt? Wolves have been at the center of political conversation for a while now. As long as the wolves are not extirpated again from these states or populations lowered again (what is low?) then who cares?
Well written, and a continuing controversial topic. It will be interesting to see if these western decisions will have an effect on what happens here in Wis.
I agree hunting would be a good thing in these states but some of the regulations seem to be taking too many of the wolves per year and hunting in the denning season seem not to be strict enough regulations for the species. Some of the regulations should be more restrictive for the hunters at least as restrictive as the ones in Montana.
I agree hunting would be a good thing in these states but some of the regulations seem to be taking too many of the wolves per year and hunting in the denning season seem not to be strict enough regulations for the species. Some of the regulations should be more restrictive for the hunters at least as restrictive as the ones in Montana.
Wolf populations are indeed high enough to hunt however there needs to be a limit. We have seen in the past what happens when there is no limits, they will become extirpated. We do not know ebough yet to say for sure what is a stable or good population. This is why there should be some stricter limits and regulations until further research is conducted.
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