From the ’70s through the ’90s, wolf activity was monitored throughout Montana, Idaho and Wyoming with the goal of assisting populations to reach sustainable numbers. A federal Environmental Impact Statement, completed in 1994, specified that when the wolves reach “recovery” they would be delisted. Recovery was defined as 30 breeding pairs with two or more pups living in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, in an area more simply referred to as the Northern Rockies, with the numbers to be sustained for three consecutive years. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sources state that 64 wolves, 10 of these being pups, were moved into Montana and central Idaho in ’95 and ’96 in an effort to reach the goal numbers.
In 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the target states had achieved their second consecutive year of recovery populations with 35 breeding pairs in 51 packs totaling 550 known wolves. This led to their 2002 announcement that the animals had achieved recovery. Wolves could now legally be delisted.
Looking at the 2007 Western Gray Wolf Annual Report issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you can see an estimated cost, as of that writing, to be in excess of $273 million, with the state of Montana continuing to receive over $600,000 annually. This is being paid primarily by the U.S. taxpayers n you and me.
It is complete nonsense to continue to spend outrageous sums of money to “monitor” an animal that long ago has met and exceeded federal rules for delisting. Add to this the fact that as the population continues to grow, the number of predation issues with ranchers and farmers also grows. This leads to the occasional harvesting of individuals wolves. We also pay for this and the reimbursement for property damage if the property owner is fortunate enough to be able to prove it was wolf-caused.
I just can’t understand how the state and federal government can legally continue to list these animals as endangered. Delisting and allowing individual states to manage populations would save the U.S. taxpayer millions while providing the states a means to generate revenue by the sale of selective tags. The states have, for many years, offered Governors Tags that allow special big-game hunting opportunities for randomly chosen individuals who are able to pay exorbitant fees. The entire U.S. taxpaying population is currently paying for “wolf hunts” in which only a few state or federal employees can participate. Perhaps we should call this a Congressional Wolf Tag. These elite tags for the chosen few have only cost us about $273 million (and counting).
Bob Henderson writes from Hungry Horse.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)