Wolf Weekly Wrap-up

Rehberg introduces bad wolf bills – Bad wolf delisting legislation is back, thanks to Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg. The Congressman introduced a pair of bills that would permanently strip Endangerd Species Act protections for gray wolves, not only in Montana and Idaho, but across the country.

Defenders Rocky Mountain Director Mike Leahy gave this assessment in the Bozeman Chronicle:

“These are just really old-timey anti-predator bills,” he said. “They would allow states to reduce populations to zero, which actually the official position of the state of Idaho.”

Leahy said he doubted the bills would go anywhere in Congress.

“Wildlife conservation is about as popular as apple pie across the country, which I think is sometimes forgotten,” he said.

Wolf populations may be recovered, but without adequate safeguards, there’s no guarantee they will remain that way. It’s not just about the numbers though. The ESA requires that all threats to long-term survival be removed. These bills would allow states to take wolf populations down to zero and could jeopardize numerous other species by unraveling the ESA.  (Click here to read Defenders press release) In the coming weeks and months we’ll need the help of all our members to stop this bad wolf delisting legislation. You can join us now by calling on Secretary Salazar to start fresh on protecting wolves.

Montana pushes for wolf hunt – Montana Senator Jon Tester, chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday seeking approval for a public wolf hunt. The letter cites “unbridled growth” in the wolf population, even though wolf numbers appeared to have stabilized in recent years around 500. Even in the absence of a hunt, state and federal wildlife managers have continued to kill hundreds of wolves each year.

A herder and his two dogs move a band of sheep through the Big Wood River Valley of central Idaho. Over the past three summers, the Wood River Wolf Project has demonstrated ways for livestock and wolves to coexist.

Success at Wood River – While some anti-wolf extremists seem hell-bent on getting rid of wolves, others are doing their best to get along with wolves. In fact, after a great story last Friday about our Wood River Wolf Project in central Idaho, the local county commissioners sent a letter of support asking for the project to continue. Lava Lake sheep rancher Mike Stevens also added a support letter of his own, commending Defenders for its efforts to come up with practical solutions that allow livestock and wolves to coexist. (Lava Lake even got a mention in Sunset magazine for their forward-thinking efforts)

Coexistence catches on – Defenders efforts to deploy nonlethal deterrents for protecting livestock are starting to spread. An enterprising Oregon man and his son have designed a solar-powered guard box that makes random loud noises to scare away predators near ranch operations. Read more about their innovative design in the La Grande Observer.