U.S. Wolves on Extermination List

Idaho is planning to target up to 26 packs of wolves beginning May 4th, 2009.

The slaugher's first intended victims will be the Buffalo Ridge Pack. This pack is located near Clayton, Idaho which sits along the bank of the Salmon River. The human population count in Clayton is listed as 26.

Just when I thought the wolves were safe. Just when I thought they might get a second chance, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar made a decision. The Interior Secretary decided that wolves in the Northern Rockies and Greater Yellowstone Region are to be removed from their threatened and endangered status under the Endangered Species Act. This leaves wolves in the Western Great Lakes, Idaho, Montana as well as part of Washington, Oregon and Utah vulnerable to extermination.

The initial decision to remove the wolves from the Endangered Species Act protection began during the last days of President Bush’s term. Despite an immediate stop by the current administration during his first day in office regarding this issue, the decision to continue down the same path has resumed.

Man is relentless in his pursuit of the wolf. The battle began in Southwest Asia in 5000 B.C. when farmers became more established in this region. The leader Charlemagne, in 813, decided wolves were of great threat and ordered officers to hunt and kill wolves. Europe, in the 1500s, would burn complete forests in an effort to destroy the predators.

In the early 1900s, wolves were deliberately infected with sarcoptic mange. Once infested with the skin burrowing mites, the wolves were released in Montana. The thought was, if one wolf had it, it could easily infect the others and the parasite would control wolves by destroying their coats and skin.

Fear of the wolf even extended to a mass poisoning event in Northern Alberta in 1952. A rabid wolf had been found and society panicked. The poisoning killed over 4000 wolves during a four year siege. Also perishing due to the poisonings were lynx, coyotes, bears, cougars and nearly 50,000 red foxes. Poisoning became a common practice and it wasn’t until 1972 that President Nixon put an end to the use of predator poisons on public grounds.

Our dislike for the dog’s canine brethren is always surprising to me since it is believed that our current canine companions descended from wolves nearly 12,000 years ago. Wolves are smart, form social groups, work together as a team, and have great endurance. According to Desmond Morris, most wolves can run 15-30 mph for as long as 12 miles at a time. It is also common for them to travel 20 miles or more in search of food.

Despite the wolf’s long journey, the public finally accepted a plea from scientists to reintroduce wolves in YellowstonePark. This monumental event occurred in January 1995. It was a long road bringing the wolves back from American extinction. It took much legal intervention and conviction from many concerned and knowledgeable individuals who believed that wolves deserved a place in the land from which they originated.

Today, as the news comes that federal protection has been lifted, it is hard to believe we are still fighting this battle. Apparently the gray wolves in Wyoming are still safe. Their Endangered Species Act protection will remain in place, for now. But who knows how long this will last. Currently, aerial gunning is allowed in Alaska, and the proposal for this to occur in the lower 48 looms. The thought of wolves run to exhaustion by planes and helicopters is hard for any animal loving person to tolerate. To know that the wolves are riddled with bullets and that they die an agonizing slow death is unforgivable.

Wolves deserve better than this disregard. They are creatures who once roamed all across North America. They have a right to co-exist with us. A right to live and do the job they were destined to do, like cull antelope herds and keep down rodent populations. We just have to allow them a place to be.

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By: Daniel Leboeuf

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