I was out two days ago about 20 miles east of town and got this great photo of a wolf track right next to the trail. I wish I knew how to post photos so I could show it off.
I’m going to be an iconclast here. I like the wolves. (I also like wearing the wolves - my parka has a wolf ruff sown there by my lovely wife.) I have nothing against shooting them, either. Having said that...
We have guns. We have machines that we can use to hunt down the wolves and kill them at our leisure. We have the technology which can allow us to easily control and contain the wolves. Just like I don’t feel comfortable with governments and regulations controlling the lives of people, I don’t like the idea of pushing wildlife into little corners of our world. Maybe it’s because I grew up back East and I’ve seen a world without uncontrolled nature. I’d let the wolves remain, hunt a few to keep them wary, and use technology to protect ourselves and our property. Wiping them out, though, would be a shame.
The opposite is the case : wolf populations are growing at least 20 percent per year.
It is the family ranchers and family farmers who are being wiped out.
The family operations often have been providing for these families for generations.
Even if some do not care about their food supply ( expanding feed lots with their drugs, growth hormones...), they might care about the removal of working families to be replaced by Ted Turner and friends.
Ted will charge bill bucks for the Hollywood friends to find sanctuary at the new eco-lodge while middle class activities like hunting, fishing...will end.
The next generation will live in an apartment in a city instead of being good stewards of the land.
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