“Buffaloed” posted this information in an earlier thread, but so everyone interested can find it, here it the link to the 2007 Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery 2007 Interagency Annual Report.
I suppose this will be the last federal report one unless delisting is set aside. Each state might produce one each year in the future (at least I think it likely and it is certainly desirable).
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Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
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Also, I noticed that the USFWS just put their year end 2006 Mexican Gray wolf report on their website. Either they’re a little slow with year end reports or I have not been paying attention. I’m pretty sure I’ve been paying attention.
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/Mexican_Wolf_Recovery_Program_Annual_Progress_Report_2006.pdf
Thank you, Jeff. RM
With just a quick glance it sure seems like coyotes kill a lot more livestock than wolves!
64 days before I will be back in YNP!! Can’t Wait! Read the entire report this morning, much like Jim says livestock numbers seem rather low considering the 7x repayment from the govt., and still wolves take hits from negative press. Maybe some of our SAVE THE ELK friends need to read the facts. What I find so astonishing is that many “trophy” bull elk that are taken by hunters, large numbers of these animals are ranch raised & bread, kept in pens until a mature age, sold on special hunts and auctions, and then harvested. Someone please tell me how you call that hunting? Why not try the ZOO? As for wolves; many unsuccessful hunters try to blame their lack of preparation on the wolf. Saying “It has ruined my business”, “The elk numbers are suffering.” They fail to realize that they have allowed greed (Earth and its resources are ONLY for human disposal–approach) stand in the way of proper wildlife/ecosystem mgt. that is natural and has long been. Sometimes that philosophical approach “The Great Good” doesn’t have all the answers. Besides many anti-wolfers only stand back and complain rather then create mgt. practices that help to increase their elk and deer herds. (After all it is easier to just shoot them rather than create a mgt. program) And to our farmers who quoting Ralph “Get lucky enough” to have a wolf prey on their livestock thanks to govt. $’s that is a rather profitable event. By the way I am a hunter enjoy it very much. I would like to share this story because in many ways wolves have something in common with my state DNR decisions. Approx. 6 years ago DNR and state officials opened a regulated hunt in our state parks. At the time whitetail deer populations needed to be controlled. My family owns 200 acres that touch one state park boundary. (park size 5,500 acres) After the first year, there was again a hunt, and then another, so on. What once was not uncommon to see 20-30 deer each evening in our bean field, now it is rare to see 1-2 deer in a 5 day period. Long story short do to lack of mgt. and major funding from insurance groups (who have been quoted saying “they did not want a deer alive in the state”) our deer population has been destroyed. Now through the efforts of people like Ralph and Kathie the once destroyed wolf has a chance again. As the human race we must learn from our mistakes. Wolves are needed as is hunting, but both must complement each other and GREED should not be a reason to take sides.
Take a look at the Wyoming Report and note the number of wolves that were “controlled” this past year! Not just a wolf here and there, but entire packs! Seventeen percent of the Wyoming population –“removed”!
We have to ask ourselves if, from the standpoint of humanity, are we doing, or have we done, the “right thing” by these animals? Seventeen percent – killed from helicopters!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Let’s go out and trap them and bring them to Colorado (south of I 70) and turn them loose in the San Juans. They will be protected here according to the Colorado Wolf Guidelines if they migrate here. The language is not specific on HOW they migrate here.
Why did no one sue for an injunction to the delisting? I don’t get it. As of March 28th, wolves will be under state control? It is my understanding that without an injunction, the delisting goes through and then the hope is that the courts will make the states change their plans? Good luck. A complete stop to the delisting would have been a good idea. I am not sure what the thinking is of the groups who sued. Does anyone have an insight on this?
An injunction is being asked for.
I recently read on the Defenders of Wildlife news letter there are several groups filing suit, like NRDC and CBD. One of Defenders’ attorneys explains things on this blog: http://myyellowstonewolves.typepad.com/.
It’s sad that so many of our national parks are suffering through the Bush administration.
Ralph,
I can’t find anywhere that is says the groups filed an injunction. I only find that they are suing about the delisting. But without an injunction, won’t the states takes over in 11 days?? Can you point me to where it mentions an injunction? Thanks!!
I don’t have any inside information, but I’m thinking they may not ask for an injunction.
To get an injunction you have to convince a judge that irreparable harm will be done while a case is being litigated.
Both Montana, and especially Idaho, have improved their wolf population plans (I’ve got to do an article about Idaho’s recent changes; I didn’t want to be the first!), and neither state is going to start blasting away large numbers of wolves immediately.
If anyone provokes an injunction, it will be Wyoming who is still talking about aggressive wolf management in the protected zone and has declared the wolf a species that is a varmint in the rest of the state. They are also sitting on a huge pile of predator control dollars.
Sally,
It may also be that in order to get a Preliminary Injunction, the groups may have to post a bond. I’m sure that the states would argue that the Judges granting an injunction would result of loss of income to states from hunting tags and loss of income to the livestock industry due to (in their view) continued inadequate predator control. A huge bond might be required in order to cover these losses in case the groups do not prevail. The groups may be trying to avoid such a bond which are generally required in seeking an Injunction in a Civil Case.
In what federal district court is this suit being filed?
Montana
Thanks, I suspected somewhere in the 9th Circuit. I always use GYE litigation as and opportunity to teach the concept of Judicial Venue Shopping to my students. I hadn’t heard or read that it was Montana. Is the lawsuit versus the 10j rule separate from the delisting challenge?
The 10j suit is separate. The brief was on-line somewhere.