Death threats, new conflicts over killing of wolves

[JDHasty]

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/death-threats-new-conflicts-over-killing-of-wolves/

[huntnphool]

 I'm thinking that North Bend meeting might be a good one to go to.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Wielgus is an embarrassment - he has the credentials but misuses them to spew his biased agenda in popular media, not to provide unbiased information to inform management decisions.  His statements to the media on this issue appear to be colored by personal animosity toward the rancher for not participating in Wielgus' study (a natural response from anyone who has observed Wielgus' past manipulations of study results to suit his own bias).  He was fine grinding his ax for the general public, but other people grinding their own axes is going tooooo far.  Unfortunately, unprofessional activist professors who undermine scientific credibility in pursuit of personal agendas are being increasingly accepted in academia - there was a time when university research scientists would have roundly criticized any of their peers who deliberately misrepresent information to suit their own bias - and would have feared termination as a result.

I have been hearing Wielgus' statements on KPQ radio for the past few days, both mischaracterizing the rancher's livestock turnout and management, and inferring that partnering with WDFW and his group is a guarantee against livestock depredations.  He is an embarrassment to the wildlife biology profession. 

There is absolutely no excuse for the wolf lovers who are making these death threats - I hope these ecoterrorists are being actively investigated by the FBI and will be prosecuted.

[JDHasty]

Thanks KFhunter for relocating this thread. 

I was torn on whether to put it here first, but thought that the issues go so far beyond Wolves that people who are interested in the other aspects might not see it and get a chance to read it. SO I decided to go w/Virtual Campfire. 

This way if someone sees the subject line and the other aspects interest them they can come over here and read it. 

[bugs n bones]

I'm thinking that North Bend meeting might be a good one to go to.

yeah I'd be packing heat, it could get ugly there..rough crowd

[DOUBLELUNG]

https://news.wsu.edu/2016/08/31/wsu-issues-statement-clarifying-comments-profanity-peak-wolf-pack/


WSU issues statement clarifying comments on wolf pack

Published on August 31, 2016 
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University and the WSU College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resources Sciences Wednesday issued the following statement regarding public statements made by Rob Wielgus, associate professor and director of the Large Carnivore Conservation Lab at WSU, related to the Profanity Peak wolf pack.

Some of Wielgus’ statements in regard to this controversial issue have been both inaccurate and inappropriate. As such, they have contributed substantially to the growing anger and confusion about this significant wildlife management issue and have unfairly jeopardized the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf Advisory Group’s many-months long stakeholder process. Moreover, the statements do not in any way represent the views or position of WSU or the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resources Sciences. These statements are disavowed by our institutions.

We offer the following corrections of the information in the public arena:

In an article published by the Seattle Times on Aug. 25, Wielgus stated that a particular livestock operator had “elected to put his livestock directly on top of (the wolves’) den site; we have pictures of cows swamping it…”

In fact, the rancher identified in the article did not intentionally place livestock at or near the den site of the Profanity Peak wolf pack, and Wielgus subsequently acknowledged that he had no basis in fact for making such a statement. In actuality, the livestock were released at low elevation on the east side of the Kettle Crest more than 4 miles from the den site and were dispersed throughout the allotments based on instructions found in the Annual Operating Instructions (AOI). The CC mountain allotment is more than 30,000 acres and livestock are generally moved from pasture to pasture following an established rotation.

In the same article, Wielgus stated that a particular cattle rancher had also “refused to radio-collar his cattle to help predict and avoid interactions with radio-collared wolves” and that there had been no documented “cattle kills among producers who are participating in research studies and very few among producers using Fish and Wildlife’s protocol.”

In fact, the rancher identified in the article has held a term grazing permit for 73 years and has worked with both the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service in the management of livestock in order to avoid conflict – following procedures outlined by the Washington Wolf Advisory Group. In order to reduce wolf/livestock conflict, the rancher has modified livestock rotation practices and utilized range riders to ensure livestock safety.

While the rancher  is not currently participating in Wielgus’ ongoing study, radio-collaring of livestock is not a Wolf Advisory Group procedure nor is it 100 percent effective at preventing depredations. It is inaccurate to state that there have been no cattle kills among producers participating in the study. There is at least one permittee who is participating in the study who has incurred livestock depredations.

The decision to eliminate the Profanity Peak wolf pack came after two years of careful work and scientific analysis by the Washington State Wolf Advisory Group, consisting of a collaboration between scientists, industry and conservation partners. WSU subscribes to the highest standards of research integrity and will not and cannot condone statements that have the effect of compromising that integrity.

Regarding future steps for preventing subsequent inaccurate or inappropriate statements, we are implementing applicable internal university processes.

WSU apologizes to our friends, our science partners and to the public for this incident.

 

Contact:

Robert Strenge, WSU News, 509-335-3583, rstrenge@wsu.edu

[Special T]

Tag

[Henrydog]

There is absolutely no excuse for the wolf lovers who are making these death threats - I hope these ecoterrorists are being actively investigated by the FBI and will be prosecuted.
[/quote]

Thank god I went to Eastern instead of WSU.  2nd I could not agree more.  3rd sadly our Federal government is a loss cause that only pushes it leftist agenda.  So nothing will happen to these criminals.  End result: rancher will lose more paychecks and sportsmans will foot the bill as our SS# are stolen from the Dept of None Hunting and Fish Treaties sits on its hands.

[Special T]

How many of these bunny huggers do you think own guns? I think they are mostly the passive agressive types that call gov agencies on you or sue.

[pd]

https://news.wsu.edu/2016/08/31/wsu-issues-statement-clarifying-comments-profanity-peak-wolf-pack/

Holy Smokes.  Talk about being disowned by your own family!  Good for WSU to have the cahones to publish this---I really respect that.  I don't know, but I will assume this person is a tenured professor, in which case it would be nearly impossible to fire the liar.

Yes, it is a bad situation.  But at least the university stood up to this fellow and showed the world that he is not a man of his word. 

[csaaphill]

Somebody asked if the hack on the WDFW site was related? Kind of looks like it could be. If they got personal info off anyone who bought License in WA then I'd say be careful out there peeps. I seen some of the posts by these loons and yeah one or two were threat looking. Don't forget some of the Moms demand action people have been out attacking people who either open carry or even have legal concealed pistols.

[csaaphill]

How many of these bunny huggers do you think own guns? I think they are mostly the passive agressive types that call gov agencies on you or sue.

You'd be surprised just how many anti gun people who own guns, I'd not want to underestimate some of them loons. you're right on that they call the cops and have you swatted though. Meaning they say they see a gun and your waving it around acting like your about to kill someone then the cops show up and if your lucky just have to tell them the truth if not dead.
Those freaks especially the moms demand action crowd have been known to attack people legally carrying acting like they just witnessed a murder. I'd still be careful you never know especially with the hack at WDFW site on licenses.

[Special T]

Good point on being Swatted and the wdfw hack. Didn't think about those 2.

[bearpaw]

https://news.wsu.edu/2016/08/31/wsu-issues-statement-clarifying-comments-profanity-peak-wolf-pack/

Holy Smokes.  Talk about being disowned by your own family!  Good for WSU to have the cahones to publish this---I really respect that.  I don't know, but I will assume this person is a tenured professor, in which case it would be nearly impossible to fire the liar.

Yes, it is a bad situation.  But at least the university stood up to this fellow and showed the world that he is not a man of his word.

He's the same professor who did the bogus cougar studies upon which WDFW has modeled WA cougar management. 

[KFhunter]

We need plans for all the large carnivores.  This guy is fully disavowed and had huge input in these plans, should be good ammunition to drive through new plans.