Wolf Weekly Wrap-up

Don’t shoot – If you haven’t had a chance to read Carter Niemeyer’s book, Wolfer: A memoir, be sure to at least check out this review in the Oregonian. Reporter Julie Sullivan spoke with Niemeyer about his transition from wolf hit man to wolf ambassador and why he wrote the book:

“You have a tremendous amount of backlash so that now you have self-appointed wolf experts misinforming the public and instilling fear that wolves are going to kill your kids, wipe out elk herds and spread diseases.”

None of that is true, he says. Still, he keeps calling for common ground, urging agencies to co-investigate suspected wolf kills, with transparency and oversight. He wants more conversations with ranchers and encourages more nonlethal controls.

Unfortunately, Niemeyer’s approach has been slow to catch on throughout most of Idaho. Decades later, Wildlife Services still has the same shoot-first mentality.  Just look at this report from KTVB describing how federal agents are still trying to gun down wolves blamed for killing cattle.

Leon Pielstick, an experienced wildlife capture veterinarian who assisted with the collaring operation on behalf of ODFW, with the yearling female wolf.

Three up, one down – Just five days after the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife collared three more wolves in the Imnaha pack, one of them turned up dead. A yearling female was found Tuesday with no immediate indication of poaching, but a full examination has not yet been completed. Meanwhile, Oregon’s other two packs—the Wenaha and Umatilla—have gone silent. Throughout eastern Oregon, Defenders continues to work closely with ODFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to hang fladry to protect calving grounds and other livestock operations.

Wolves around the country –

Southwest: New West put together a comprehensive story on the ongoing saga of Mexican wolf recovery. Though there are only 50 lobos in the wild, many ranchers are eager to take aggressive actions and further reduce their numbers. In this editorial, New Mexico State Land Commissioner Ray Powell says, “wolves are an essential part of the balance of nature and when they are fully restored they will help keep our lands healthy, productive and beautiful.”

Great Lakes: A new bill was introduced this week from three Minnesota congressmen that would remove ESA protections for gray wolves in region, even though they’re already in the process of being delisted. Defenders has supported delisting in the region, but it must be done responsibly based on the best available science, not rushed through at the impatient insistence of a few disgruntled politicians. The Detroit Free Press agreed in an editorial taking Congress to task for meddling with the ESA which allowed the successful recovery of wolves in Michigan.

Los Angeles: There are no wolves in LA, but that didn’t stop our wolf expert Suzanne Stone from howling up a storm on the Hill and Dale show. Literally. In addition to outlining our wolf recovery efforts in the West, Suzanne taught the radio hosts how to howl like a wolf. Click here to listen (March 2^nd show, jump to the 12-minute mark).