Wolf Weekly Wrap-up

Gov. Schweitzer targets wolves – As if things weren’t volatile enough, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer decided to shake things up even more on Wednesday with a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar laying out aggressive new wolf actions. Schweitzer said he will be directing the state wildlife agency not to investigate livestock-related wolf killings, will allow the removal of entire packs for single depredation incidents, and will encourage the removal of entire wolf packs in response to elk declines in a particular herd. This reckless announcement is already inspiring vigilante anti-wolf groups to tell their members to “saddle up” and “lock and load.” (Read Defenders statement in response).

CR-aziness – Late last Friday House Republicans introduced their budget proposal for a Continuing Resolution (CR)—short-term, must-pass funding legislation that allows the federal government to continue operating. The CR is meant to keep essential services up and running, but the new majority decided to include a whole raft of drastic cuts and anti-environment riders that would gut our nation’s efforts to protect wildlife, combat climate change and provide clean water. One provision attached by Rep. Mike Simpson would reinstate the 2009 wolf delisting rule—the same exact one that was rejected twice in federal court. Over the course of the week, the situation has only gotten worse as Republicans have added more than 500 amendments slashing funding for specific federal programs. Though many have been struck down already (including this one from Rep. Lummis of Wyoming), an amendment by Rep. Steve Pearce is still being considered that would prohibit any funding for Mexican wolf recovery in the Southwest. If enacted, this provision could be disastrous for the 50 Mexican wolves left in the wild. Political junkees should keep an eye out over the weekend, when the final House version of the CR is expected. The Senate is on recess next week and only has until March 4 to pass a bill before existing government funding expires.

Sheep dogs on guard in Wisconsin – For a couple living at the northern tip of Wisconsin, dogs are not only man’s best friend, they’re his sheep’s protectors too. Larry Fickbohm and Gail Gomzior run a small farm in Bayfield County, Wisc., where they raise a variety of livestock. They’ve had great success using a trio of Maremma guard dogs to protect hundreds of sheep from wild predators including coyotes, black bears and wolves. Defenders helped the couple buy their first set of guard dogs and recently offered additional funds to purchase two more puppies to replace the aging canines. Efforts like these are proving just how effective guard dogs and other proactive techniques can be for reducing conflict and allowing livestock and wild animals to coexist. Watch the video below and hear firsthand from Fickbohm and Gomzior how these watchful dogs have helped keep them in business in the heart of predator country.

Guard dogs may be the perfect solution in the northern Great Lakes region, but out West, another strategy is proving to be successful. Ranchers that graze sheep and cattle are using electrified flag line called “turbofladry” to deter wolf attacks. This story from New West documents how this innovative technique is working in central Idaho.

For three summers, Lava Lake Land and Livestock, which grazes sheep on the Sawtooth and Salmon-Challis National Forests, made use of turbofladry and experienced only one lost sheep to wolves. And that sheep wasn’t inside the turbofladry fence.

Rehberg goes too far – Rep. Denny Rehberg may have just been trying to rile up his base by lambasting a federal judge, but at least one family took personal offense to his antics. In a letter to the Helena Independent-Record, the children of the Montana judge expressed their concerns over apparent threats to put their father “on the endangered species list.” The comment was made by Rehberg before the Montana Legislature, referring to the judge’s decision in August to restore federal protections for wolves across the Northern Rockies. The New York Times agreed with the family:

“Federal judges have life tenure in order to make impartial and independent judgments. Mr. Rehberg should protect the judge from political pressure, not subject him to a nasty kind that encourages others to do the same.”

Keep MT politics out of AZ – An editorial in the Arizona Republic criticizes Rep. Denny Rehberg (and Montana’s senators) for using wolves as their political pawns. Rehberg has announced that he’ll be vying for Sen. Jon Tester’s seat in 2012, and wolves are atop both their agendas. A decisive verdict on wolves could give either man a boost to secure a spot in the Senate for six years, yet wolves are the ones that ultimately suffer from the endless tug-of-war, especially for the tiny population of Mexican wolves caught in the crossfire of one of Rehberg’s bills.

“The Endangered Species Act is a recognition of the value of species diversity as part of every American’s national heritage. States don’t trump that national interest.”