Posted on 03/09/2010 11:15:34 AM PST by jazusamo
The reintroduction of wolves to western habitats has met with plenty of controversy. Landowners, sportsmen and conservation groups have been on one side or the other since the project began. And now the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is calling the bluff of pro-wolf groups like Defenders of Wildlife, Western Wildlife Conservancy and others for their manipulative use of data concerning the relationships between elk and wolves.
The rub lies in these groups' use of RMEF statistics that supposedly show an increase in elk populations in the northern Rockies as a result of the wolf reintroduction program. Letters to the editor in western newspapers by these groups, coupled with Western Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director Kirk Robinson's testimony before Utah lawmakers prompted the RMEF to take action and set the record straight.
"The theory that wolves haven't had a significant adverse impact on some elk populations is not accurate. We've become all too familiar with these groups' tactics of cherry-picking select pieces of information to support their own agenda, even when it is misleading," said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. "We will not allow that claim to go unchallenged."
The RMEF gets its data from state wildlife agencies. Information shows that elk populations are expanding in the northern Rockies, but only in areas where wolves aren't present.
And quite the opposite is true where elk share habitat with wolves such as the greater Yellowstone area. Since the reintroduction of gray wolves to the area in the mid-1990s, the northern Yellowstone elk herd has plummeted from 17,000 animals to just over 7,000 animals. Other localities in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are also documenting downward trends.
Additionally, some research shows that high wolf numbers in areas can cause elk to experience nutritional problems, lower body weights and declining birth rates.
"Every wildlife conservation agency, both state and federal, working at ground zero of wolf restoration —Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming — has abundant data to demonstrate how under-managed wolf populations can compromise local elk herds and local livestock production," Allen said. "There's just no dispute, and emotion-over-science is not the way to professionally manage wildlife."
The RMEF continues to support state-regulated wolf management to include hunting and other viable methods. When populations of furbearers like wolves get too high without any control, disease becomes a problem as seen in packs of Yellowstone wolves.
"When wolves are too abundant, they're more susceptible to diseases, just like all wildlife. The viruses and mange now spreading through wolf packs is another sign of way too many wolves," said Allen. "Defenders of Wildlife would like to spin sick wolves as a reason to end hunting. But real conservationists know that diseased wildlife populations need better management. Hunting as a management tool delivers that, period."
"Remember, pro-wolf groups make their living by prolonging this conflict," he added. "There is no real incentive for them to admit that wolves are overly recovered. Fundraising is their major motive and they've built a goldmine by filing lawsuits and preaching that nature will find its own equilibrium between predators and prey if man would just leave it alone.
"That's a myth. The truth is that people are the most important part of the equation. This isn't the Wild West anymore. People live here — actually, quite a lot of us. So our land and resources must be managed. Wildlife must be managed. Radical spikes and dips in populations show that we should be doing it better. It's not profitable for plaintiffs, but the rest of us would be better served if the conflict ended and conservation professionals were allowed to get on with their business of managing wildlife, including a well regulated hunting strategy."
The RMEF first got involved in wolf litigation in 2009 and supported defendant agencies by filing legal briefs in federal court to help delist wolves and proceed with hunting — "facts conveniently ignored by groups who misuse our name, data and credibility to prolong the conflict," Allen said.
"We stand for elk and other wildlife and what is happening right now is simply not good wildlife management," he concluded.
Ducks Unlimited was probably the original group to promote habitat and wildlife conservation with many hunters as members though I don’t know it for a fact. They have raised tons of money that’s benefited wildlife.
RMEF got started in the middle 80s and has done a great job also.
Don't forget all the duck stamps and hunting/fishin license fees and the taxes on hunting gear that go towards state and federal conservation and wildlife management programs.
Yes, the Pittman-Robertson Act has provided untold money for wildlife over the years. During HS I worked in a sporting goods store and remember when the price of Duck Stamps increased from two to three dollars, a few customers thought that was outrageous. LOL! I have no idea the cost of one now.
>>>Besides wolves are friendlier than your average democrat around here.<<<
You can tell them apart?
That is the money quote from the article. It is time for the adults to take charge and send the enviroweenies away kicking and screaming, or feed them to the wolves.
RMEF had a good series of articles about five years ago in their Bugle magazine about the wolves reintroduction and the impact it had on the elk herds, the ranchers, and on the hunting community. They were balanced and did not take sides at that point. Now that the carnage to the herds is overwhelming it is good to see the RMEF take a stand to manage the wolf numbers.
I couldn't agree more. I've been a life member for twenty or so years and was a little surprised they didn't come out strongly against reintroduction but like you say, it's good to see them doing it now that wolves are taking a devastating toll.
It would be nice to have a non-political examination of the appropriate populations of both wolves and elk. For example, was there over grazing when the elk population was at 17k? What factors drove the population down? Wolves, disease, harsh weather?
It’s pretty clear that wolves have largely recovered, so how should their numbers be managed? Good population management doesn’t mean hunting them back to extinction.
Even in Wisconsin, the wolf population has exceeded the DNR’s initial goals and the carcass of a young male wolf was found just south of downtown Milwaukee. I don’t live too far from where the carcass was found and I can tell you that our local coyotes look a lot like the wolves I’ve seen in captivity, leading me to believe that they are hybrids.
I believe the problem now in management of wolves is the enviro groups that fight tooth and toenail against management whether it be hunting them for control or even killing wolf packs that are taking a big toll of livestock in their territory.
Wolf numbers are way above what the intended recovery number that was originally projected in most areas but the enviros want those numbers to be higher and higher.
RMEF tried to be neutral after the reintroduction (which I bet was hard to do given their base), but I think now that they have seen enough carnage to outfitters, private hunters, ranchers, and the herds they have had enough of the grand experiment. That and they need membership, and sitting on the fence reading letters from outraged elkaholics closing their check books is not good business.
I’m sure you’re right about both, them trying to be neutral and the closing of check books. The important thing is they’ve taken the stand they have now, they’ll be a strong voice in wolf management.
“>>>Besides wolves are friendlier than your average democrat around here.<<<
You can tell them apart?
The pelt on the real wolf looks natural, on a Democrap it looks fake. Think of a Democrap as a Fabian but wearing a wolf pelt instead of a sheep pelt.
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