I just want to assure Ron Gillett that even though
I’m an enviro, I wasn’t born under a rock, nor am I a “wolf-thug
terrorist” or “full of ‘crap’ and ‘baloney’ ” when it comes to
wolves having little impact on elk and deer populations (HCN,
5/12/08). Certainly, if wolf populations explode and
there aren’t some state-regulated hunts, then they can have an
impact on livestock losses, and certainly could pose some threats
to domestic pets and people.
As much as Gillett blames
wolves for elk population numbers declining, he overlooks habitat
loss, drought, disease and predation by other animals like cougars
and grizzly bears. I tend to trust the wildlife managers of the
Western states to provide adequate statistics about the numbers of
elk, deer and other wildlife.
People like Gillett
polarize the debate over wolves’ role in the West in contributing
to healthier ecosystems. It’s quite evident in Yellowstone, where
riparian areas have begun to flourish along with more species
diversity. Gillett makes his living off the users of public lands,
and he might do work that promotes healthy land-management
practices rather then antagonize good folks like me who believe
wolves have a role to play in healthy ecosystems in Idaho, Wyoming
and Montana.
Grant Wiegert
Benson,
Arizona
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Sticks and stones.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
