letter to the editor
I was very troubled by your (June 18) editorial supporting the delisting of wolves in the lower 48.
Your editorial mentions that wildlife groups worry this could lead to the extermination of wolves in many states, and that concern isn’t unfounded. It is, in fact, supported by recent events in the form of hunting seasons in states such as Idaho and Wyoming and of course, Montana. The widespread hostility of these popular hunting states toward the wolf as a “trophy animal” and the alleged “sportsman” that are eager to simply kill the wolf is appalling. Barely on the cusp of recovery, wolves are killed for the sole purpose of a pelt, a rug or a taxidermy prize. Forty years of protection for endangered species leads to this? What a travesty.
And let’s not forget the fragile border of Yellowstone National Park in Montana, and the killing a few months back of the popular 831F, a collared Yellowstone wolf that happened to wander outside the safety of the park. How many other wolves might suffer a similar fate, a sick and sad potential future for the state of Montana if the wolves are stripped of their protection.
You also mention that if, indeed, human’s overzealous hunting practices take the wolf back to the brink of extinction, the Endangered Species Act can be applied again. What is the likelihood of the ESA being applied again once lifted? My guess is slim to none!
Certainly there can be a balance between permanent protection and wholesale slaughter. A reasonable respect to the wolf lineage that humans destroyed and have worked for many years to rebuild must be fostered before the ESA is removed from these animals, otherwise the individual states will never be able to govern themselves. This, we’ve already, unfortunately, seen.
Jennifer Selzer
Exposing the Big Game 
Reblogged this on Sherlockian's Blog.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read the twisted rationale that if hunters come close to wiping out the wolves again, we’ll just re-list them? In what twisted, backward, illogical, and self-serving universe do these people live? Putting aside the fact that they are still endangered if we go by numbers and former range, how on earth can you utter those words with a straight face, all the while stripping protections that would actually preclude them from hitting that precarious stage? Then we re-list them, allow them to establish themselves as packs, as families, as individuals and as important contributors to our ecosystems … and start killing them again when they hit 1000s in number? The craziness would be unbelievable if I didn’t see it play out across so many wildlife decisions these days.
p.s. In my third sentence, I meant “you” in the general sense as in “one” — not you, Jim. 🙂
I know you know I’d never utter that;)
Great letter to the editor.
Reblogged this on Girl for Animal Liberation.
Reblogged this on Carinas space.
I completely agree and think that it was a very dangerous move to de-list wolves. It’s as if we’ve gone backwards in the protection of wildlife. I also agree that it is very unlikely that they will put wolves back on the list- that is unless we demand it!!