Actions speak louder than words...

For all of the talk about sensible wolf management plans in the Northern Rockies, it is becoming more apparent that Idaho will not stop until its wolf population is well below acceptable numbers.  First Idaho extended the hunting season into denning season, targeting pregnant wolves and newborn pups, and then Fish and Game authorized the taking out of the Basin Butte pack using planes and helicopters. It is clear that Idaho is following through on its earlier stated goal of reducing its population to half of what it was before delisting, using any means necessary.  This year, Idaho has killed 235 wolves and there are still 102 wolves remaining in the hunting quota, as well as the unfortunate packs who have made it onto Fish and Game's hit list.  And people are noticing.  A recent Editorial in the New York Times likens the actions being taken in the Northern Rockies to a new front in the age old war against wolves.

Wildlife Service takes to the air...

Link to a radio broadcast that interviewed Wildlife Services after they used a helicopter to kill members of an Idaho pack as well as the concerns wolf conservationists have with this new tactic.

Love Carnivores? Then Check out the Carnivore Conference in Denver!!

This will be Defenders of Wildlife's 7th carnivore conservation conference, and promises to build on their track record of bringing together academics, activists, and wildlife professionals to discuss a wide array of issues involved in carnivore conservation. The 2009 conference headquarters is the Grand Hyatt Denver.

The 2009 conference will feature a field trip and icebreaker event on Sunday, November 15, and three full days of conference sessions on the 16th through the 18th, with ambassador wolf sessions on the 16th and 17th, and a poster session reception and banquet on the 17th.

Sounds totally awesome and YOU should go!!!!

Wolves restoring balance

A good opinion article that touches on wolves importance in a natural ecosystem, a philisophic look on how hunters are reacting, and what the natural world means to him.

Wolves = Awesome for our public lands

This is a great article that covers in-depth the importance of top predators, like wolves, to biodiversity in ecosystems.  Where wolves are found you will also find an ecosystem that is healthy and strong and teaming with biodiversity - and make no mistake about it, in the greater Yellowstone area the wolves are the reason for this re-emergence of this native species biodiversity.  It's all connected.  Ecosystems need balance and when they don't have top predators, as the article points out, the whole ecosystem and balance shifts.  It has been documented over and over again from the sea otters in California and their relationship to sea urchins and the underwater kelp forests to the deer of the east coast that have eaten the native plants and biodiversity out of the Appalachians, if you are missing a key piece of these puzzles you will change and weaken the entire ecosystem.

Washington State wolf plan out for public review

Hey everyone, I just wanted to put this link up to keep everyone apprised of some more wolf related happenings.  The state of Washington has just released its wolf plan and it is up for public review.  They are contemplating a floor number of 15 breeding pairs and having them distributed all over the state. 

More wolves dead...

An article that came out this morning detailing more of the wolf deaths occurring in the Yellowstone area.  This time it was one of the 10 remaining members of the Phantom Hill pack

Big Bad Wolf revisited........

Here is a good article from Living Green Magazine that talks about the programs that are in place to help wolves from Alaska to the Northern Rockies.  It also touches on some origins of wolf myths both positive, such as the she-wolf Luna of Roman fame. And myths of the negative, such as the 'Big Bad Wolf" story by the Brothers Grimm, and how it plays into and helped shape our cultural perceptions of the wolf today. 

Body count continues to rise........

Just an update to everyone.  As of yesterday it was reported that a total of 21 wolves had been killed in Idaho and  9 had been killed in Montana

The current body count......

15 wolves have been killed in Idaho and 5 wolves killed just barely north of Yellowstone and so far  the season has only just begun. We'll keep you updated as we hear more and we continue to evaluate our legal options and do what we can in the region