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.