Wolves help to shape a healthy ecosystem
The presence or absence of wolves is one of nature's more
powerful driving forces. The ignorance, arrogance and unjustified hatred
of and desire to kill wolves as trophy in any cruel way possible stands
in the way of understanding, living with and benefitting from these
animals.
The presence of wolves on the landscape affects everything in the ecosystem, from willow regrowth to beavers returning and flourishing, to insects, songbirds, fish. Elk change their patterns back to more cautious behavior, thus contributing to a healthier forest. When wolves are around, elk behave the way they evolved over millenia. Coyote populations adjust, reducing predation on rodents, antelope fawns and domestic sheep. Just for starters.
Many ranchers have begun to modify ranching and grazing practices because they understand, too, the benefits of working with instead of against nature. It is time to give up the old battle cry that wolves kill all livestock and all elk, and just for fun!
A growing understanding in science of how predators and prey shape healthy ecosystems draws a different picture of “the big bad wolf.” An overwhelming number of Montanans recently commented in favor of wolf hunt closures around Yellowstone National Park over those opposed to it.
It is time that wildlife and wolf management in Montana and the West adopts a policy not tied to killing and giving unrelenting wolf haters and trophy hunters their bloody way. It behooves us as the human species who manages and controls almost everything on this planet to death to work with the truth and wisdom of nature.
Susi Hülsmever-Sinav
Livingston
source
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A guest column appeared in the Missoulian written by George Wuethner, on Thursday Feb. 28, 2013, that explained why wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park and the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Another article appeared in the March 2010 issue of National Geographic Magazine which showed the success of the reintroduction produced in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Riparian areas were made healthy again.
Ideas appeared in the article on how certain safeguards and strategies would keep wolves away from livestock. Mr. Wuethner’s column explained how the policies of Montana FWP, which were rubberstamped by our governor, were not only destroying the possibility of repair to our riparian areas but also increasing wolf depredation of livestock.
Science is the key to keeping the elk herds healthy and keeping a balance in the synergistic relationship between wolves and elk that supports a healthy ecosystem. Having citizens come to a county commission meeting to give anecdotal information (personal opinion not based on science) that was sent to Montana FWP as was done by the Ravalli County Commission is harmful and in no way helpful. One person said wolves kill for pleasure. This is an example of humans transferring their habits to animals especially wolves. Talk about killing for pleasure, think about all those animal heads hanging on the walls of studies and living rooms and tell me if this isn’t killing for pleasure.
The carcasses left by wolves feed many wild critters. This is part of the ecosystem. Read both these articles and think about it. Stop trying to see human behavior in wolves.
Charles Russ
Stevensville
source
The presence of wolves on the landscape affects everything in the ecosystem, from willow regrowth to beavers returning and flourishing, to insects, songbirds, fish. Elk change their patterns back to more cautious behavior, thus contributing to a healthier forest. When wolves are around, elk behave the way they evolved over millenia. Coyote populations adjust, reducing predation on rodents, antelope fawns and domestic sheep. Just for starters.
Many ranchers have begun to modify ranching and grazing practices because they understand, too, the benefits of working with instead of against nature. It is time to give up the old battle cry that wolves kill all livestock and all elk, and just for fun!
A growing understanding in science of how predators and prey shape healthy ecosystems draws a different picture of “the big bad wolf.” An overwhelming number of Montanans recently commented in favor of wolf hunt closures around Yellowstone National Park over those opposed to it.
It is time that wildlife and wolf management in Montana and the West adopts a policy not tied to killing and giving unrelenting wolf haters and trophy hunters their bloody way. It behooves us as the human species who manages and controls almost everything on this planet to death to work with the truth and wisdom of nature.
Susi Hülsmever-Sinav
Livingston
source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Letter: Science and wolves
A guest column appeared in the Missoulian written by George Wuethner, on Thursday Feb. 28, 2013, that explained why wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park and the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Another article appeared in the March 2010 issue of National Geographic Magazine which showed the success of the reintroduction produced in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Riparian areas were made healthy again.
Ideas appeared in the article on how certain safeguards and strategies would keep wolves away from livestock. Mr. Wuethner’s column explained how the policies of Montana FWP, which were rubberstamped by our governor, were not only destroying the possibility of repair to our riparian areas but also increasing wolf depredation of livestock.
Science is the key to keeping the elk herds healthy and keeping a balance in the synergistic relationship between wolves and elk that supports a healthy ecosystem. Having citizens come to a county commission meeting to give anecdotal information (personal opinion not based on science) that was sent to Montana FWP as was done by the Ravalli County Commission is harmful and in no way helpful. One person said wolves kill for pleasure. This is an example of humans transferring their habits to animals especially wolves. Talk about killing for pleasure, think about all those animal heads hanging on the walls of studies and living rooms and tell me if this isn’t killing for pleasure.
The carcasses left by wolves feed many wild critters. This is part of the ecosystem. Read both these articles and think about it. Stop trying to see human behavior in wolves.
Charles Russ
Stevensville
source