Bryce Andrews experienced “rage” when, after domestic
cattle were pushed into limited wolf range, some livestock were
killed by wolves this summer (HCN, 8/20/07). His
own participation in the public-lands ranching industry apparently
notwithstanding, Andrews took solace that, by personally killing
the alpha male of the local wolf pack, he contributed to a
“moderate” solution to wolf-grazing conflicts. We shudder to think
what Andrews would consider an extreme solution.
The
livestock industry originally exterminated wolves from the American
West, appropriates more than 80 percent of the annual forage
resource on some federal grazing allotments, and has protested
every step of the wolf reintroduction program in the Lower 48
states. Government agents and ranchers eliminated at least 142
wolves in the Northern Rockies to protect livestock in 2006, and
538 wolves have been killed since 1987.
Killing wolves
will not reduce wolf conflicts as long as domestic livestock are
permitted to graze public lands. The federal government should
permanently retire federal grazing permits and grazing allotments
in wolf range, finally affording both wolves and their prey the
space they need to survive.
Mark Salvo
Director, Sagebrush Sea Campaign
Chandler, Arizona
Dr. Ralph Maughan
President, Wolf Recovery
Foundation
Pocatello, Idaho
Rob
Edward
Director, Sinapu Carnivore Restoration
Program
Boulder, Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Give wolves a chance.
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