Wolf Comments
by Pinedale Online!
Original post April 9, 2008 | Updated April 11, 2008
Below are comments we have received about the recent delisting of wolves in Wyoming and subsequent wolf killings and management activities. We welcome Letters to the Editor on any topic on this website. Note that we reserve the right to edit, or not print letters that contain personal attacks against other person/s, or comments we deem to be defamatory.
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4/3/08: “My family and I have traveled and spent time in the Pinedale area repeatedly over past 20 years. We have enjoyed the wide open spaces and friendly hospitality of your town and area. We have stayed at various hotels in Pinedale, including the Zzzzs’s Inn. We have eaten at the Wrangler Cafe. Have washed our clothes at the Pinedale laundry and shopped the gift shops in Pinedale. We have eaten at Stockman’s Restaurant and bought groceries at the Pinedale Supermarket. We have stopped in Farson and eaten the giant ice-cream cones. We have enjoyed visiting the Museum of the Mountain Man. We have spent many hours hiking and camping as a family since both my son and daughter were very small in the Wind River Mountains, including Fremont Lakes, Green River Lakes, and Big Sandy Lake. We have enjoyed the thrill of seeing the Oregon Trail, the Sublet Cutoff, and areas where the Fremont Expedition camped. My wife and I considered moving to Pinedale at one point we liked it so much. Both our son and daughter are in college now, and I know they have good memories of our trips to your town and area. We do find it disheartening to know that legal and what appears to be arbitrary wolf killing is happening in the Pinedale area. Maybe the schism of understanding is too great between local folks and those from out of town. Kind Regards.” Minnesota
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4/3/08: “Thank you very much for your fair and balanced jounalism when it comes to the issue of Wolves in our beloved state of Wyoming. I am Saddend to see people in our country take this issue to the extreme opinions and even threats that are based off of pure emotions. As a Wyoming native, rancher, and avid outdoorsman, I was originaly in favor of the reintorduction but my support has dwindled to almost nothing because the original reintroduction plan was not adhered to, which has allowed the wolf population to become five times larger than originally planned. Once again I just wanted to offer my support to your online publication as it has served my interests as well as many others when it comes to accurate information and happenings regarding wolves in the west. It is greatly appreciated.” Mountain View, Wyoming
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4/3/08: “Thanks for the wolf updates. Being neither pro or anti-wolf per se, I find the articles interesting. Unfortunately for the ranchers and people in the area... the wolves were shoved down your throats. I think if the wolf supporters would reason the situation through they would realize what they ask for is neither realistic or in the best the wolves. Unrealistic because the population density in the area is higher than it was in 1900, hence more human/livestock/pet problems. Not in the best interest of the wolves because the wolf population will not be healthy if exponential growth isn't countered by hunting/lethal control. Anyway, keep up the good work.” Denver, Colorado
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4/3/08: “It's a shame that this wolf situation is causing such an uproar with you and pinedaleonline. You are a very good writer and do an excellent job of reporting on the subject. And you are an excellent author as you have shown in the many children's books you have published. All I can say is I support you and your writing. Keep up the good work.” Wyoming
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4/3/08: “I wanted to give you a pat on the back, for your wolf web site. It is truly amazing. I can only imagine the time and effort you have put into it. I just found it tonight and will be a regular visitor in the future. I don't know your opinion on, if it's a good idea to hunt wolves or not. I hope someday I'll be fortunate to take one. It would be a prized possession.” Wyoming
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4/4/08: “Yes I understand Pinedale Online and local businesses are not endorsing arbitrary wolf killing/sport hunting, and not all people in the Pinedale area are in favor of such actions. However, I have read a couple articles that seem to express emotions ike: “Anticipation” and “Excitement” for sport wolf hunting that seemed to be attributed to a general atmosphere in the Pinedale area. This is probably not entirely true, or maybe it refers to select group of hunters/people. The initial impression those articles made (on me) is that there is a general pervasiveness of those emotions through-out the area. It might characterize the situation more clearly to those of us watching what is happening from afar if a few local people could be interviewed that are not in favor as well, to bring a balance in the perspectives published. That might have already been done, as I have not started reading the Pinedale online until the last few issues. Wish you and the people of Pinedale the best, and hope to return sometime soon.” Minnesota
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4/4/08: “I grew up in Pinedale… well Boulder actually, and have followed the wolf debate since sometime when I was in middle school (mid-80s) and encountered a wolf at the southern end of Fayette Lake - prior to the “reintroduction” of wolves into Yellowstone. Even at that naďve age, I struggled with the paradox of how you could reintroduce a species that already inhabited an area. I pictured some comical situation of Uncle Sam standing there saying, “Wolves meet uh…er, these other wolves.” Furthermore, and admittedly I am shaky on the legislative details, but my understanding at the time was that the reintroduction could not legally take place if there was an existing population. Funny, how my wolf encounter and many other accounts were swept under the rug. Growing up and working in a ranching community has a way of framing the issue in a certain light – some might even perceive it as bias. However, as I recall, even the ranchers that I knew and worked for every summer weren’t necessarily against the “reintroduction” as long as they had the right to protect their livelihood (also swept under the rug – the right, that is). So alas, events transpired and “we, the people” we’re powerless to sway the course. So be it. It is my humble opinion that the delisting is the first logical step that has been taken in the stewardship of the lower forty-eight Rocky Mountain wolf population. In my perverse way of thinking we have now pulled the wolf off of its pedestal and brought it down to a respectable level of both a majestic animal and a predator. The people who have been inundating you (collectively Pinedale Online, et al.) with ugly correspondence need to remember that they are afforded the position to do so through the ability to own businesses, go to work, raise families, etc…, all of which are protected rights. We’ve closed over a decade long chapter of the Rocky Mountain rancher not having the right to protect his or her livelihood and it’s about time.
To you and Cat Urbigkit and all the others who work to keep us apprised of wolf related happenings, thank you and keep up the excellent work.” Buffalo, Wyoming
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4/4/08: “It is unfortunate that people can get so nasty. There is something about the anonymity of email that allows people to express things in a way they might not ordinarily express in a face to face situation – like you say over a beer in a bar or similar situation. I understand what you are saying that hunters are concerned that if they legally take a wolf they would not want their name put into print – with the potential for threats and other actions coming at them. I don’t blame them at all. The ‘pro-wolf worshippers’ are not helping the wolf cause by being so nasty, and are alienating many people. They will have little impact by sending nasty emails and making the atmosphere negative. Fortunately most live far away from the area, and the ultra-emotions don’t come into play besides the nasty emails. That type of thought process makes the situation divisive. Some of my neighbors and friends here in MN are avid deer and elk hunters, and some are bear hunters as well. So they would like to keep the wolf population down in Northern Minnesota. I have thought about taking a trophy predator animal at times in years past. Certainly a bear or wolf, being a top predator would have been pretty cool to have as a taxidermy display. Closest I have come is wolf watching in Yellowstone and bear watching in Katmai. My hunting experience includes whitetail in Minnesota and antelope in Wyoming near Douglas. Guess bear and wolf hunting is not my thing. In order to keep the conversation going with my neighbors here, tend to keep opinions a little more subdued. If you live right next to people, somehow got to get along.” Minnesota
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4/4/08: “…I am angry about all three western states wolf management policies. As a first time reader of Cat's wolf watch site what makes me believe she is anti-wolf is the fact that she put a lot of articles out on wolf 's such as hunting dogs being killed by them, articles on wolf's attacking people, attacking cattle, sheep etc.. yet she does not point out why, for instance that wolves attacking people, well if those people had not been feeding those wolves and habituating them to humans they would not have bitten any one, and those folks should be fined for what they did to insure those wolves deaths or relocations. Also I read an article stating that some people in YS reported that wolves were Peering in the car windows at them and that they get close to humans and are habituated to humans in the park. Well I know that is not true as a wolf watcher. Wolves in YS has never been seen or reported to be peering in car windows or trying to get hand outs of food, just the opposite..it is very rare anyone gets close up pictures of the wolves in YS. Also when articles are written … about cattle kills etc, I do not see where …if the kill could have been avoided by the rancher if they had taken better steps to protect their livestock, and were the wolves baited by the rancher leaving dead carcasses out on the land. I also do not see any articles on advice on how to help ranchers stop wolf and grizzly kills with proven methods other countries and ranchers even here use. Such as Llamas, dogs, flags, electric fence's etc....if you are going to ranch in wolf or grizzly areas then you need to take more precautionary steps than someone in Bakersfield lets say. … to a lot like me, we have grown attached to some and we feel for them. Take the 3 legged wolf that was killed, can you not tell the whole story, how he was trapped in a coyote trap years ago that a rancher more than likley put out, damaging his leg so he only has 3 and he traveled to and from Utah like that, and with tracking you can tell he was on his way home to Lamar valley when he was shot. …I hope and pray that soon both sides can come to a better understanding of our feelings and we can start to work together to help save our wolves from a slaughter that just is not needed. Manage yes, destroy just because you don't like them is wrong, and there are a lot more folks out there that live in those states that want them dead, just read some of the responses from other new articles, some are very scary, and hateful! “ Scottsdale, Arizona
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4/5/08: “I just want to say thanks for the great job you do in reporting what is going on in Sublette County. Yes, this wolf thing is hugely controversial and always will be. I wouldn't worry about a few hotheads who tend to shoot from the hip, quite often hitting themselves in the foot. The majority of your readers respect and support the job you do in providing us with accurate news.” Wyoming
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4/9/08: “I am not a resident of Wyoming but have traveled to your state many times to enjoy your vast wilderness areas, open spaces, wildlife, and most importantly the beauty of the Tetons and Yellowstone Park. On Friday, March 28th, the gray wolf Northern Rockies' population was removed from the protections of the Endangered Species Act and management was transferred to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana wildlife agencies.
In most of Wyoming "open season" has positioned wolves as fair game to whomever wants to kill them. Since the delisting, the latest estimates say that up to 10-12 wolves have been shot and killed in Sublette County, Wyoming. Sadly, on the first day wolves lost their protected status under the ESA, a very famous wolf from Yellowstone Park, 253M was gunned down near Daniel, Wyoming. Neither Montana nor Idaho have taken such an aggressive anti-wolf approach to wolf management. Wyoming has jumped the starting gate, thumbing their noses at good scientific and legal wildlife management principles. Theirs is clearly the worst wolf management program among all 3 states.
Personally, I am outraged. If the state of Wyoming and its Game and Fish Department continue "gunning down" wolves, then I will boycott any and all expenditures in your state. I will spend all my money in the states of Montana and Idaho, and wont spend a dime within your state borders.
Wyoming is a great state, and I have some fine friends that are residents of your state, but I will not tolerate this "predator zone" killing of gray wolves, just for the sport of it. Just like Alaska's horrific policies on aerial shooting of wolves, I will spread the word among all conservationists and wildlife watchers to join in a nationwide tourism boycott of Wyoming.
Since the re-introduction of wolves to the Northern Rockies in 1995, millions of people around the globe have followed the plight of this wilderness icon. Scientists as well as the general public wholeheartedly agree that the recovery of the gray wolves represents one of the finest conservation accomplishments in all of history. There is a very good chance Wyoming could destroy its reputation with in the US and around the world by these destructive actions.
Wyoming citizens have a chance to turn this around by contacting your Game and Fish Department, your Congressional Delegation and your local media to inform them that the wolf killings must stop immediately. You have the power to change this. We will all be watching very closely what future path you choose.” Calais, Vermont
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4/10/08: “The hatred directed at those that have to actually live with the wolves is absolutely amazing. I appreciate your willingness to post the reports in the face of the blast of anger. I wonder if it would have been better to post results once a month or something, but then I'm sure their speculation would be worse. As it is the blogs have all sorts of accusations of "unreported kills", so I guess they will make up their own scenarios. As a Wyoming native, I am distressed that our government would have a hand in pitting one group of people against another.” Greybull, Wyoming
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4/11/08: “I just wanted to send in a letter with my comments on the wolf situation in Wyoming. I am all for wolves and somewhat glad that we now have a huntable population on our hands. I am also under the belief that the wolf population must be managed. Wyoming's plan to manage wolves is excellant and will work if people would just give it a chance. It seems people fail to realize that at least 75% of Wyoming is not even suitable habitat for wolves. The idea behind having the part of the state where there is limited wolf habitat, is to keep them from spreading to that part of the state where conflicts would be very high. I would much rather see the citizens controlling the population than having tax payer dollars being spent on FWS and G&F officials who were previously doing all the wolf harvesting that is now being done by citizens in the predator area. I believe that Wyoming's wolf population will never be in danger because of the states management practices. Give it some more time and the wolves will become much more wary and less susceptible to human harvest. In fact I fear in the future that we will not be able to control the wolf population like so many of us want. So to all those people who think Wyoming's Wolf Plan is horribly wrong, please just give it some time and you will see that it is exactly right. “ Thermopolis/Laramie, Wyoming
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4/11/08: “I have just discovered www.pinedaleonline.com/wolf/ I am thankful to finally find a non bias website for wolf information. I wanted to write and say "thank you" for all the work you have put into reporting facts and not emotions. We live in Central Idaho, not far from the Frank Church Wilderness, where wolves were planted. We favor management, have suffered and know others who have suffered losses from wolves. Its refreshing to find a website that is not full of bloody elk pictures, or insane "they are just fuzzy puppies" attitudes. Kudos for writing what is "on the ground". Yellow Pine, Idaho
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Editor’s Note: We welcome comments from our readers about any topic that appears on this website. To send a Letter to the Editor or make a comment on this article, e-mail: support@pinedaleonline.com. We may excerpt from any messages we receive and post relevant portions of comments online. We reserve the right to edit or not print letters that contain personal attacks against another person/s or comments we deem to be defamatory.
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