See if you can make heads or tails of this muddled article in the Billings Gazette. I’m no mathematician, but it appears that wolves in the “cowboy” state have already been so overhunted that if many more are killed they’ll be back on the Endangered Species list…
Wyoming Game and Fish proposes cutting 2013 wolf quotas by half
April 10, 2013 5:16 pm • By CHRISTINE PETERSON Casper Star-Tribune
CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming wolf hunting quotas may be cut in half this fall, according to a Wyoming Game and Fish Department release issued Wednesday.
The population could not withstand another 52-wolf quota without coming dangerously close to the required minimum set in Wyoming’s delisting plan, said Mark Bruscino, the department’s large carnivore program supervisor.
If wolf numbers drop below the requirement, it could lead to re-listing on the endangered-species list.
“Our intent the first year was to reduce the population,” Bruscino said. “We estimated we would reduce it in the trophy game area and seasonal game area by 11 percent, and we actually reduced it about 12 percent.”
Hunters killed 42 wolves during the trophy and seasonal trophy hunting seasons from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. The overall population in the trophy areas dropped by about 20 wolves because of pups born in 2012, Bruscino said.
The proposed quota of 26 wolves is likely to cut the number of wolves in the trophy areas by about nine at the end of 2013, Bruscino said.
Some hunters disagree with the new quota of 26.
“They should have added 26 is my feeling, rather than subtracted,” said Fritz Meyer, a Dubois outfitter. “I don’t think they’re in any danger of going under the minimum.”
Wolves may be a little tougher to hunt this year, he said. The ones who survived last year will be wiser.
Game and Fish officials had hoped to use the 2012 hunting season to lower wolf numbers from 192 to 172 in the northwest corner of the state outside of Yellowstone National Park, said Brian Nesvik, the department’s chief game warden.
Final estimates show 169 wolves and 15 breeding pairs lived in that area after the hunting season, he said.
About 90 more wolves and six breeding pairs lived in Yellowstone and on the reservation at the end of 2012, according to estimates.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed Wyoming wolves from the endangered species list last fall.
Under the delisting agreement, Wyoming must keep a minimum of 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs in the state outside of Yellowstone and the Wind River Indian Reservation. Wyoming needs to maintain 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs in the entire state, including the park and reservation.
Wolves can be shot without a license during any time of the year in about 85 percent of the state. Thus far this year, hunters have killed 14 in that 85 percent, Nesvik said.
Several lawsuits are pending against Wyoming and the Fish and Wildlife Service that argue Wyoming’s wolf plan will not protect the animals.
Game and Fish officials will announce details of the proposed new quota in meetings this spring. Meeting times and locations have not been announced.
Exposing the Big Game 
The lack of reasoning and thinking skills within the hunting community is painful. To see that Wyoming Game and Fish isn’t doing any better is deplorable while not surprising. I’m so sick and tired of the fact that some morons (such as delightful Fritz Meyer above) can make life-or-death decisions over animals that many, many of us love; even bringing them again to the brink of extinction!
That’s right, meanwhile the “game” departments and media use doublespeak and intentionally confusing figures hoping we’ll just give up and move on to other issues.
Is that what they are trying to do? WTF?
WTF is right!
This is why they should have never been removed from The ESA and need back on it right away!
That’s exactly right, Justin.
P-l-e-a-s-e sign & share my petition: Save the Wolves!!!@change.org Thanx from Lee Rockwell (on facebook/ articles re & images of wolves) The 3 question marks brings petition up 1st on a google search…
Lee, post an actual link directly to the petition so we can all sign it easily!
Lee, Is this a different type of petition? I already signed a petition for the wolves in Wyoming .
The good ol #United States of Abuse hillbillies at it again. Making you proud every single day! So sorry for my great animal rights companions having to share the international shame and pain brought about by the very disgusting animal murdering sadists and the wonderful wildlife and fisheries torture department. Well done as usual on the wolf front…. you set of cunts
Nicely said!
Reblogged this on Howling For Justice and commented:
The Inmates Are Running The Asylum!!!
To Wyoming Gov. Mead and all the other heartless morons in Wyoming who love cows and elk but hate everything else that moves: our side is not going away. On the contrary, we, the humane and wildlife-respecting majority, are getting stronger and more numerous every day, like the stars in the sky. However long it takes, we will take you and all the criminal cattlemen down, restore the wolves and all native wildlife and heal the land. Sooner than later.
This is what happened in WY, not too long ago. Maybe @ 2008? A WY judge needed to do an emergency halt to the killing of wolves because accelerating due to an all-out frenzy. Trophy hunters, good ‘ole boys… The killing of wolves was so severe that wolves were being slaughtered & just left where killed, to rot. The hunters goal was just to kill. History DOES repeat itself. Delist. Kill. Oh my! Now what? Oh yes. Re-list again. The title of this article is so sad. “Lack of wolves.” Visual image of wolf ghosts. So many gone in so many states. R.I.P. majestic beauties. We are your voice. Always.
This is what happens when you have an over developed sense of entitlement and a don’t know how to play nice with the world. Wyoming’s “plan” is obvious and they’re not fooling anyone. It’s a blood lust based, profit driven incentive to ramp up efforts to slaughter all wolves. Yet it’s not even enough to know that they’ve killed 1 wolf, or even 20 wolves. These cretins are actually delirious over wolf blood, and the more the better. I bet they even roll around in it after a “good” kill, which basically translates into using the most extreme sadistic creativity known to the black hearts of man. I can only imagine how these little darlings behaved in the school yard when they were kids.
You are not very far off the mark in suggesting that the killers like to roll around in wolf blood. In the 1970’s a one-hour television documentary called “The Wolfmen” was broadcast (have tried hard to locate copy of it in recent years but cannot). It had a huge public impact and was what really got the ball rolling on wolf protection and re-introduction in the US and directly resulted in the (regrettably temporary) banning of airborne hunting of wolves by act of Congress. That film showed real life wolf biologists and supporters and various humanoids intent on killing them. Some of the latter were filmed actually eating small quantities of raw wolf meat from their kills in some sort of bizarre, primitive ritual celebrating their “victory” over a creature that is, in effect, a thousand time more admirable than themselves. Most younger people have no recollection of this period in the 1970s when wolf recovery in the lower 48 states suddenly became an environmental cause celebre. That public love and commitment to protect wolves that swept the country for a short time back then has proven to be remarkably ephemeral. As the wise man said: those who do not learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.
Thanks for your wise post, Geoff.
BraveWolf
If those who loathe wolves can imprint their hatred upon others, then those who respect and appreciate wolves can do the same .
Wolf hysteria has had its way…it’s time to do things the right way! This is the sentiment that will echo in a current project directed toward local high school youths to bring awareness to the wolf’s plight. To protect anything, you must first want to protect it. When kids discover how important wolves are to our eco systems, and the politics behind the hunts, they are not only enthusiastic, they want to know how they can help.
Although there are always exceptions to any rule, such as Oregon’s shinning example…it’s always been painfully obvious that a small populace within western states had no intention of continuing on with wolf recovery to allow for thriving populations, they never wanted them to begin with. As if frozen in time, once legal protections were taken away the orgy began anew. It is unconscionable that science is being totally disregarded , and soul wrenching to understand that these “numbers” represent sentient beings who are caught up in a “numbers game” to allow only the bare minimum required. Not only robbing wolves of their vital genetic diversity, but also their hierarchical wisdom through which pups are born into and will hopefully flourish. Throw in a little fun and profit and they think they have a win win situation . Well check again…
The pendulum, indeed, swings both ways and we will change all that. One truth at a time. One child at a time.
Wolves will have the justice.
Amen, brother, Amen.
BraveWolf
Amen Geoff! Your wolf spirit shines through my friend !
Somebody needs to buy these morons a calculator and teach them how to use it .The amount of wolves in a state the size of Wyoming is hardly a drop in the bucket and they want to reduce it more ? They may be able to sugar coat bull shit on everything else they want to feed us, but numbers are numbers just because they want to make two plus two equal 22 and 2 minus 2 equal 22 does not cut it. I swear these people are too stupid to live . God; give me patience with stupid !!!
This is WHY Sen. Orrin Hatch is working to push through legislation to remove ALL ESL from wolves, that way these wolf haters can kill them ALL
Legislation to reestablish hunting has just been reintroduced in Oregon. Can’t shake the sneaking suspicion that a group like ALEC might be behind this anti-wolf clamor.
Michael , Is there a petition to sign to save the wolves in Oregon? If so would it be on change .org ?
Nancy, a wolf kill bill was introduced in the Oregon Senate but died procedurally last month when the legislature adjourned. It is sure to be reintroduced. For current situation see “Ecotrope” | March 06 (http://www.opb.org/news/blog/ecotrope/oregon-wolf-kill-bill-dies-compensation-passes/)
I bet you’re right, Michael. Either that or there’s some copy-cat killer mentality out there. Do have a link to info on the OR bill?
Clarification. A bill to allow wolf hunting passed the Oregon House recently, was thought to be dead in the Senate, but was revived, then died procedurally when the Legislature adjourned last month.
What seems to be happening is cattlemen’s associations across the country banding together on the issue. How they’re interconnected and whether there may be or is a particular group/person involved in making the connection, has not yet been reported.
Story in Ecotrope. Oregon Wolf “Kill Bill” Dies; Compensation Passes. (http://www.opb.org/news/blog/ecotrope/oregon-wolf-kill-bill-dies-compensation-passes/)
Don’t yet know the particulars of who was behind it, but it’s sure to be reintroduced. Will keep an eye out.
Thanks for the update. Yes, we’ll have to watch for that one.
Check out my update on Oregon’s wolf situation today, “MORE WOLVES IN CROSSHAIRS,” Animal Post. m
Thanks, and feel free to share the link.
Anytime a chance to push against anything that even remotely hints at an attack on the second amendment rights, gun lobbies rear their heads. They were were behind the 2011 de-listing by rider, and they are also apparently involved in the current blanket de-listing. I recently received an email with a petition from Wild Earth Guardians regarding the NRA’s intervention in wolf policy…as follows:
https://secure3.convio.net/wg/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=575&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=97s7piutr3.app334b
From satellite, it appears as if a sinister chess game is in play, wherein key figures are strategically placed for maximum effect. Apparently in Oregon there are still enough decent individuals who still reign. Thank God for that much. We can be fairly certain that the $300,000 commandeered from Utah’s state funding by Peay and his ilk has been distributed out there somewhere, we may never know just what goal that accomplished. When money talks, integrity walks. Even so, there is a hard day of reckoning coming for them, they are just too full of themselves to even realize it yet.
Speaking of walks, a friend sent this link to me and I wanted to be sure anyone who wanted to participate had the opportunity to do so. Anything we do to bring awareness is always a plus.
http://walkforwolves.com/
Does anyone have revenue numbers on the recreational viewing of wolves alive ! with guides and the amount they may generate in the hospitality industries? vs the numbers the state gets in revenues from the hunters…or can direct me to these numbers by state or just Wyoming or Montana? There is a writer who wants to do a comprehensive piece on this issue and I could use some help procuring some of these statistics…
thank you
Rebecca
American’s wildlife is own by no one and according to the public trust doctrine they belonged to all citizens equally. So why the hell are the ranchers get to have so much say? It is time that native species are managed in a way that reflects the far more respectful ethical values of the majority.