"Why wolf lovers
like me, need to accept wolf management"
We all love the wolf
for different reasons and as we share in that interest, we sometimes forget
that we have to share in the reality of the world as it is today. Sadly, wolves
in North America were hunted to extinction, and education was not there to help
stop it. We realized that was wrong as a country, and brought back this amazing
creature. I personally loved wolves my entire life, and recently have been
devoting significant time to study, and continue in a career where I can
interact with these animals and help promote their well being.
Some of us though,
allow the love and protection of our furry friends, to blind us in the reality
of the issues at hand. Once this great nation was sprawling back woods and open
plains, free of the highways and cities plotting these lands today. All animals were able to live without having
the fear of being hunted for their pelt, or poisoned so they can make a new
mini-mall. This still exists in some places such as in rural Alaska, and many
parts of Canada, as they still roam free.
However I have come
to realize that just like any other predator species, humans and wolves can not
just live side by side. It doesn't make logical sense, or environmental
sense, just like we wouldn't want bears hanging at the local playground. We
need to have a management system to help make sure the wolf doesn't get any
un-needed bad reputation, and for the hunters/ranchers/farmers to feel they can
protect/hunt on their lands. This does not mean we cannot co-exist. We are
surely able to, and it is our obligation to give respect and protect all
species on this planet.
Now, do I support
inhumane trapping, or un-fair general chase methods? No.
Will I ever feel any
different when I see a hunting season announced? Absolutely not.
Will I ever support
legislation that goes against things other than needed population control, such
as out of season hunting, poisoning etc? Defiantly not.
Will there still be
places where the wolves can roam free without being hunted period? Yes.
I know most of us will read this and feel awkward at the
thought of even understanding a wolf needing to be killed, since we love them,
and would do anything to prevent that. However we must understand that we
cannot control everyone, everyone's outlook on life, their opinions etc. We are
in the minority as animal conservationists, and even more so as a wolf
conservationist. WE are not hurting the wolves.
The last thing we can do for the wolves, is let them be
accepted into the country, and quite frankly the world, and let the people
understand that they are an amazing animal that is powerful, intelligent and
graceful.
However, the world
will still have its thoughts and boundaries since it is no longer just the
creatures of the wild living in these lands. Management must be put into place,
with great discussion and of course regulations and we must accept and support
that it is needed and will help protect our favorite animal from being hunted
to extinction, or the target of multiple states trying to rid them off their
lands once again.
The majority of my generation knows only the false facts
about wolves, and has never lived in a world with them. So we must have
patience and teach them about this wonderful animal. Wolves will always have a
home to roam wild and free, but in some places we have to accept that they have
to be controlled just like the wonderful L. David Mech said:
"Whereas the
above considerations focus primarily on public perception of the humaneness of
hunting, some of the public will judge the success of wolf hunting by its
ability to decrease conflicts between wolves and ranching. Wolf-taking
regulations should therefore attempt to focus wolf harvest on areas where
wolves kill the most livestock. Reducing wolf density there could reduce
conflict with humans and the need for costly deliberate wolf control while also
gaining more public support.
Similarly, where
states perceive the need to reduce wolves to increase wild prey, concentrating
public taking there could reduce the need for deliberate control by state
agencies, which tends to be opposed by certain segments of the public. In this
respect, it also will be important for states to consider establishing
restricted zones around areas sensitive to the public such as national parks.
In 2009, Montana acted
quickly to close an open hunting zone north of Yellowstone after more wolves in
an adjacent wilderness were taken than in an adjacent settled area. This desire
and ability by states to adapt as they learn will be especially important
during the first few years of public harvesting. As experience accumulates,
states can refine their regulations to maximize taking wolves where they
conflict most with human interests and where and when public concern about wolf
taking is least."
Considerations for Developing Wolf Harvesting Regulations in
the Contiguous United States
L. David Mech -- International Wolf Magazine, Winter 2010,
12/29/2010
No one here, or in
the IWC, or any place for that matter will allow this world to destroy this
creature freely, with prejudice or in disregard for regulations like what
happened in the early 1900s. We also don't like the idea of any wolves having
to be killed, but that is the reality now. The last thing we want is the
populations to get out of control because we oppose all regulating and then
incidents happen because of that, and all of the sudden it becomes a free field
day on wolves again.
Please take my word
into consideration, I want nothing more than to spread what I believe is the
right direction for keeping around the wolf, now and forever. Some may
disagree, but just as a parent is overprotective and may stop a child from
progressing, we can be overprotective as a conservationist.
“Let us not be content
to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the
right things happen." -Peter Marshall
Thanks for reading,
Robert Elder III
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