Gray wolves get back their endangered species status, for now.

Gray wolves regained endangered-species protections Friday when a federal judge in Montana granted a preliminary injunction to environmentalists, who had challenged the wolves' delisting.

The decision came just months before planned fall hunts in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, which will now be canceled.

U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy issued a strongly worded 40-page critique of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to delist the gray wolves, calling it arbitrary and capricious. He said the action "demonstrated a possibility of irreparable harm" to the species. The injunction "ensures the species is not imperiled" while the case continues to be litigated, the judge wrote.

The wildlife service "provides no new evidence or research to support its change of course," Molloy wrote. "Congress does not intend agency decision-making to be fickle. When it is, the line separating rationality from arbitrariness and capriciousness is crossed."

Molloy pointed to the recovery criteria cited by the wildlife service in 1994. Those criteria include "genetic exchange between subpopulations" -- crossbreeding among scattered groups of wolves -- so the species would be genetically viable in the long term.

"Genetic exchange has not taken place," the judge wrote. He cited a 2007 study commissioned by the wildlife service itself.

Gray wolves once ranged from central Mexico to the Arctic. But by the 1930s, rampant hunting had virtually wiped them out across the American West. In 1974, gray wolves were listed as endangered.

Since then, the federal government has spent about $27 million to revive the wolves' population.

In 1995 and 1996, officials introduced 66 wolves to central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park, aiming to establish a stable population of at least 300 animals. When delisted earlier this year, wolves in the northern Rockies numbered 1,513, the judge wrote. Wildlife service officials say the population is increasing by about 24% a year.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials announced in February that gray wolves would be removed from the endangered species list after what they termed a successful 20-year effort to reestablish the wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Environmentalists sued.

--Tami Abdollah

Photo: A gray wolf pup. Credit: Kent Kauden / Associated Press

Comments

[jsens3]

It is ridiculous that the federal government has wasted even one dollar protecting a known vicious predator and that a federal judge has so little to do he squanders time on something like this. Doesn't the judge have anything important to do? I wonder what these folks will do to advance the cause of the brown recluse spider, rattlesnakes cobras, poison ivy, AIDS, dengue fever, river blindness, hookworm, malarial mosquitos, ebola, and other myriad enemies of the human race?

[patty]

thank goodness the federal judge stepped in. we all need to better understand the importance of animals in the chain of life. wolves make many positive impacts

http://www.gatheringhome.com/

[jeff]

F#@% that judge, way should we risk all the other animals to save one that is a proven killer

[anonymous]

Errm, it`s a known predator, but that`s why it`s needed. If you do your research you`ll discover that the Yellowstone ecosystem was collapsing because of the absence of wolves. It`s good to keep 'em around.

[relay]

Proven Killer? the bigger problem people have with wolves is with live stock killing not human maiming. The rare cases are often the humans fault. Wolves generally stay away from humans unless they are cornered or have a great need. The reports of them dragging babies from sleeping bags can have 2 faults addressed, the parents that left the kid unsupervised and the fact that wolves as a pack animal will adopt abandoned pups from other packs. Sorry but I have never really bought that wolves were a threat to humans any more than mountain lions and bears are but were eliminated because they were competition for the buffalo and elk hunters.

[what?]

Jeff and Jsens3 - should we allow ALL species that can kill humans to be hunted into extinction? Before you answer that, remember that we humans are our own worst predator. Just because an animal has the ability to kill doesn't mean it is a threat to humanity.

[Jim Dean]

jsns3: Interesting point about Dengue, actually our government is actively encouraging Dengue Fever to spread through climate change, dengue likes warm hot places where mosquitoes spread it. So yes, our government is greatly encouraging terrible diseases.

By having a complex web of predators, prey, and varied environment we can provide barriers against disease and prevent any one natural problem from taking over our lives. Wolves eat deer, deer carry several major diseases. Many deer farms have a problem preventing nose-to-nose contact between sick, wild deer and healthy captive deer. Even with double fences diseases still spread. By killing off the sickly deer and keeping the overall deer population down those wolves may be saving captive populations from getting sick. Predators can be a bonus, not a problem, for livestock owners.

[anonymous]

I'm very pleased this judge stepped in. I've been following the reintro of grey wolves to Idaho (in particular) since I was a kid, and I was outraged by that state's ranchers and farmers wanting to have them "eradicated". I had planned on boycotting everything from Idaho. I'm vegan so I don't buy meat anyway, but there would be no potato that I'd buy, no passing through Idaho on trips, and none of my money going into the pocket of anyone's Idaho-ian business in protest (including internet business), which I would have expanded to include the other states involved. For now, I don't have to do that. And for the record, I do believe that there have been no records of wolves attacking humans in the U.S. for at least a hundred years, and um, possibly never.

[Caninophile]

YES! Finally some sanity has been interjected into the web of death BushCo. has woven over the world. Wolves are a key predator species. When predators are removed, prey species weaken-- they don't get stronger. The interests of the human race include a healthy ecosystem to live in--and jsens3, there is no record of a wolf killing a human. Ever. Wolves were eradicated to make room for ranchers and human hunters of wolf prey, in addition to irradicating the preternatural fear other top-feeders instill in people (grizzly, sharks, wolverine, raptor) . This planet ain't all about us.

[Ex-Montanan]

Hey guys... don't I know you? Ah yes, you were the first ones to sign up for this fall's wolf kill - now your dreams are on hold (bummer). While you are waiting, why not read up onhow all animalsare inportant in nature's food chain?

Now go back to shooting prairie dogs from your porch and drinking whatever...

[catt napp]

Yes that's my real name. The top preditor of this world is human not wolves. We prey on everything alive and not just for food or because it endangers us. Some people kill just for the fun of it. Few if any animals do that. To those that wish to see the wolves extinct, perhaps it is your thinking that needs to be extinct, you and those like you.

[megan]

The Wolves of Yellowstone have affected the Park down to its very grasses in nothing but a positive direction. The wolves are not Big or Bad, they are only a very much needed link in the food web for the ecosystem. Since the reintroduction of the Wolf, rivers are running cleaner and cooler so more and larger fish, taller trees instead of constantly nibbled brush means more song birds, carrion eaters such as fox, magpie, vultures and bear are increasing, etc. This decision may be late but al least someone had the b&**s to finally take action. This Judge has stepped into a veritable wasp's nest of human discord. Bless him for his stance.
There are funds out there for ranchers who lose livestock to the predation of the wolf.
How can we hate with such vehemence the ancient ancestor of our own best friend the DOG?

[Megan]

http://uplink.space.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=animal&Number=628361&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=1&o=0&vc=1Read this thread to see some really good information statistically about those killer wolves we fear so much. The truth is that our distructive ways coupled with our fears of the wilderness usually takes us to the brink of our own distruction. Face it guys... "you's guys are afraid of the big, bad wolf!"

[abaybay]

Wow..I cannot believe that jsens3 would actually consider the wolf to be in the same group as "the myriad enemies of the human race." This person clearly needs to do research before making such a ridiculus statement. I'm surprised that we still have this 1800s "Big Bad Wolf" theory in existance. I have been literally five feet away from a wolf, and it completely ignored my presence. A pet pitbull or rotweiler in one's own home presents a much more dangerous threat than a wolf that tries to avoid humans at all costs. The wolf is a predator, but is in no way a threat to humans. And also, if elk hunters are so worried about elk numbers declining, perhaps they should blame their awesome hunter friends. I mean hmm there are millions of people who hunt as opposed to the maybe 1500 wolves left in the wild that feed on elk. Who do you think is really decimating elk numbers? Similarly, according to the Wisconsin Department of National Resources, wolves kill 5940 deer per year. On the contrary, 40,000 deer are hit by cars annually while another 450,000 are shot by hunters. If hunters are so worried about running out of deer to hunt, maybe we should eliminate cars???...

[Judianna26]

Besides the scientific evidence that Wolves are a primary part of the big picture of mainataining healthy ecosystems, so many critics and wolf haters that would rather see the Wolf extinct forget that this creature was created with a purpose by Our Creator. I see so many of these "haters" go to church and praise God and then turn around and disrespect God by trying to make the decision for their own greed OR fear of what creatures should stay and what creature should go.It is very very unfortunate that so many wolves have already lost their lives to the mindless behind the guns and traps that killed them, but hopefully this is evidence also of how imperil the future of Gray Wolves would be if contine to be delisted.
Thank God for this preliminary injunction by Judge Malloy and Thank God for Judge Malloy for seeing the truth and not riding with blinders on and getting paid for it as so many government officals seem to be doing anymore.

[Jeff Call]

I have lived in Idaho all my life. We don't have the same way of life as you in LA. I have 5 children 2 left at home and have raised them on deer and elk we don't eat beef at our house we prefer the leaner meat. Wolves make that way of life harder. We also have seen government trappers staying in the same motel as us in Challis in 1998 being paid to kill a pack of wolves that was in too much trouble. This has gone on all along but it is not publicly announced. We have used a lot of money on the wolves. Why not let some hunters pay to shoot them instead of us taxpayers paying to have them shot. Also do the math the goal was 300 wolves there are over 1500. Increasing at 24% a year that means in 5 years we would have 4398, 10 years would be 12,893. They have far exceeded their expectations even though silently our government has been killing them from the get go. They do need to be controlled.

[Cassiey]

so sad man i feel bad i think we should have a fundraiser or somthing

[bowhunter]

I live in Montana and hunt elk and deer. I hunt in areas where wolf populations are doing well. The wolves have been a positive on the areas I hunt. The game populations are far more balanced. I still have opportunity for fair chase and do harvest game that gives me a lean, organic, high protein food source for the rest of the year. Seeing wolves in the wild while I hunt just adds to the joy of being outside. People who hate wolves are the same folks who lack the mental capacity to appreciate a fully functioning ecosystem. Hunting is not meant to be easy- that is the grocery store. Hunting is about fair chase, being part of the cycle, respecting the prey and also competing preditors - and that includes wolves. They just make the experience of being in the outdoors more complete.

Hunters are responsible for the vast percent of revenue used for habitat conservation, which is what will ultimately save or destroy all ESA species. Allowing hunters to learn to understand wolves through a fair chase hunt is a good thing, because it means that more people will learn to respect and love these animals. This will create more habitat conservation that will benefit all species.

But the issue is not hunting. Wolves are killed when they interact with livestock. The reason they are attracted to livestock is because many ranchers overgraze their allotments. If there are 1,000 cows in a basin and 100 deer, you can bet the wolves will select cows as prey. THis means they get shot. Ranchers who chose to homestead in wolf country should expect this as part of their operating cost, just as they expect some cows to perish from weather and disease.

The state programs Judge Molloy found arbitrary and capricous were designed to exterpate wolves from the majority of the suitable habitat, as requested by grazing interests. Judge Molloy was correct to make FWP retake control from the states because of this.

Hunting wolves will endure them to the locals of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The key is allowing a sustainable hunt without allowing so many wolves to be killed by the livestock industry.

[epc124]

I cannot believe that people make such ignorant comments in a forum where virtually anyone in the world can read their backwards opinions. If you're still living in your childhood and believing in the teachings of fairy tales like "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Three Little Pigs", perhaps you should call the seven dwarfs, slide into your glass slippers, hop on your magic carpet and take a ride to Never Never Land, and please stop spreading the ignorance.

[Jay]

Every living creature is a neccessary element in the food chain. Predators are no differant. To say that wolves deserve to be exterminated because it is a killer . Well where does that put man at the top of the list of killer. Man kills destroys the environment even for himself sets his sights on someone elses domain and declares war then he justifies it by what need to what take what isn't his. So now an animal that cannot defend itself is on the table to live or die . I am happy to hear that a judge has given the wolf a chance at living it's own life. Man hunts for pleasure animal hunts to feed. Which one is worse? Which one should go ?

[Jeff Call]

This whole issue about every one of Gods creatures deserve to live is funny because you are defending a creature that will kill How many other creatures a year? What about the poor deer or elk or sheep or cattle don' t they deserve to live too. And have you seen a wolf kill or partially kill something by eating it alive? It is not pretty. I hunt and Kill 1 elk a year to eat. A wolf will kill many many times that a year.

There is a good saying "Opinions are like butt holes, everyone has one and they all stink" . If you have 10 people you may have 10 different opinions. I would just like to see some reasoning in the whole thing. Medium ground would be nice that is what the States were going to do is "MANAGE" the wolf population to keep acceptable numbers, not wipe them out. From what I see all you saying you could care less if the wolves wiped out the deer and elk. Which are also managed by the Fish and Game.

And to "Bowhunter from Montana" you mentioned Fair Chase I am also an archery hunter, and do enjoy the fair chase. But fair chase has nothing to do with this wolf issue. Get off your high horse you are not the only sportsman.

[Bill]

What I first wanted to say was tha I liked both Jeff Call's first comment and Bowhunter's comment. I will say, and I say this gently, I do not understand Jeff's position. On the one hand he says that wolves make it harder to live his chosen life which is "culling" elk and deer for his family's table. But he only takes one elk a year. That raises the question of how hard is it to find one elk and then enough deer in the face of predation by the wolves? Is it really extra hard? And how many deer feed Jeff's family, just so we know?

And in his first entry Jeff gives evidence that our beloved Feds are managing the wolf population to a certain (albeit "secret") extent.

So, my bad, but I do not understand Jeff's real, central complaint; meanwhile I do appreciate Bowhunter's comments.

I think that certainly wolves could be a viable part of our shared National Park/National Ecosystem. That is, bring on the "Manageable WildSide", and let us push back the multitude confines of daily life.

[Jeff Call]

To answer Bills question of how many deer and elk to feed my family, about 1 elk and 5 deer for a year or 2 elk and 2 or 3 deer is comfortable. Some choose to buy beef I choose deer and elk. In the areas I hunt the wolf numbers are still managble. I still get my elk. But if you read the news there are areas in the state where they are very concerned that the local herds are being wiped out from over predation.

All I am saying is MANAGE it is not, nor ever has been said that the state agencies would cause the wolves to be wiped out. That is not their goal. If we read the reports the wolves goal was to get 300, that originally was what they decided would be a good manageable number I guess. So why are so many people crying out and saying stop the killing and the hating when we have over 1500 wolves and climbing. The wolves are not different than other species if left unmanaged and never culled like everyone is agreeing that deer and elk need culling they will be a big problem.

The Fish and Game adjust permit numbers every year for deer, elk, moose etc.
If they need more culled they give more permits in a given area. If the numbers are down they give out fewer permits for the area. Wolves would be managed the same way. Some areas where there is too much predation permits would be given. Just as Mountain Lions have been managed.

[StirlingSilver83]

Hello, ok I am not from the area, but I was reading a book recently about a wolf and decided to search it on google to read more about them. From the comments above I am appalled from all the regions, from the hunters and from the ecosystem people. You see I live in new jersey, and in new jersey we have a vast range of wildlife, but our problem is we have way too many deer, and our governments arrange for special hunts to keep the population down. I agree with this. We don't want to kill off all the deer in our state, but just enough to keep the population down. The deer in our state have gotten so use to human contact that they don't even run anymore when you approach them. I was driving just the other day and I saw 2 fawns spots and everything not even 5 feet away from a highway ramp. Now to me this in dangerous, deer can do serious damage to your car if you were to hit them. So to me I agree on the hunts to keep the population down. Now from another point of view, I understand where the other people are coming from, being wolves are a predator. I have never hear of wolves attacking people, now I know I am not from around you guys and we don't have wolves in NJ, but if we did it would certainly keep the deer population down, instead of our taxes going to pay for these deer hunts to keep the population down. I also think wolves are beautiful creatures, and how we are forget where the dog originated from. A lot of us who own dogs forget that wolves are just part of that species. Now if dogs weren't domesticated and had to live in the wild they would kill just as well as wolves kill to keep from starving to death. Also dogs or wolves don't fruitlessly kill, they will kill have a feast that will last them a few days and then in those few days will kill again. They don't kill for the fact of just killing things, they kill to survive to keep them from starving to death. And if everyone thinks wolves should be destroyed because of that then I think humans should be destroyed because of that. But if you look into the society we live in now, us humans just kill each other for the fact that someone looked at us cross eyed, not because we need to survive. Also we kill innocent animals just for the fact of having food. Isn't that similar to why wolves kill? So in many ways humans and wolves are a like. And for those of you that say wolves should be killed just because they are a predator, need to look up the facts. They are meat eaters, just like most humans are meat eaters. They need food to survive we need food to survive. If you think wolves should be killed because they are meat eaters, than humans should be killed because they are meat eaters. I believe, if there is an over population of wolves in your area like there is an overpopulation of deer in my area, that should be the reason they should be killed. Not the reason that most of you are giving, because they are predators. That is absolutely rediculous!

[Lucy]

Hey Jeff, I too have lived in Idaho my whole life and we hunt for our meat as well, there is only 2 of us so we only need 1 or deer a year. I am curious how you are able to take 5 deer in a year, since the limit is only 1 per hunter, at least in the panhandle. Humm sounds like pouching to me..
It is a proven statictic that in areas where wolf populations have been restored the big game herds have actually improved. Unlike man, wolves help the population by taking the weak or sick.

If you really wanted to improve the big game populations and allow your way of life to continue, you would not have had 5 children. The biggest threat to all wild things is our encrouchment.

[Lucy]

Hey Jeff, I too have lived in Idaho my whole life and we hunt for our meat as well, there is only 2 of us so we only need 1 or deer a year. I am curious how you are able to take 5 deer in a year, since the limit is only 1 per hunter, at least in the panhandle. Humm sounds like pouching to me..
It is a proven statictic that in areas where wolf populations have been restored the big game herds have actually improved. Unlike man, wolves help the population by taking the weak or sick.

If you really wanted to improve the big game populations and allow your way of life to continue, you would not have had 5 children. The biggest threat to all wild things is our encrouchment.

[bowhunter]

Jeff Call, i understand your sentiment. I too read the propaganda the Rocky MOuntain Elk Foundation has put out on wolves. There is myriad anecdotal evidence from all sorts of outfitters just outside Yellowstone talking about how the hunt has been diminished by wolves. 1.) the elk don't call as much, 2.) FWP has dropped the number of late season cow permits. RMEF loves to chide the wolves. Let me translate this for you - the outfitters complain because they can't fill their client's tags quite as easily. RMEF is heavily sponsored by outfitters, so they are placating their income sources.

Your analysis re: exponential wolf populations is not correct. All populations have a "carying capacity" (including our human population). Because there was such a huge imbalance of elk, the hunt outside of Yellowstone used to occur in February in knee deep snow where the elk had no choice but to wander onto the few windblown, low elevation, exposed south facing slopes where any idiot with a 30-06 could blast one and turn it into freezerburned packages he would throw away 3 years later. It was that sort of hunt that destroys public opinon of hunters. There was no skill, just high powered rifles vs. elk with nowhere to go. This was not a fair hunt. Because of the wolves in Yellowstone, the elk herd is returning to a reasonable size. The riparian areas in the Lamar valley are growing aspen and willow that the elk had previously destroyed, the water quality is better, the beaver are coming back with the willows, and the ecosystem is more healthy.

And what is more, hunters who are willing to put the miles on their boots can still harvest game and feed their families healthy protien.

Wolves and elk have lived in balance for milenia without causing extinction. (Humans exterpated wolves from our states in less than 100 years). Your argument that you won't be able to feed your family because wolves are taking all the elk is a red herring. THose same outfitters are the ranch corporations who lock you out of their property so that some Texan can pay $6000 to ride up to an elk, shoot it and take a picture before returning to his Dallas law firm.

The wolves need the elk just as your family does. May the best hunter win. Fair chase.

[MD BUTCH GROOTHUIS]

It seems that the so-called "environmentalists" and the "pro-wolf" people are one in the same. They are the ones that espouse forest management practices that create fuel for forest fires that can not be controlled and burn so hot they sterilize the ground so nothing grows for a hundred years. The majority of them do not live in the states where the wolves were introduced, nor do they have to put up with the consequences of their actions. They appear to operate strictly on emotion with no grasp of facts and care more about their "agenda" than anyone else's rights. They should all be required to look at the material and view the reality of their actions at the website www.saveourelk.com. They are not the ones who have to worry about carrying a firearm every time they go into the woods to protect themselves, their pets, children and grandchildren from the wolves. If you pro-wolf people want to see wolves, I will be happy to take you up in the hills an hour from my house and let you experience five packs of them first-hand, BUT only if you promise to camp overnight with NO weapon.

[jim]

Killing wolves won't solve the problem. It will just make it worse than it already is. Wolves are not naturally human killers, but if there is a famine involved then that's a different story. Watch certain animal channels on TV or go to a library and read about them. If you read enough and understand it, then you will see what wolves are really like. Wolves are like us, they need a way to survive. Like someone said survival of the fittest. It's also a good thing wolf populations are going up. I may not live around wolves, but I've seen them and went on a trip that follows wolves. They're not like what you people expect them to be. Besides global warming may take us all in the process with the wolves. Just think of this. THE OUTCOME of your decision. Many of you wouldn't think of it. Look at both good and bad ways of it.

[Ben]

You people shouldn't criticize the wolf for the first kill it makes. That's all you people see, and not their other side. Other predators are probably more maneater than the wolf is, like a grizzly bear. Wolves are actually quite dear and loving to humans, and hunters should just continue hunting deer with the wolves. Make it a competition, which it already is, but just don't destroy the competition with the prize. Go for the goal and don't worry about the obstacles. A wolf may attack a human if it's probably a small child alone in wolf territory. That could happen like it does in CA where coyotes attack people because we moved into their territory. If you think about it LONG, AND HARD then you could see the true wolf side of it. Some people own wolves as pets and they may be tame, but they still have their wild side inside them. I understand that some people hunt for their food, but there is plenty of deer, elk, and other herbivores that can suit your hungry stomachs. You should remember though that a wolf is just like you. Take this advice too. Global warming is also helping people destroy the wolves. The population isn't going to go up that fast as the Earth keeps heating up. Stop global warming first, then worry about other problems.

[bob]

I'd rather have wolves on our public lands than cattle who destroy the land and pollute the streams.

If you want to grow cattle, do it on private land. No more welfare ranching on lands owned by every American citizen.

[Ethan]

Wolves are a part of the food chain that helps balance out the living life. They are needed for this, and humans are killing them off. Humans are already at the top of the food chain, and we shouldn't kill wolves for our amusement, those of you that enjoy it and hate them, cause it's just WRONG! The wolf is like what jim said a loving creature that can show you if you can give it time. Also if you encounter a wolf on property or anything, chase it away or call animal cops/control. That can help instead of killing them off. There may be times where you could hunt them, but that's also wrong. Hunters should be limited to a number of wolves they can kill. 300 wolves is not enough to keep other animals under control. You at least need a little more than 2000 to do it. Wolves won't attack you unless you try to corner it while trying to kill it. If your out alone in the woods with no one or anything to defend yourself, and a wolf or wolf pack comes along and blocks all ur ways, then u can find something close to hand to defend urself. Not saying you should go out with nothing, just DONT BRING A GUN!!! Also like Ben said Global warming is heating up our Earth, and all kinds of canines could start to die from heat stroke including your pet dogs. Just stop trying to kill a "visciuos" predator which doesn't kill humans, and leave them alone. One more thing, wolves are actually shy animals.

[lover]

When you think of the wolf, what comes to your mind at first? Many of you would most definitely think they are basically viscious, and man eating creatures. Another thing, why do you think God put these creatures on the Earth? Noah's Ark carried all these kinds of creatures carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore alike all on this deck. Lots of animals are endangered, and some extinct. Some extinct are the blue pike from over fishing, and a short-billed sparrow that was wiped out from loss of habitat. Think of what you're doing to destroy this Earth. yes you're destroying this planet with your so-called "right thing to do" comments and speeches. I know that it is definitely wrong for the government to shoot these animals secretly, and have us pay it with our taxes. I am a definite wolf lover, and I would hate to see these wonderful and pet-like animals leave the face of this planet. Remember this question. Why do you want to destroy the Earth? Also possibly this. How come you only think of yourself?

[lover]

I may already know many people might say wolves are sometimes maneaters, but that is a certain kind of wolf. Usually lone wolves outcasted by their wolf packs try to thrive in life on their own. Sometimes lone wolves may take a small child from their sleeping bag in camp, and drag them into the forest. Wolf packs don't often attack humans, but basically lone wolves may do it if they're desperate for life, or if you look good to eat. Just if you're camping around wolves, bring something to scare it off, and that means not a gun. If you do bring a gun, just scare off the wolf with a shot in the air. Killing it doesn't do anyone any good. It could maybe come back to you some day.

[RC]

Let's be honest about this...
Wolves are predators and drive ungulate populations like elk, caribou, and deer deeper into the forests and meadows. For a family subsisting on these it makes it more difficult to make to bring food to the table. For ranchers, it's means more stress and concern for their livestock, income and family safety. For elk hunting guides, it means loss of work when hunters travel to other places where there are more balanced habitats or more elk, such as Canada.

Wolves do not like to eat people or especially small children. When was the last time you heard of a human being killed by a wolf? Let's drop the Dark Ages hysteria and be honest with ourselves and eachother.

This is really about the priority of rural human life and survival. I believe there are solutions to the problem.

First, let's us agree the most serious issue affecting our family, our church, our town, our state, our country, our civilization is the booming population of humans on the earth and the growing consumption of natural and manufactured resources to fulfill their needs, wants, and desires. Unfortunately this is only going to get worse as developing countries like China and India, of which make up 2/5 of the 6-plus billion humans born in the last 100 years, continue to boom into developed countries. China's oil consuption went up 20% last year. India is right behind them. Raw materials we consume for our lifestyles like iron, copper, wood, and plastic (a byproduct of petroleum) are not renewable resources are being depleted at a faster rate. There is a serious honeybee crisis about to affect our nations food bank. The oil crisis has just begun. (Check out "A Crude Awakening" from Netflix)

The wolf situation is important but we need to start prioritizing here. But we should look at the Yellowstone wolf population as a learning tool. The reintroduction of the wolf to Yellowstone filled a missing link. It began to reduce ungulate populations back a more balanced number for their habitat. The kills provided the necessary food for other species to flourish. Any species that does not have a natural predator can eventually overpopulate their habitat and migrate into other habitats.

For example let's examine the human species.

The Easter Island people used up their natural resources, the civilization on the verge of collaspe built stone faces to apease their gods. Eventually many attemted to flee the isolated island. The ones who foolishly stayed behind to build the stone faces istead of looking at the real problem just died there.
Easter Island civilation: COLLAPSED.
Reason: OVER-POPULATION of species led to over consumption of subsistence natural reasouces.

The Inca Empire loved to appease their gods by buildling huge temple painted with plaster. To make plaster limestone is burned at high temps for a long period of time. After hundreds of years populating and plastering temples to appease their gods the forests were depleted and they didn't have enough wood to survive.
Inca civilization: COLLAPSED.
Reason: OVER-POPULATION of species led to over consumption of subsistence natural reasouces.

It's time we as a human race WAKE UP! Our civilization is on the verge of collaspe. Oil is such a wonderful cheap, light, compact source of energy. We are on the verge of a global disaster of our species. The wolf population will naturally control themselves through disease and this is the least of our worries. The U.S. government has been infiltrated by a group of oil and weapons investors. GW Bush's grandfather Prescott Bush was a Nazi banker and tried to get U.S. general to help his group of bankers to overthrow the government. This is a sad fact! Google: Prescott Bush! Also, there is growing evidence 9/11 was either and inside job. Netflix: Terror Storm and End Game. Read: Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.

SOLUTION:
Take the money out of politics; establish true campaign finance reform.
Our elections can be corrupted; require our current computer voting to have a paper trail, full disclosure and test of code. No more BACK DOOR PROGRAMMING!
Elect leaders who are problem solvers, not corporate puppets.
Establish a Department of Peace.
Justice for their warcrimes. Iraq never had WMDs!
Consume less. What do you really need?
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Drive less.
Buy local food.
Ride bikes more.
Education reform.
Healthcare reform.
Insurance reform.
Telecommunication reform.
FDA and USDA reform.
Most importantly, we as a species need to slow our populating! Encourage zero-population growth.
Learn from other civilization failures and successes.
Turn off your TV and computer and start living.
Read.
Listen.
Realize we're in this together. My happiness and well being is directly related to yours. Be kind.
Find problem and help others solve it.

[Sam]

YAY but the only reason they were off in the first place was the fact that there is to many hunting morons

[lover]

like RC said about what we can do to save our Earth other than dealing with the smallest problem like wolves eating elk to survive. RC, there are attacks on humans, but it is extremely rare. Like i said basically the lone wolves will do it but probably not packs. It's not our fault if wolves attack humans, well mostly is because we moved into their territory. Why do you think wolves attack livestock like cows? Well because the farmer decided to move there near the edge of the forest, where wolves may be lurking around trying to survive. It is definitely survival of the fittest, but don't kill the other hunters (animals/carnivores) cause we need them. There is already too much deer and elk in some other places in the U.S. The east coast has way too many deer and other herbivores, so we should probably introduce the wolves there to keep it under control. Another thing, wolves are actually helping to slow down global warming by eating the herbivores. we can't lose too many plants or global warming will speed up. also people that jsut eat deer and elk to live, that's not all u can eat. If there is a place where meat is sold, just try it. it won't kill you unless u eat it raw. Not much of the fast food kind of places. Don't have many children either because that's ur other problem. I'm not saying its bad to love ur children jsut that its harder to feed many mouths than like 1 or 2 children. Just think of what wolves can do for you besides the bad part. Think of what wolves do for you that are good, cause it mostly is.

[lover]

The Yellowstone National Park is a good place to help restore the wolf population. One thing that is very cruel and a waste of time is the fact that hunters and ranchers wait for a wolf or pack to cross the line from the National Park and shoot them down. You hunters are so obsessed! Get a life besides hunting down your friend. Having you heard of "Man's best friend!"? Well you should have. The wolf is like your average pet, but has a lot more wild in him/her than your everyday domesticated dog. Someone I know has a dog that is half wolf but it is a very kind dog and doesn't attack people. Wolves will help people because the deer and elk pop is large and destroys plants. Without any vegetation on this Earth, we would all suffocate from the lack of oxygen. Then you should think it's the deer and elk's fault for that. I read about this guy who says this about wolves himself, "Wolves are nothing but viscious predators that eat everything in sight like squirrels and other small animals. then they'll start eating other predators and then eat other wolves!" THAT'S A BUNCH OF BOLONEY DUDE! Wolves are not cannibalistic! They don't eat other predators. They pretty much eat deer, elk, moose, and a few rodents. They have to eat and travel to survive. They eat what they can, and then some other predator may come along and eat the rest of it. So it's not all the wolves's fault the deer and elk pop. is going down. there are other predators out there. Here's a hint for you people that hate wolves: READ ABOUT WOLVES AND LISTEN TO A WOLF PROFESSIONAL!!! Is that so hard to do?

[Ginny Hair]

Hi Tami,

Terrific reporting and thanks for covering this important story. I agree with one of the earliest
posts, thank goodness a judge stepped in. When not running a communications company, I volunteer my time on the Board of the Oakland Zoo and have worked closely with Dr. Parrott over the years who has taught me so much about
the importance of all species and the absolute need to protect those on the endangered list.

Thanks much for this!

Ginny Hair

[Anonymous]

Although you should still protect those that are on their way, but still protect those that are on. Just make sure that those that are close to making the endangered species list get some protection, but mostly the endangered animals like the wolf ^_^ should have very good protection, especially from hunters and poachers.

[Mule]

We live in Idaho in the wildland urban interface, this means we live in wolf territory. There are plenty of wolves in Idaho, and they are not being wiped out. Check out this map of wolf packs:
http://fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=32267

Wolves have saturated all suitable habitat, and are moving into rural areas where people live. Its time to start managing them, just like other large predators. The wolf recovery worked. Its time to let the states take over management. Idaho had a good management plan, that would have allowed folks to protect their property, and let hunters fees pay for studies. Wolves will not be "slaughtered".

We are not ranchers or hunters, in fact we take in and rescue unwanted animals. One of those is a crippled mare that survived being attacked by wolves. She is a sweet old lady, but will always need a lot of care.

[yasmine]

I think that it is insane. wolves are beautiful animals and now because of the government there going endangered

[lover]

exactly what yasmine says. Insane! I mean really the wolves are not evil. It's just their way of adapting. Wolves can't wipe out a species. There would have to be 5000 of them. If you want some to move where deer is an outragious population then ok. California and other places that don't have any wolves have way too many deer. Send over some wolves here, but think of this they couldn't survive here. there is no snow.