Conservationists saw it coming. The federal delisting of grey wolves has resulted in in unethical and unconscionable slaughter of wolves in Idaho, the most virulent wolf-hating state. Almost half the state's wolves, four hundred, have been killed in one year. Idaho wants to drive down the wolf population to an extremely low level of 150. That figure is not based on biological science, but on the human greed for elk and the revenue generated by elk and other big game hunters. Federal officials were
naive to rely on Idaho officials' representations to maintain between 518 and 732 wolves, and the Obama administration was
complicit in a poltical decision to delist wolvesin the Northern Rockies by doing nothing to stop Congress from taking such unprecedented action. The state has returned to its traditional policy of treating a ecologically necessary predator as vermin to be eradicated. This policy means no quotas on the number of wolves killed in most of the state, wolf killing for 8-10 months of the year including denning season in some areas, using aerial slaughter to wipe out entire packs. If wolves were people, Idaho's irrational wolf policy is genocide*. Help
Defenders of Wildlife, help wolves by putting political pressure on Idaho Governor "Butch" Otter. Sign the
Defenders petition to stop the slaughter now or post a message on the Governor's Facebook page.
*in stark contrast that justifies the use of strong language, the citizens of Michigan, a state with a wolf population of about 550 living in the Upper Peninsula, responded to a poll conducted by Michigan State and Michigan Technological Universities. 82% agreed wolves have value even though 78% of residents contacted also believed wolves could be hunted if biologists concluded the population could sustain a hunt. Nothing in the name of sportsmanship or management justifies the harsh, inhumane treatment Idaho is imposing on Canis lupis residing within its borders.
