- Shwetika Baijal
- May 12, 2013
Montana Wolves Unreasonably Targeted By Farmers Hunters
Montana's farmers and hunters are going after the state's wolf population to protect their own interests. This
week Montana is set to hold public debate on doubling the number of
wolves that can be killed by hunters, expanding the 2013-2014 hunting
season, and allowing shooting of wolves near baited traps.
"Our overall goal is to get wolves in balance with the rest of the critters on the landscape as well as landowner tolerance," said Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission spokesman Ron Aasheim. The Commission's goal is to eliminate 625 wolves by allowing hunters and farmers more freedom to hunt and kill.
The new regulations would allow 10 wolves to be killed in one year by any individual, up from six. A wolf would also be fair game if it were to wander near a baited trap but not captured which would serve as an exception to the existing Montana rule prohibiting hunters to attract game with bait. The 2-month extension of the hunting season from September to March is especially gruesome because that would allow hunters to target pregnant wolves.
Wolves are responsible for less than 1% of livestock deaths but they are still being targeted by livestock owners. Groups like Defenders of Wildlife have worked with livestock owners by training them in non-lethal ways to protect their livestock and even compensating them for wolf-caused cattle deaths, which remain lower than cattle deaths caused by dogs according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Oregon has also proved that protecting wolves from hunting actually reduces livestock deaths. "Once the easy option of killing wolves is taken off the table, we've seen reluctant but responsible ranchers stepping up," said Rob Klavins of the advocacy group Oregon Wild.
Hunters want wolves gone because wolves prey on hunters' favored game. Other arguments by pro-hunting advocates include protection of pets, headaches of continued legislation, and false morality campaigning "animal rights wackos."
Wolves are a keystone species in the Northern Rockies ecosystem. As explained by Science Daily, wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park were responsible for the consequent re-balancing of the stream-side ecosystem because of the "myriad of roles they play in erosion control, stream health, and nurturing diverse plant and animal life."
Congress unconscionably removed wolves from the endangered species list in 2011. Technically a species can be removed from the list after data proves their recovery, but wolves have only regained 5% of their population. States need to maintain a minimum of 150 wolves including fifteen breeding pairs to keep their populations off the endangered list.
This sets a dangerous precedent giving Congress the power to remove a species before their populations have a chance to truly recover.
The Northern Rockies' wolf population has already been reduced by 7% in the first year the wolves were removed from the Endangered Species list. Sustainable Business describes how wolves are always killed in monstrous ways: "They can be pursued by a mechanized vehicle, poisoned, dens gassed, trapped and lured by leaving a dead wolf."
Instead of spurring innovative and ecological ways to sustain these majestic creatures, Montana wants to provide more leeway to hunters. What do you think Montana should do?
source
"Our overall goal is to get wolves in balance with the rest of the critters on the landscape as well as landowner tolerance," said Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission spokesman Ron Aasheim. The Commission's goal is to eliminate 625 wolves by allowing hunters and farmers more freedom to hunt and kill.
The new regulations would allow 10 wolves to be killed in one year by any individual, up from six. A wolf would also be fair game if it were to wander near a baited trap but not captured which would serve as an exception to the existing Montana rule prohibiting hunters to attract game with bait. The 2-month extension of the hunting season from September to March is especially gruesome because that would allow hunters to target pregnant wolves.
Wolves are responsible for less than 1% of livestock deaths but they are still being targeted by livestock owners. Groups like Defenders of Wildlife have worked with livestock owners by training them in non-lethal ways to protect their livestock and even compensating them for wolf-caused cattle deaths, which remain lower than cattle deaths caused by dogs according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Oregon has also proved that protecting wolves from hunting actually reduces livestock deaths. "Once the easy option of killing wolves is taken off the table, we've seen reluctant but responsible ranchers stepping up," said Rob Klavins of the advocacy group Oregon Wild.
Hunters want wolves gone because wolves prey on hunters' favored game. Other arguments by pro-hunting advocates include protection of pets, headaches of continued legislation, and false morality campaigning "animal rights wackos."
Wolves are a keystone species in the Northern Rockies ecosystem. As explained by Science Daily, wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park were responsible for the consequent re-balancing of the stream-side ecosystem because of the "myriad of roles they play in erosion control, stream health, and nurturing diverse plant and animal life."
Congress unconscionably removed wolves from the endangered species list in 2011. Technically a species can be removed from the list after data proves their recovery, but wolves have only regained 5% of their population. States need to maintain a minimum of 150 wolves including fifteen breeding pairs to keep their populations off the endangered list.
This sets a dangerous precedent giving Congress the power to remove a species before their populations have a chance to truly recover.
The Northern Rockies' wolf population has already been reduced by 7% in the first year the wolves were removed from the Endangered Species list. Sustainable Business describes how wolves are always killed in monstrous ways: "They can be pursued by a mechanized vehicle, poisoned, dens gassed, trapped and lured by leaving a dead wolf."
Instead of spurring innovative and ecological ways to sustain these majestic creatures, Montana wants to provide more leeway to hunters. What do you think Montana should do?
source
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