A good short read about wolves.

[luvtohnt]

Gray wolves killed livestock in Montana at the rate of an animal per day in 2009, stirring a backlash against the predators in rural areas and depleting a program that compensates ranchers for their losses.

The sharp increase over 2008 livestock losses, reported Thursday by state officials, was fueled largely by a wolf pack ravaging 148 sheep in southwestern Montana near Dillon in August.

Such attacks - plus elk herd declines blamed on wolves in parts of Montana and neighboring Idaho - have renewed calls by many ranchers and hunters to reduce the predator's population.

"They are beautiful creatures, but they're also very deadly. They'll go out and hamstring a bunch of animals just for fun," said Barb Svenson of Reed Point, whose family ranch lost more than 30 sheep in attacks over the last two years.

The rest of the article here http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010799407_apuswildlifevslivestockmontana.html?prmid=obnetwork

Brandon

[wolfbait]

Wolves slaughtering the big game herds and livestock has been an issue since the wolves were introduced in the lower 48. Wolf experts told the USFWS that this would happen, but still no responsible wolf management has occurred. Now the diseases that experts said wolves would spread throughout the country are coming to light. Perhaps with these dangers that could adversely affect everyone instead of just game herds and livestock, this new threat of health hazards should initiate some responsible wolf management.

[luvtohnt]

Hopefully! I was surprised at the amont of money paid out this year. Also did you see MT only has $25,000 left to pay out for damages. 

Brandon

[Elkaholic daWg]

  since I like to know what the enemy is up to....I get these in my junk mail folder, along with wilderness society alerts.  makes me feel like going to Cabelas or S/W to spend some money!!



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How much is a wolf’s life worth?

Three points -- according to Idaho’s misleadingly named Sportsmen for Wildlife, who recently held three “predator derbies,” competitions where contestants vied to see who can kill the most wolves and other animals over a two-day period.

Urge corporate sponsors of these brutal wolf-killing competitions to withdraw their support right now. Sign our petition today.

Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse -- two major outdoor retailers -- sponsored the derbies, with the entry fees for these brutal competitions funneled to support anti-wolf lawyers and lobbyists working to keep wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies off the endangered species list… and squarely in the crosshairs of those who would do them harm.

Urge Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse to withdraw their support for wolf-killing derbies. Sign our petition now.

Predator derbies targeting wolves are a hold-over from a more brutal time.

It was a time when wolves were hunted, poisoned and trapped to extinction in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies, a time before wildlife biologists recognized the important role that wolves play in healthy and balanced western ecosystems.

We’ve learned a lot since that dark time. Since wolves were reintroduced to Greater Yellowstone and central Idaho fifteen years ago, we’ve seen local ecosystems rebound as these top predators helped prevent overgrazing of foliage by elk and deer.

According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there are 150,000 elk in Montana, compared to 90,000 in the mid 1980s when wolves started to make their way back to the state. Wyoming's elk population is up 35% since then to 95,000, while Idaho's is up 5% to 115,000.

Don’t let the health of our Western lands -- and the wildlife they support -- be sacrificed to appease anti-wolf hatred. Take action now and let Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse know that wolves are an essential part of the American West.

We know that your voices can make a difference. In November, an independent grassroots campaign convinced Nikon, a previous corporate sponsor of these predator derbies to withdraw their support. Please take action now.

Defenders of Wildlife is committed to working with responsible businesses, ranchers, conservationsists and concerned citizens to ensure a lasting future for wolves in American West. But we need your help.

Please take action right now. Sign our petition today and forward this message to at least three friends.

For the Wild Ones,
Rodger Schlickeisen    Rodger Schlickeisen, President Signature
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. To get Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse to end their sponsorship of wolf-killing predator derbies, we need to make a lot of noise. Please take action now and forward this message far and wide (or at least to three friends)!

Making a Difference for Wildlife

Below are updates on two recent Defenders activist campaigns...

Polar Bear Thumbnail (Photo: MMS)
   

More than 5,000 Defenders activists called (or emailed) their Senators to urge them to oppose Senator Lisa Murkowski’s pro-polluter, anti-polar bear amendment to legislation concerning the national debt ceiling.

In the face of broad criticism, Murkowski abandoned the amendment, but has vowed to continue work to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon pollution that is fueling climate change and driving America’s polar bears to extinction.   

Also, more than 36,000 Defenders activists have urged Canada to support a U.S.-sponsored ban on the international trade in polar bear parts.
Wolf Thumbnail (Photo: USGS)    In just four days, more than 900 Defenders activists have contacted their state legislators to stop a Utah bill that would require the state to kill or remove any wolf found in Utah. A version of the bill has passed a state senate committee. Defenders continues our work on the ground to stop this ant

[shoot-em-dead]

According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there are 150,000 elk in Montana, compared to 90,000 in the mid 1980s when wolves started to make their way back to the state. Wyoming's elk population is up 35% since then to 95,000, while Idaho's is up 5% to 115,000.


That has to be the dumbest thing I ever heard. Kill the animals and the population will grow.

[Axle]

Gray wolves killed livestock in Montana at the rate of an animal per day in 2009, stirring a backlash against the predators in rural areas and depleting a program that compensates ranchers for their losses.

In Minnesota and Michigan, the funds run out and then the bios suddenly can't decide if farm animal was killed by wolves. Saw this on TV a long time ago. It will happen again.
I really don't see a need for a bunch of large dogs running around killing for fun and spreading diseases. If somebody wants to see something like this, let them get one for their back yard and keep the damn thing on a leash.

[wolfbait]

I have been talking to some folks around the country that feel the Wolf diseases that are now coming to light are going to put the skids to the almighty wolf movement. Things are actually worse than was predicted. Pro-wolf people are now taking a whole new look at the predator they evidently knew nothing about. Ed Bangs on the other hand knew the dangers that these wolves he imported would cost Americans and ignored them completely. Several people in the pro-wolf movement will soon be looking for different jobs and so will some certain some bodies in the WDFWS. Evidently those in charge of the wolf management were not given the whole story, they just went with the flow even though it did spell rather *censored*ty for everything concerned. Defenders of Wildlies will soon find themselves being sued. If you think I'm happy, your damn right I am, finally the truth is all coming out.

[Axle]

I have been talking to some folks around the country that feel the Wolf diseases that are now coming to light are going to put the skids to the almighty wolf movement. Things are actually worse than was predicted. Pro-wolf people are now taking a whole new look at the predator they evidently knew nothing about. Ed Bangs on the other hand knew the dangers that these wolves he imported would cost Americans and ignored them completely. Several people in the pro-wolf movement will soon be looking for different jobs and so will some certain some bodies in the WDFWS. Evidently those in charge of the wolf management were not given the whole story, they just went with the flow even though it did spell rather *censored*ty for everything concerned. Defenders of Wildlies will soon find themselves being sued. If you think I'm happy, your damn right I am, finally the truth is all coming out.

Fire them all! Then sue them. Start over with people who use common sense.

[wolfbait]

I have been hearing rumors the Ed Bangs might be prosecute in the same references as a war criminal, for the lies and misrepresentation of the Canadian wolf introduction. Ed is not going to like being in the cell next to Baba.