In this blog, I would like to talk about the delisting of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) as an endangered species and some of the effects I feel it will have. There has an obvious amount of controversy when it comes to this species ever since its’ decline and then its addition to the endangered species list. There has been much support for and against the actions being taken to help protect and preserve this species. I believe it has gotten so much attention because it is a mega fauna species and an apex predator and it easily noticed by all people. Children love them because their cool to look at and they think the babies are cute and they also seem to look a bit like the family dog. Adults like them for a variety of reasons, some think their cool and want to get a tattoo of one stating that they are the alpha male or they are the protector of a family. Those who study them, try to understand their complex behavior and the social hierarchy of the pack and many other reasons to like wolves. There are people that do not like the wolf and the fact that they have been protected to the point now that their population in well above, what is believed to be sustainable. Cattle ranchers seem to stick out as the most against wolves because they will sometimes depredate on their cattle herds and that costs the rancher money. There are other groups of people out there that dislike the protection the wolves, because they tend to worry about the safety of their families and pets and with more wolves out there they will possible be closer to humans, thus increasing the danger.
I am okay with the delisting of the gray wolf for the most part, but there are a few things that I take issue with. I understand the need to delist them from the standpoint that their populations are well above the numbers needed to have a sustainable population. The first issue I have is this want by people to institute a hunting season on them already. I feel that we need to wait a few years, before having a hunt for them to see if they can maintain that population. What I mean is that now that they are off the endangered species list, the penalty for going out and shooting a nuisance one for example is not nearly as high as it was before. Now that is delisted it will be easier for the DNR to give out depredation permits to those farmers and ranchers that have lost cattle to wolf attacks. These things will have an impact on the population so let’s just hold off on the hunting season for a few years, if not more to make sure the wolf population can sustain itself without human protection.
I believe that with the history of this species and the fact that it is an apex predator and has such a major image to most people that there will always be a controversy surrounding the Gray wolf.
3 comments:
In all of the crossfire concerning the great wolf debate I think many have strayed from the most momentous implications that this delisting will bring. First, and in my opinion of far more importance than a wolf hunt, is the fact that shooting a delisted wolf now carrys the same penatly as shooting any other non game species or shooting a game species out of season. The difference between this and the penalty asssocited with shooting a federally proctected wolf is huge. I will confess the only thing stopping from shooting wolves in the past (and I have had several golden opportunities) is the potential prison term, monetary penalty, and loss of hunting privledges. With wolves being delisted, the risks associated with shooting one have been severaly reduced to a point where many will now consider it "worth the risk" to shoot a wolf. I believe far more wolves are going to be killed by people playing the odds than by licenced hunters should a season be implemented.
I would like to see a hunting season on wolves because A)as I already stated I'm too chicken to poach one and B) I'm an avid sportsman with a penchant for pursuing the state's wildlife, but I digress. It is of little concern to me wheather there is a season or not, as this is not the crux of this issue. The one thing we can all hold hands and rejoice is the knowing that the fate of this state's wolves now resides with our biologists and natural resource professionals. Frankly, I find it very insulting that these people were denied the ability to manage this this speices (something that they are more than capable of doing) for so long because some bleeding heart judge affirmed the sinister agenda of radical enviromentalist (I use that label loosely)groups. Our state's natural resource professionals can and should be in charge of managing wolves and I am relieved (as we all should be) that they now have the means to do so. Come what may, people on both sides of the wolf debate can rest easy knowing that Wisconsin wolves are now in the care of those most capable of managing them effectively.
I agree that wolves should be delisted. My father is an endangered species biologist and I have talked to him at length about this issue. The wolf population is strong enough to where there could be a hunting season. The Wisconsin senate is drafting a wolf hunting bill right now. This website is a good resource to see what is happening with the bill - http://www.timberwolfinformation.org/ Towards the top click on Wisconsin Public Wolf Harvest Information
When it comes to wolves there is a lot of controversy. I think it is stupid to blame wolves for deer herd problems. If you look at the statistics hunters harvest so many more deer than wolves kill. Between car accidents, diseases, hunters, etc. wolves make up a tiny proportion of deer kills. Saying this though, I do believe that there should be a hunt for wolves. As long as tags are regulated I don’t think there would be a problem.
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