The start of the wolf reintroduction and maybe where it is going. If you pull up this site there is more to it but I didn't want to take up so much space, it is rather interesting though.
The wolf became the darling of the deep ecology movement that got its legs in the 1960s, partially because of the wolf's mythical status as a top predator. The deep ecology philosophy formed a look-don't-touch view of humankind's rights concerning nature, and when Farley Mowatt published his book "Never Cry Wolf" in 1963 -- which many scientists disdained for its lack of evidence -- wolf mythology changed overnight to embrace a new vision of wolf as "ideal father," "feisty mother," and "dependable pup sitter," according to Karen Jones in "Never Cry Wolf: Science, Sentiment, and the Literary Rehabilitation of Canis Lupus."
Critics charged that Mowatt had only observed wolves for a total of 90 hours, "an indictment of his research credibility and scientific commitment," Jones said. "Never Cry Wolf" was fiction, but its pretense as science undermined the credibility of biological research itself, she said.
Predicting that the book would influence many, reviewer A.S.F. Banfield concluded, "It is certain that not since Little Red Riding Hood has a story been written that will influence the attitude of so many toward these animals. I hope that the readers of 'Never Cry Wolf' will realize that both stories have about the same factual content."
Anthropomorphism -- which ascribes human traits to non-human species -- was used heavily by Mowatt, but no more than others like Disney or Aesop. Scientists, however, contend that there is no place for anthropomorphism in science.
The ecology movement applied terms like "loyal," "intelligent," "fun-loving," and "good parents" to wolf traits, implying they were superior to humans, Jones said. Canadian wildlife advocates adopted an "animal rights and human wrongs" view of nature, which emerged in the U.S. as Cleveland Amory's Fund for Animals in 1967 along with others like Defenders of Wildlife.
Most of these groups try very hard to dispel what they claim to be centuries-old "misinformation" about wolves.
"The state governments of both Wyoming and Idaho have taken strong stances against wolves based on emotionally laden misinformation that wolves are threatening state livestock and hunting industries," Stone said.
Nathan Varley, a wildlife biologist who took part in the DoW media teleconference, said, "Wolves will naturally go after the weak, vulnerable and sick animals first -- not the strong, healthy ones which are mostly invulnerable to wolf predation."
That view is hokum, say others.
"Wolves are opportunists, meaning they kill whatever is convenient. This may be old or sick animals or a pregnant female, but most significantly they prey on the young," Mader stated.
Wolves kill for food but they also kill for sport, said Nelson.
"Elk and deer populations are decreasing steadily, where the wolves are spreading," Beers said.
The North Yellowstone elk herd stood at more than 19,000 before the time of the "reintroduction" in 1994. As of 2004, with not much else changed, except the addition of wolves, the herd was estimated at 8,335 animals. The winter count conducted on Dec. 30, 2006 was 6,738 elk.
Montana State University ecology professor Scott Creel launched a study in 2002 to delve into the decline. To their surprise they found that elk cow's pregnancy rates had declined and that lower levels of progesterone were present.
Another side effect of the presence of wolves in elk country is that wariness levels go way up, making them much harder to find by hunters or others who just want a look, said Mike Stark of The Billings Gazette in an article dated Feb. 16, 2007.
Other alleged historical "misinformation" concerns the dangers of wolves to humans. Claiming that centuries-old European stories of wolves attacking humans is nothing more than fear-based mythology, deep ecology groups using the new mythology of Mowatt and others contend there is nothing to fear.
Will Graves, who has traveled extensively in Russia, is writing a book on the history of wolves in Russian literature in recent centuries. The great Canadian wildlife biologist Dr. Valerius Geist is editing the book for him.
"Russia has documented wolf attacks on humans better than any country in the world," Graves said. "In the Ural Mountains, many old folks and children were killed by wolves during the Napoleonic Wars, during the Bolshevik revolution and during World War II."
He claims that church documents back this up and that they're one of the most reliable forms of documentation.
"Centuries-old reports (churches, archives, etc.) of high rates of human life lost to wolves in Europe, Asia, and North America are ignored, demeaned and rejected by bureaucrat biologists, and all their partners in universities and the media," Beers said.
Graves' research shows that wolves lose their fear of humans if not hunted.
"If prey is scarce, then sometimes the wolves move in close to towns and search for dogs, cats, garbage, etc.," he said. "This is when there is danger."
In a recent letter to The Press on the subject of land planning, Coeur d'Alene resident Unus Vocate challenged readers to envision "green belts crisscrossing the entire nation; nature preserves of the different types of environments ... a society living in harmony with nature: How wonderful."
His plea is to drive the decision-making for land planning to much higher levels -- out of local hands.
Actually, there is a plan to do just that called the Wildlands Project, part of the U.N.'s Convention on Biological Diversity, which together with Agenda 21, a global plan for sustainable development, supersede the U.S. constitution and the property rights of its citizens.
The map of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, which is envisioned by these global planners can be viewed here. A map of the whole U.S. showing these plans was developed by Dr. Michael Coffman and was used to stop the ratification of the U.N. treaty by the U.S. Congress. Subsequently, the plan was essentially put in place by Executive Order 13158 of President Clinton and later President Bush did not revoke it.
So what does this have to do with wolves?
Finnish outdoorsman Magnus Hagelstam, who has studied the European Union's efforts to "reintroduce" wolves in eastern Germany and other parts of Europe, said, if depopulating the West is on the agenda of wolf aficionados, wolves can be very helpful.
"They are truly the ideal bioweapon for transforming ranchland into wilderness."
http://www.freedomadvocates.org/articles/wildlands_project/wolves_in_our_backyard_20070530234/--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Satren lives in Idaho and writes for the Hagadone News as their Outdoor News Editor. Email msatren@cdapress.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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For additional information on the dangers of wolves, please see this informative website
http://www.prosts.com 
