Yellowstone is Dead...

[TAB]

you know its intresting, I've been reading alot of articals latly about how the wolfs have chased off the elk and increased the biodeversity.

[blackwolfe]

As to the removal of wolves, they have always been in Yellowstone. Just not in the numbers we are seeing now. It had to do with the strict breeding hierarchy of the native pack. That is also why people here are so touchy about these wolves being non native.

And as to the Brucellosis, for now we remain listed as Brucellosis free. But bison in the park continue to be tested positive for the disease. So yes for now it remains a fear, though a well founded one. We lost the status in 2006, and it took 2 years to reclaim it. Once off the Brucellosis free status, it becomes VERY hard to sell beef. Which is a vital part of our economy. We only have 3 major driving factors, minerals, ranching, and tourism.

I also remember all the town hall meetings, and discussions that happened before the reintroduction. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit kept assuring us that outside of the park the wolves would be listed as predators and therefore we could manage them under the states current policy. However as soon as they brought the wolves in, that policy was changed.

So I guess the real issue is that the USFG keeps changing the rules, but still expects us to not only pay for it, but implement policies that go against management policies that have been successful here for as long as they have been in place.

The biggest gripe with the feds, is that from Washington, they have no clue what conditions are like here. Let them plant a few wolves where they live. And when they start going after pets and kids because they have no sheep, then let them tell us how to manage wolves. For now, all we are asking is that, if we are going to be footing the bill as a state, then we are going to handle this the way we see fit.

And if we manage wolves the way we handle everything else we will be just fine. For example, in this year of budget battles and states going bankrupt through poor legislation, and democrat rule, Wyoming just paid all it's bills and put another 1.8 billion in the bank.
http://sothebysjacksonhole.wordpress.com/

And this is accomplished with no state income tax and a state sales tax of 4%. If we can do that in "The great recession" Wolves should be no problem. 

Actually a few wolves let loose in DC to prey on the politicians would be a good idea.

[mkm]

Bureaucracy, emotions, and ill/mis-informed individuals on both sides = big mess.

What you're saying is true, but the concern of the outfitters regarding the elk herds is that "weakest" equals youngest. With fewer calfs, there is NO future for the elk herds.

I probably should have put an "and" in that statement.  Yes wolves eat calves, but hunters shoot the cows with the best fecundity.  Six of one, half-dozen of another.  Note, I'm most definitely pro-hunting.

you know its intresting, I've been reading alot of articals latly about how the wolfs have chased off the elk and increased the biodiversity.

Thanks for using a word that I should have but somehow managed to not use.

[fightingquaker13]

Let me say that MKM is completley right here. If wolves endanger people and property, it's one thing. But there being fewer elk to hunt? Please. The abundant numbers were due to an artificial imbalance in the natural order. The upside is more elk to hunt. The downside is damge to the eco-system when the elk overgraze the range. The way I see it is that God knew what He was doing when creating a balance between predator and prey. We are part of that balance, but need to understand that we have share with creatures that were here long before us. Complaining about the wolves for killing elk is like complaining about raptors for killing ducks and rabbits. Its absurd. The job of wildlife managers is to come up with a quota that is ecologically sustainable. If you don't get that, you should take up golf. A hunter is part of the natural order, but so is a wolf and they were here first.
FQ13

[kmitch200]

A hunter is part of the natural order, but so is a wolf and they were here first.
FQ13

A hunter is a heavily regulated part of the natural order. If 'wolves were here first', they should have lobbied for a higher place in the food chain.     
(yes they were here first but as JC noted, not in these numbers)

Wolves also don't buy permits, guns and ammo which is a huge supplement to pay for the study of the herd. Plus, there is no way to tell them to take more cows this year because the herd is too large.

The thing that really pisses me off about the wolf reintroduction program is, if I'm walking with my dog and a wolf attacks him/her, I presume I'm to yell at it and not shoot the fu%king thing.
Sorry USFWS, it's gonna be Shoot, Shovel and Shut up.

 

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