Wolf recovery brings backlash in Congress

Los Angeles Times ^ | October 21, 2010 | Kim Murphy

[epithermal]

KALISPELL, Mont. — Rep. Denny Rehberg, who manages a ranch outside Billings, Mont., knows quite literally what it means to have the wolf at the door: A single wolf killed 51 prized cashmere goats in his pasture years ago.

" 'Shoot, shovel and shut up' is a joke in Montana," said Rehberg, referring to a long-standing reference among landowners across the West — perhaps only half in jest — to the best way to deal with a federally protected endangered species like the gray wolf.

The reintroduction of the wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains has been so contentious that Rehberg, a Republican, is joining a group of congressmen preparing an unusual move to aim their weapons at the Endangered Species Act itself.

Bills introduced in Congress in recent weeks would either remove the act's protection of wolves in the Northwest or, as proposed by Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, forbid any listing at all of the once nearly extinct predator. Biologists say that outcome could jeopardize recovery efforts in the Southwest and Midwest and in fledgling new populations in Washington and Oregon.

[epithermal]

This article says Oregon has wolves now. I had not heard of this, so does anyone know if that is true?

[microgood]

Bringing back wolves is among the dumbest thing our generation has done. The effect on the elk herds in Wyoming and Montana has been devastating.

[Doogle]

http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1534

[Califreak]

Ever notice how most of the “endangered” species are animals that will hunt us or what we eat?

I don’t believe that’s a coincidence.

[3boysdad]

We just follow “shoot, shovel, and shut up” here in Wyoming. Heck, we invented it. Most of us don’t give a rat’s ass about the abortion called the federal govt.

[Don Corleone]

" 'Shoot, shovel and shut up'

File for later reference. See my tag.

[jazusamo]

Yes, it’s true. They’re established in NE Oregon and the enviro nazis are happy as can be. They want them to keep increasing their ground.

Articles from The Oregonian:

http://search.oregonlive.com/Wolves+in+Oregon

[hinckley buzzard]

The effect on the elk herds in Wyoming and Montana has been devastating.

Some people maintain that the effect of swollen elk herds on the environment has been devastating, in the absence of natural predators. That is certainly true here in the midwest with the deer herd.

[microgood]

We just follow “shoot, shovel, and shut up” here in Wyoming. Heck, we invented it. Most of us don’t give a rat’s ass about the abortion called the federal govt.

So the wolves have made it all the way to Laramie? I spent many years there but that was before the wolf insanity happened.

[epithermal]

Thanks, looks like they are over along the Idaho border area. None in the Cascades, I hope.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Love Wyoming :-) O2BNWY

:-D (tag idea)

[lonevoice]

ping-a-ling!

[microgood]

Ever notice how most of the “endangered” species are animals that will hunt us or what we eat?

I don’t believe that’s a coincidence.

Yes, I think that they will do nothing with cougars until they eat someone important's kid. A wolf could do the same thing.

[umgud]

Some people maintain that the effect of swollen elk herds on the environment has been devastating, in the absence of natural predators. That is certainly true here in the midwest with the deer herd.

Expand the hunting season, issue more tags.

[Jolla]

In deer country, out of season, lots of deer get run over, its against the law to shoot ‘em, but if you run over a deer, everything is okay

[jazusamo]

There’s been anecdotal reports of singles in the Cascades, don’t know if they’re true.

However, wolves will establish themselves in the Cascades if allowed to, there’s nothing to stop them geographically.

[taxcutisapayraise]

Here is a video of a pack of wolves on the prowl in Russia.

The guy in the video was very lucky to find safety.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39723578#39723578

[microgood]

Some people maintain that the effect of swollen elk herds on the environment has been devastating, in the absence of natural predators. That is certainly true here in the midwest with the deer herd.

Actually that is not true, at least in the Yellowstone area. They can actually tell when the elk start overgrazing because they start eating larger branches which damage their mouths and they basically control the population through hunting permits. Usually at the end of each year they figure out how many more they need to get rid of and have a final hunt.

The real problem the wolves cause is with the elk that stay in Yellowstone National Park in the winter. They are the heartiest elk of all but lose alot of weight during the winter. They are sitting ducks for the wolves and so we are losing the ones with the strongest genes.

In addition, the wolves they reintroduced are Canadian wolves not indigent to the Wyoming region and they are much larger and more aggressive than the ones that used to be in Wyoming.

The wolves have basically cut the herds in half and elk are on the road to extinction in Wyoming and Montana unless something is done.

[HiTech RedNeck]

So why not feed the elk to people.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Some people maintain that the effect of swollen elk herds on the environment has been devastating, in the absence of natural predators. That is certainly true here in the midwest with the deer herd.

Hey, they're singing your song.