To Kill a Wolf
WARNING: This is not easy reading, and some of the graphics are, well, graphic. That said, I encourage you to dive in and do something.
On March 28 the federal government elected to remove the Gray Wolf from the endangered species list, stating that numbers were "high enough" to sustain a population, and elected to hand the decision making power over to states, specifically Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. While Idaho and Montana have both elected to manage wolves as "big game species," meaning they have a specific hunting season, similar to how bears, elk and other species are managed, Wyoming has chosen to manage wolves as a "predator" in 87% of the state, meaning they can be killed by any method at any time.
Since March 28, of the 147 wolves in this 87% of Wyoming, 13 have been reported killed. The "shoot, shovel and shut-up" red neck mentality that has prevailed in these locales has lost the last part - shut-up - as it is now perfectly legal to kill these wolves, ethics be damned. Mind you, it's not a pretty game. One wolf was shot from a 300 yard range, first a crippling wound through the femur, and then a blast through the stomach. As any hunter will tell you, neither of these lead to anything close to a quick death. That evening, this wolf's pack mates were heard mournfully howling from the nearby hillside for their fallen comrade. The wolf was not harassing livestock, and was killed a mile-and-a-half from the shooters property. Here is it's photo:
There are more stories. Tony Saunders, an outfitter out of Jackson, Wyoming, used the new laws to track a wolf for 35 miles on his snowmobile, and even bragged about the "sporting nature" of the hunt. This wolf as well was not harassing livestock or bothering anybody. Saunders says he plans to make the wolf a large rug for his living room.
Here is a photo of Saunders with his kill (Whenever I see a photograph of some sportsman grinning over his kill, I am always impressed by the striking moral and esthetic superiority of the dead animal to the live one).
Yet more images arrived today. This was sent to a wolf advocate a few days back from a taxidermy shop in Pinedale, Wyoming. It's not clear if the email was sent to upset or inform the person, but regardless, it needs to be seen.
Hard to imagine, but this is the 21st century, and this isn't ancient history...it's all happening right now.
Of course, the scientists and government officials will give us the normal song and dance. How individual animals don't matter one iota, how it's all about maintaining sustainable numbers for the population as a whole, blah, blah, blah. An ironic argument indeed, since I suspect many of these same people would be at the front of the crowd supporting the rights of a human "fetus," and would certainly be aghast if one of their family members was gunned down, yet they were told that human population numbers were "sustainable."
Clearly life - all life - is not viewed the same by all people. Most people, I would say. Human beings are, without a doubt, the evilest species in existence. We kill for sport, for thrill, we don't eat what we kill, and we twist the truth to make a point, Case in point - lest you think Wyoming is the only twisted state here, Idaho plans to make the most of their hunting season, by allowing aerial gunning of wolves, including an all out assault in one of the wildest locales in the entire U.S., the Frank Church Wilderness.
What's the culprit behind these actions? Fear mostly. Centuries of fear handed down from generations. Nevermind that there has never been a single case of a healthy wolf attacking a human being in the history of North America, nor have wolves depleted elk herds (a common hunter argument). In fact, elk numbers are higher now than they have ever been, herds are stronger. The problem, really, is that wolves have driven the elk into the woods so now the hunters actually have to leave their pick-up truck and Pabst Blue Ribbon behind, and actually move a little to "git their elk." Fear reigns despite all this. Fear, and the general human attitude of "I don't give a fuck." That and some sadistic nature to cure the reality of their pitiful little life.
Life is precious. All life. To gun down an animal, with not intent to eat it, is in my mind, cold blooded murder, and should be treated as such. It's true - I am looking forward to the day when human beings can be killed for any reason at any time. Then, the playing field would at least be somewhat equal.
What can you do? Do you care? Well, if you enjoy the mountains and woods - and if you read this you probably do - and have any hopes of hearing a wolf howl in Colorado in your lifetime, you should. The only way a wolf can get here is from Wyoming, and it ain't going to happen as long as that state is shooting ground for wolves.
Fortunately, there are things in the works. A number of major environmental groups have filed a lawsuit that asks for the Federal Government to put the wolf back on the endangered species list. Their argument - the minimum number of wolves required by the states, 450, is inadequate to have a healthy population. Think about that. 450 wolves. More people live in Eldora - a tiny town in the high Colorado Rockies - in the summer than that. Approximately 3 million people live in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho combined. Yet 450 wolves is considered adequate? Where is the balance here? There is none.
What can you do? It seems like a hopeless situation, but there are options:
1. Pay attention, and when the time comes, take action. Write letters, call politicians, etc. A great website to keep up-to-date on this stuff can be found at http://wolves.wordpress.com/
2. Vote. I won't tell you who to vote for, but I'll give you a guess as to which politicians and parties gave the A-OK to Wyomings barbaric plan. It rhymes with Tush. Vote the bad guys out, or in bumper sticker terminology - vote for a democrat, save two-thousand wolves.
3. Boycott. Don't travel to Idaho, Montana or Wyoming. Think twice if you are planning to go to school and spend your money to support these states and their politics. Let them know exactly why you are not spending your money there.
4. Direct action. What does this mean? It's kind of up to you and your comfort level. Remember, the concept of wilderness needs no defense. Only more defenders.
In conclusion, I leave you with the story written by Kathy Lynch, detailing the life of Wolf 253, a legendary wolf and one of the first gunned down.
Born in the spring of 2000, Wolf 253 was the son of the great Druid alpha 21M and 106F. As a yearling, 253 injured his hind leg during a fight between the Druid and Nez Perce packs. Known affectionately ever after by his legions of fans as "Limpy," 253 never let his disability get him down.
As an adventurous two-year-old, his travels took him almost 250 miles south to Morgan, Utah (just north of Salt Lake City), where he was caught in a coyote trap, injuring a front leg. The fact that he wore a Yellowstone collar undoubtedly saved his life. The US Fish and Wildlife Service arranged to retrieve him and return him to Yellowstone. But, with deep November snows and closed Park roads, he was released south of YNP, in Grand Teton National Park. Unbelievably, by December he had made it all the way across Yellowstone on only two good legs to rejoin his natal pack in Yellowstone's Northern Range.
He spent the next year-and-a-half serving as favorite uncle to the pups and faithful Beta male to his father, 21M. Together they led the Druids with dignity and forestalled the advances of Leopold interloper 302M, who was bent on romancing the Druid females.
When 21M disappeared in June 2004 (and was found dead in July), many hoped that his son and faithful lieutenant, 253, would step up to be the new alpha. But, 253 had other ideas. Although he fought with and beat 302M and 302's Leopold brother (the future Druid alpha 480M), 253 chose to leave while he was still top dog.
A wolf with wanderlust, he once again headed south and made a new life for himself with the Flat Creek pack near the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming. Over the next few years, bits of news about 253 would emerge, but he gradually slipped out of sight. The last folks heard of him (last summer, I think), he was near Pinedale, Wyoming, the black hole of death for wolves. A member of the Daniel pack, he never got into trouble with livestock.
On March 28, 2008, the first day the Gray Wolf was delisted from the Endangered Species List in the Northern Rocky Mountains ("Opening Day," as some Wyoming newspapers called it), a wolf-hating hunter's bullet killed 253M in cold blood near Daniel, in Sublette County, Wyoming. He was gunned down in the Predator Zone, which makes up 87% of that state, where a wolf can be killed at any time and for no reason at all.
A favorite of all who knew him, 253M lived an adventurous and exemplary life. He lived life to the fullest, made choices that pushed the limits, and didn't take the easy way out. It is our responsibility to celebrate the life and legacy of 253M so his death will not be in vain. We must push the limits and not take the easy way out as we work ever harder to make the world a better place for wolves.
I am reminded of a poem I saw etched on a mountain climber's gravestone in Zermatt, Switzerland:
"Let me go climb these virgin snows
Leave the dark stain of man behind
Let me adventure and Heaven knows
Grateful shall be my peaceful mind."
Rest In Peace, Druid Wolf 253M.
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