Ever since Obama and John Tester worked to remove wolves form the endangered species list for political purposes, it's been bad times for wolves. Of course, there's a track record for all of this. It was the failure of the states that initially killed off the wolves to begin with, forcing them into the government's hands and the Endangered Species List.
It looks like the states are at it again, and this time Idaho is leading the path to extermination.
There were many of us who cried foul when Tester introduced a rider that would undermine the ESA, the first of its kind, opening the door for wholesale destruction of species by single interests. It was even more shocking when Obama signed the bill into law.
Reasonable people would expect a few wolves to be killed with rifles, and that many of these would be clean. But there's nothing reasonable about the wolf hate in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Recent images have become available of a trapped wolf at the far end of a blood circle in the snow. In the photo, a hunter appears to be smiling for a pose. Posters to the website indicate the wolf was shot at while it waited for the trapper to return. Who knows how long it was there, but it looked like quite a while with all that blood in the snow.
WARNING: Do not view these photos unless you can handle graphic images:
http://www.trapperman.com/...
Those who read the forum comments may find the comments that describe the scene disturbing. The apparent outright hate for such a beautiful animal species is shocking, and shows the very worst of human nature.
On top of these disgusting events, there looks to be big trouble at the top of the Idaho Game and Fish Commission, where at a recent meeting Commission Chair Tony McDermott made unsubstantiated population estimates of 1200-1600 wolves in Idaho, which is far above the 560-575 wolves reported to be in the state on January 1. Wildlife experts in the know countered the ridiculous claim, but no science was given to back the numbers.
The stated goal of Idaho Wolf management by the state is 150 wolves, or fifteen breeding pairs.
Idaho has more public land than most places in the lower 48, and more wilderness as well. The state can easily hold far more wolves, and some feel such a low number would make the packs nonviable.
You can read more about the Idaho meeting, in which most attendees supported cutting back on the hunt, here:
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/...
Wolves are being shot from the air by helicopters. They are being trapped, and dying slow, painful deaths. This is not what people expected when we delisted our symbol of wilderness.
If there's a bright spot in any of this, it's that the wolves can be put back on the Endangered Species List if their populations fall below 150, or if states show a management policy that endangers the animals. But with biased state game agencies responsible for the counting, when using bad numbers, whose to say how many wolves there really are? At the very least, the counting program should be done at the federal level, away from the state influence which is easily corrupted.
History is repeating itself. Once again, states are attempting to exterminate the wolf, and Idaho is leading the way. Will they succeed again? Will the wolf be put back on that list? Take a look at the photos, friends.
John tester, you made a mistake. President Obama, you made a mistake. Time to right a wrong.
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Please contact Senator Tester's office in Washington, D.C. with your questions about legislation or to send your thoughts about matters before the Senate.
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eadquarters Mailing Address:
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-800-344-WILD
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