Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
“Gray wolves are thriving in the Great Lakes region, and their successful recovery is a testament to the hard work of the Service and our state and local partners,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “We are confident state and tribal wildlife managers in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin will effectively manage healthy wolf populations now that federal protection is no longer needed.”
(Columbus, Ohio) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that gray wolf populations in the Western Great Lakes region have exceeded recovery goals and should no longer be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Once official, this move will return wolves to state management in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and some portions of adjoining states.
In an even bigger victory for sportsmen, the Service also announced that it has reversed its previous view that two wolf species exist in the Western Great Lakes region. Read more
A Montana Sportsmen’s group is offering $100 and an annual membership for photos of wolves killed in the hunting season. It is feared that the quota of 220 won’t be met, because not enough hunters are focusing on wolves. More here…
“Somebody” at the White House made sure that congressional “negotiators” withdrew a rider that would have prevented environmentalists to sue as part of a pending agreement to, once and for all, remove Wyomning wolves from the endangered species list. It now appears as though the whackos will have veto power, once again.
As always, it will be emotion trumping science with the aid of any technicality that can be used advantageously. And, these animal rightists, who claim to be helping animals, continue to drain governmental funds through lawsuit after lawsuit.
The give and take are part of the government’s $1 trillion spending bill. Legislative approval is still needed for the agreement on Wyoming’s wolves. More deatails at the link here…
A plane with stickers of wolves, which represented how many aerial kills it had under its wings, has caused quite a stir with wolf whackos. Wildlife Services has since removed the images for the crybabies.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has confirmed, through DNA testing, that at least two wolves chased and killed, Candice Berner, a teacher who was jogging last year near a rural Alaska village.
Biologists cite the reason for the attack as simply aggression. In retaliation, eight wolves were killed. The trouble is that because of protections still in place, more attacks are likely. Read more at the link…
La Grande, OR — A cow, a yearling heffer, was killed by wolves from the Imnaha pack this past weekend. A court-ordered stay prevents Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to kill any wolves from this pack even though livestock losses will continue to add up. This one pack is confirmed to have killed 19 livestock animals since last year alone.
Wolf attacks on hunting dogs are increasing according to MDNR. In the photo attached to the story link, two bear-hunting dogs are shown killed by wolves, while they had treed a bear.
MISSOULA, Mont.-The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is on record supporting a proposal to extend wolf-hunting seasons in Montana through the end of 2011, and beyond if necessary, until the harvest quota is met. Read more
MISSOULA, Mont.-The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has learned that an Oregon court has agreed to consider in its final ruling the RMEF motion outlining the need for science-based, state regulated wolf management. The court is reviewing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s authority to manage and control wolves as part of a state-approved plan. Read more