 |
|
| Hobby Forum Index » Animals and Wildlife » Let's work together to ensure the future of Idaho's... |
|
Page 1 of 1 |
|
| Author |
Message |
| chatnoir... |
 Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:52 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
http://www.idahostatesman.com/readersopinion/story/927620.html
Mike Medberry: Let's work together to ensure the future of Idaho's
wolves
READER'S VIEW: WOLVES
BY MIKE MEDBERRY - Idaho Statesman
Published: 10/07/09
Wolf recovery in the West has been the most successful program that
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ever accomplished under the
Endangered Species Act. Today there are more than 1,650 wolves in
Idaho and Montana, Wyoming, and a couple more in Oregon, Washington
and Utah. In 1994, only 15 years ago, there were none.
I say this as one who doubted for many years that wolves could ever
recover. But now a pack can be found in most of the formerly vacant
drainages in central Idaho, filling nearly all of their original home
grounds.
In the late '80s, I worked for Idaho Conservation League, and we
challenged the wolf reintroduction proposal in court because we had
evidence that two wolves lived in northern Idaho. ICL lost that case
and the FWS argued that only a reintroduction plan could recover the
wolves in the Northern Rockies. In the intervening year, that has
proven accurate. It is, frankly, an amazing accomplishment.
When the wolves were reintroduced in 1995 and 1996, the decision was
that when the population grew to 15 pairs in two out of three of the
reintroduction states, the wolves would be delisted, taken off the
endangered species list, which protected them from being killed. In a
few years, the number of pairs that would trigger the delisting was
increased to 30 breeding pairs in two of the three states. I no longer
work for ICL, but I know that the number of wolves in Idaho is far
greater than 30 breeding pairs.
Each of the environmental groups that has filed a lawsuit should
accept that the wolves have recovered. Not to accept that is just
disingenuous. Conservationists must be honest or nothing.
More to the point, however, is that refusing to accept this remarkable
win endangers the law, the ESA, that protects all of the other
endangered species. What Defenders of Wildlife has done in filing a
lawsuit may serve the narrow legal issues but it fails to serve the
wolves, the integrity of the ESA and the people of Idaho and the West.
The lawsuit should be negotiated to a conclusion that benefits the
wolves.
Regardless, the rules of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game have to
reflect that these wolves were slaughtered in the past and should
assure that they will not be slaughtered in the future. If wolves are
left having fewer than 15 packs in both Idaho and Montana, the route
to re-list the wolves under the ESA should be clear, rapid and
automatic. Punishment should be severe for anyone who poaches a wolf.
The trapping and poisoning of wolves should continue to be illegal, as
that is what primarily led us to exterminate them in the first place.
In addition, each wolf that is legally shot should bring in $150 to
$1,000 to the state of Idaho rather than being sold at a pittance that
dishonors biologists, hunters, FWS, IDFG and the people of Idaho - not
to mention the wolves.
The ESA has been the conscience of our nation with regard to wildlife,
and it should be celebrated. After all, we have paid dearly to have
wolves returned to our land.
It is time to stop the bickering and begin the management of wolves
and management of people on far sides of this issue. I am hopeful that
IDFG will assure all Idahoans that wolves will continue to exist in
our state in perpetuity.
Mike Medberry is a conservationist living in McCall and working with
Idaho Solar Power. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:43 pm
|
|