The Last of Idaho's Wolves

It was a good day for hunting. A light snow had fallen and the air cracked with frost. I could smell something in the distance. The soft sound of young voices filled the den. Happily my four were playing, tousling each other with growing teeth and bellies. I would have to hunt today.

I nuzzled the largest of my brood and gave a signal to stay. I walked out into the sun and cold.

The going was easy and tracks littered the snow. I followed the scent of rabbit over the ridge. Sitting in the open was a big hare. Slowly I crept in the brush towards the meal until I was within striking distance. Dashing forward I startled the rodent, but I was faster than he. I took him by the neck and began my way home.

As I approached the ridge a noise erupted in the sky. A large whirling sphere appeared. It seemed to chop the air with its lungs. The sound grew louder as it came forward. Suddenly the trees began to sway.

The machine seemed to be coming right towards me. It dropped lower and increased in speed. Then it dipped. I ran. It followed. A black narrow apparatus came out the side. I ducked between the barren trees and rocks.

I ran.

And ran

And ran.

I was far away from my pups when my lack of breath made me pause. The whirling beast was above me as I collapsed in deeper snow. The black bar came out again and exploded.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

My hips burned and my spine became fiery. Pain engulfed me, and nausea made me light-headed. My vision faded, then it went black. My babies were all alone.....

In Idaho wolves are dying. They are dying under the gun fire brought by hunters from helicopters. The recent causality is Idaho's Basin Butte Pack. This 7-10 member pack has been nearly decimated, and any pups remaining will either starve to death or be shot as well.

Due to the wolves being stricken from the Endangered Species Act in the Greater Yellowstone region, one of our nation's most majestic creatures are now subject to inhumane hunting and killing.

Using helicopters and planes, the wolves are run down from the air until they can neither stand or find cover. The hunters aim, shoot and fire, leaving the wolf in agonizing pain until death releases him from the torture.

When Idaho announced its new wolf hunting season, it was scheduled to end on December 31st. But some decided that not enough wolves were being killed, and that the terrain they are in is too "hard" for the hunters to reach. So the season has now been extended until March 31st. At this rate, there will be no wolves left. All ready 110 wolves have been slaughtered. The quota for the state is 220.

Despite 489 signatures from concerned citizens opposing the wolf killings, Idaho's Fish and Game Commission decided that the wolves are a great threat to elk herds. They believe that the elk herds will suffer if the wolves carry out their natural order of predator keeping prey in check. Of course this is all a ruse and has nothing to do with keeping the elk herds safe. It has only to do with keeping the human hunting interest alive and profitable.

At the end of 2008 it was estimated that 846 wolves existed in Idaho. During that year approximately 180 wolf pups were born. With each life we take, we threaten the continued viable existence of wild wolves. Idaho and her neighboring states who believe wolves are the epitome of evil, are making the decision to eliminate this predator from nature's food chain. With each link that is snapped, another creature fails.

Elk too will eventually fail, since man only takes the strongest animal and not the weakest. We will slowly dissolve the antelope herds until there is nothing left but the weak and the weary. These animals will not be able to breed, and they too will fall. Then we will wonder what went wrong. We will forget that we played a part in the demise of natural predator and prey, and probably still blame the wolf despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

The wolves are being gunned down as you read these words. A lot can happen in four months. Will there be any wolves left after March 31st?

 Photo courtesy of www.Copyright-free-photos.org.uk