Ranchers can kill wolves harassing livestock

Reuters ^ | Dec 30, 2005 | Laura Zuckerman

[george76]

Next week, Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton are expected to sign an agreement that would place management of an estimated 500 grey wolves into state, rather than federal, hands.

The agreement would give ranchers permission to eliminate wolves that harass livestock.

It also would empower state wildlife managers to pick off wolf packs that make a dent in the state's deer and elk populations.

The wolf's revival in Idaho started a decade ago when officials released 35 wolves into central Idaho. Their numbers have grown steadily since then.

Federal rules have carefully prescribed when ranchers could act against wolves, requiring ranchers to catch wolves attacking or eating livestock before they could kill them.

The new Idaho rules will give locals more latitude, but some residents would like see an even greater offensive against the animal.

Ron Gillett, head of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition, wants to "immediately remove them by whatever means are necessary."

"They kill everything, all of the game first, then the predators, then each other," he said, adding that they are outsiders.

"These are Canadian wolves," Gillett said.

"The only place they belong in Idaho is in a zoo, neutered."

[midwyf]

Even though they wrote it as "may have", it has been confirmed that he was indeed killed by wolves.

[proud_yank]

I remember reading something a couple years ago about a DC-based environmental/conservation group that pays farmers market value for livestock killed by wolves, do you know anything about this? Personally, I think that it is a good idea.

I'm an avid hunter, and I don't have a problem with people hunting wolves when their populations are stable but trying to kill off a species, in my opinion, is not good.

[SHEWOLFSUE]

I don't belive that the wolves should be killed. The people who want to wipe out all the wolves, what is wrong with you. We are taking so much of nature out of where they should be that they can't go where they should and end up on your home sites.
To much development, wipeing out the forest, it's just bad all the round.

[dighton]

You'll want to sign my petition against the Russian composer Prokofiev, whose Peter was inhumanly hard on wolves.

[struwwelpeter]

She-wolves are a lot like liberals. They kill without thinking, have a brain the size of a walnut, and their skins make excellent hats.

;-)

[aculeus]

To much development, wipeing out the forest, it's just bad all the round.

How come she (?) got "it's" right?

[Red Boots]

The people who want to wipe out all the wolves, what is wrong with you

What is wrong with you ?

You can't spell, your grammar is atrocious, and your reasoning hysterical. It's pretty clear you didn't read the article, so I suppose there's no point in discussing the actual facts of the case.