It’s clear from the irrational outbursts at a recent WDFW public meeting on wolves that Washington wants to join the ranks of the hostile, hateful anti-wolf states. At least the eastern Washington cattle ranchers do.
Here are some excerpts from an article in an eastern Washington newspaper, the Wenatchee World entitled, “Wolf management will include lethal removal, state officials say.”
(My comments are within parenthesis.)
OKANOGAN — State wildlife officials assured Okanogan County residents Thursday that some problem wolves that kill livestock will be trapped and euthanized this year.
(Is that a threat or a promise?)
“The lethal side of management is controversial, but it is a very real part of management,” Dave Ware told a standing-room-only crowd that included many cattle ranchers. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife game division manager added, “We’re trying to be more aggressive, and we’re trying to be more responsive.”
(By “responsive” he was no doubt speaking to bloodthirsty cattle ranchers, not those who suggest that wolves have their place and should be allowed to live in the state.)
Ware said his agency has also created a wildlife conflict section to stay on top of problem wolves, and has hired someone in Northeast Washington whose only focus will be on wolf conflicts.
(Sounds like some kind of a bounty hunter).
And, they will share radio-collar information about where the wolves are with ranchers who have cattle in the area.
(I knew there was a reason I hated those burdensome radio collars wolves are forced to wear; while the public is led to believe they are for “research purposes,” those collars can actually be used against the wolves by giving their locations to their sworn enemies.)
Still, more than 200 people who crowded into the Okanogan County PUD auditorium for Thursday night’s wolf meeting weren’t satisfied.
(In other words, they were out for blood.)
Some told Wildlife officials they plan to manage wolves their own way — by shooting them on sight.
(You don’t get much more hostile than that.)
An Okanogan County commissioner told them the county is interested in giving jurisdiction over the wolves to the Colville Tribes. Tribal officials last year issued nine permits to kill wolves on the Colville Indian Reservation.
(The Colvilles were the first in the state to initiate a hunting season on wolves.)
Ware said if problem wolves are located east of Highway 97 — where wolves are federally delisted — they’ll consider trapping and killing them.
(Meanwhile, the feds are planning to delist wolves elsewhere across the country—see below.)
It’s a decision that will still be made by Fish and Wildlife Director Phil Anderson, he said, but added, “Lethal removal is going to be part of that management.”
(Of course, “lethal removal” is standard practice for “wildlife managers”).
Ware also said he’s expecting the federal government to include the rest of Washington in the area where wolves are no longer protected.
(No comment).
Text and Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2012. All Rights Reserved
Exposing the Big Game 
Talking to the anti-wolf people or wolf haters is absolutely like talking to the republican right fringe brain. They are anti-science, not affected by logic or facts, and just go back to their folklore and anecdotal opinions; you might as well talk to your shoelaces. Talking to them and addressing their folklore, myths, hate does sharpen the pro-wolf arguments. But the pro-wolf or pro-predator or balanced ecological systems arguments need to go beyond the choir to those in the middle, those who care if informed, to politicians who might care. Even the wildlife agencies keep doing what they have been doing for over 100 years, marginalizing or trying to wipe out the predators, because they basically work for hunters and license fees and politicians of a like mind, trappers, ranchers and farmers and wolf hating yokels and buy into the folklore and wolf/predator myths. We who care about predators, like the wolf and lion, need to get more positive information out there and recommended readings and viewings, such as “Romeo, The Story of an Alaskan Wolf” by John Hyde, get more documentaries out there, pro and truthful movies, not such as the myth enhancing movie “The Gray” or “Frozen”. The states that are very anti-wolf are mostly very red or there are red contingencies in those other states that are now getting wolves migrating into them who are the most vocal. Newspapers keep repeating anti-wolf, anti-predator anecdotal and folklore of wolf hating groups giving it some credence by their repetition.
A confirmed population of only 51 wolves in the entire freakin’ state, and those brain-dead, wolf-hating freaks still want to kill as many more as possible. I don’t know whom I have more contempt for, the wolf haters, or the politicians and F&G board officials who pander to them.
It sounds like there were more wolf-haters at that meeting than there are wolves in the state. I live in eastern Washington but did not drive to the meeting because I was afraid those freaks would damage me or my car. I know I would not have been able to keep my dislike of them from being obvious. I would like to know whether anyone would be interested in creating wolf protection groups like there were in Sweden that could get between the wolves and the haters in the event of a hunt.
I also live near n eastern Washington, and I am very interested in creating a pro wolf /predator group in this area. My email is mkbsmith29@hotmail.com
I’m not a religious guy but I’m starting to believe in the original sin concept, as it applies to the US anyway. The US was born out of thievery and mass murder, by the European invaders against the native peoples. These violent and greedy Nazi-like invaders massacred native wildlife, along with the native people. The violence and mass murder has never been atoned for, instead it has accelerated against wildlife throughout the country. The same thing is happening to the north in Canada. The US was born from massively criminal, sinful behavior and it looks like it will die in that manner, by finally killing itself, unless a miracle happens.
Cattlemen and sport killers are the darkest curse upon the land. The entire planet would be so much better off if they would only move to their own evil planet and leave this one to those of us who love it.
It is never okay to kill our relations. Many of my family are Wolf Clan. I am Bear Clan myself. Killing for fun and profit is EVIL!!!!!!!!.
Love the photos… I love wolves bear moose and more
Thanks, glad you’re enjoying them.
I too hate those invasive radio collars–even when used for “legitimate” research. I think any researcher who wants to put these on animals should have to wear one 24/7 too, and for just as long as the animal does. Now that they’re using them against the wolves in actively lethal ways, people who appreciate whole ecosystems (including wolf researchers) should stop using them. Jane Goodall and many others have proven it is possible to study wildlife by non-invasive means.
Good points, Trish. And I’m sure Jane Goodall would be disgusted that a “research” tool is used against them. It’s sorta like the way that Japanese whalers use the term “research.”