For years people have been asked me whatever happened to famous wolf 253M, the wolf that went to Utah and later became the beta male of the Druid Pack in Yellowstone Park.
I thought by now this 3-legged wolf would have passed on, but it has now been confirmed that he was gunned down near an elk feedground in the vicinity of Daniel, Wyoming this weekend. He was not bothering livestock, but rather unknowingly protecting Wyoming’s elk from chronic wasting disease by chasing them away from the state’s system of disease breeding elk feedlots that turn elk into livestock for the winter. A female wolf was also shot at the same time.
Daniel is in Wyoming’s new you-can kill-any-wolf-you-see-by-any method zone.
Somehow I think some folks are going to very unhappy about this.
Note on April 2. The Salt Lake Tribune posted a story on this today, citing my blog. I put this up without a second source (kind of risky), but this morning I confirmed from a second source that it was indeed 253).
More on April 2. Beloved ‘Wolf 253′ killed in Wyoming. KSL News (Salt Lake City)
Wolf 253M on the right. Notice his small fourth leg. Wolf 21M (left) and 42F (front). Steve Justad furnished this photo of the Druid “big 3” taken back about 2004. Copyright © Steve Justad
Comments
This news is sickening. I wish something could be done sooner than the end of April. I do not look forward to reports about the wolf killings, it really breaks my heart. The wolves and bison are magnificent creatures that should be appreciated as such. I just don’t understand this uncivilized action, the killing for the sake of killing is so shameful. I am so grateful for the example my dad was; a hunter that appreciated and respected all creatures and the environment, never wasteful. I could not have had a better teacher.
There are no words to describe how terrible this is…our worst fears come true. Perhaps if 253M’s inspiring life story and his horrible, barbaric, unjust fate make national news and catch the public’s attention, his death will not be in vain.
I had no idea he was still alive. He had a bad limp before he was caught in the coyote trap in Utah in 2002, I never would’ve dreamed he would make it this long!
While this news makes me sad personally, I think these types of stories will strengthen the position of those who are fighting the NRM delisting, and so may ultimately benefit the NRM wolf population.
Rest assured, all this info is going to Earthjustice.
This is sad news indeed. 253M was a magnificent animal who deserved to live. His killer joins the ranks of the infamous like McKittrick of Red Lodge.
This is just heartbreaking. Now I know why people stopped talking about 253. He was living in a danger zone.
I’d like to know the name of the coward who just had to shoot a three-legged wolf.
Since he was born a Yellowstone Druid wolf, can we get his body back? I think his story is educational.
Long Live 253!
Wyoming’s wolf “plan” just makes less and less sense. I predict it’s just a matter of time before Uncle Sam takes the Cowboy State over his knee yet again for a much-deserved spanking.
I could be way off base but I think not asking for a temporary injunction was a wise and deliberate move. This type of killing can only help the case against delisting.
Touching story, but, the cold-hearted reply from state and federal agencies will be, it’s not about individual animals, it’s about the overall wolf population numbers. That’s all that will matter in court.
im guessin its NOT about one wolf, its the speed at which the wolf kills are now taking place in the one weekend since open season was granted,,, and the ease at which they are taken.
Kim,
The elk feedgrounds in Wyoming we have been complaining about forever, bait the wolves in.
Through all of his trials, tribulations and travels this 3-legged guy was one tough SOB. He beat the odds over and over again, and survived it all but this. He wasn’t even doing anything wrong!
They say that the reason that biologists give animals a number instead of name is so that folks don’t become attached to them….well, it doesn’t work. If they wanted to make a martyr on the first weekend of de-listing, I’d say they succeeded.
Kathie is right. This needs to make the national news. More than that, his story should be put together in a documentary about the Northern Rockies wolf re-introduction. His story IS THE STORY of wolf re-introduction in the Northern Rockies.
REMEMBER 253!
thanks Ralph, i had the feedgrounds in mind, but was not sure if they were in the predator zone or in the trophy zone.. either way, will make finding them and killing them mcuh easier. i sent you a photo of ole Limpy btw..
Could someone please tell me where I can view online a good photo of 253? I would greatly appreciate it.
I just put one up that Kim Kaiser contributed. It isn’t a close up. Ralph Maughan
Why are “hunters” allowed on feedgrounds to begin with? I hope these cowards completely blow delisting for themselves and the feds step in and resume control.
It’s permanent open season on wolves in 87% of Wyoming now.
I wonder if there are state regulations about shooting around the feedgrounds in the winter?
Some of the feedgrounds are within the trophy game zone, some are in the predatory animal zone. In general, the latter are on the Wyoming Range eastern and western fronts and south of Jackson.
Since one of the false claims the Wyoming G&F Department makes is that wolves are “disrupting” feedground operations, they will be targeting wolves around the feedgrounds, even those within the trophy game zone, with aerial gunning by Wildlife Services.
The elk feedgrounds are wolf magnets and one of the primary threats to sustainable management of wolves in the State. Another reason to get an injunction as quickly as we can against delisting, and then against the 10j revision.
Also, another reason to get as much support for closing feedgrounds as we can. They are a disgrace and a huge threat to wildlife management in Wyoming.
Funny you should mention it, but the feedgrounds on federal and state lands are within designated winter range and are officially closed to (non-official) human presence between December and May.
Not that that matters where wolves are concerned.
I want to know how you guys that have been on the forefront of this battle for years are able to stand this. This makes me so mad that I want to scream. How do you keep it from getting to you?
OK..I can’t take it anymore..I am just crying…
I can not understand that we can not stop the killing…
oh, it does Cat, it does
My heart is broken to know that my hero wolf, 253, was killed is such a manner. We all watched him overcome so much adversity and adventure in his life. He had always managed to survive and stay out of trouble and could find wolf mates where ever he went. What an amazing soul and spirit he had.
We are extremly sick about this!!! He was our favorite wolf and always will be. We are so greatful for the video that we have of him!! I hope that the media will get on this story and let everyone know what a senseless killing this was. Our love and thoughts go out to all our friends who share a love for “253” and all the other wolves.
Any ideas on where to send this?
Dear Wyoming,
My wife, son, father and in-laws will be leaving our home in New Mexico soon for a three week trip to Yellowstone. This letter is just let the businesses of Wyoming know that we will not be spending a single cent in the state of Wyoming. It baffles me why any state or person would decide that killing wolves, like 253M, anywhere and anytime is the right thing to do. I know that our couple of thousands of dollars will not put anyone out of business and that the loss of our tourist tax revenue will not put a strain on the Wyoming state budget. But it is our money and will spend it in a place with a more even-handed approach to wolf management, like Montana.
Best Regards,
Todd Ringler
Santa Fe, NM
Hi, Todd,
If I were you, I think I’d send this message to the Wyoming governor, and perhaps send copies to some of the major papers in the state as letters to the editor. A little note to various local chambers of commerce in the Yellowstone area would be in order, too–and perhaps the Wyoming Department of Tourism (or whatever they call it in that state).
Have a great trip!
Que vivan los lobos!
Maska ^..^
Todd,
If you are so inclined, perhaps you could place a sign in the window of the vehicle….boycott wyoming wolf killing…don’t shop wyoming.
When we go this summer to YNP, we are going to wear shirts each day thay say…”ask me why this bison is dead” and “ask me about wolves being slaughtered for fun”, …I havent decided if I am going to put any graphic photos on them yet.
Wyoming Travel & Tourism
I-25 at College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82002
TEL: 307-777-7777
FAX: 307-777-2877
TOLL FREE: 800-225-5996
Good for you Todd. This kind of letter certainly helped stop the McNeil River bear hunt in Alaska. At least I was told that it did.
My first wolf watching visit to YNP was in 2003. Of the wolves, that I was fortunate to see on that trip, it was 253 and U-Black who stand out most in my memory. I’ve been hooked ever since. This news saddens me beyond mere words.
As someone who also loves History, I recall Admiral Yamamoto’s words to his Command Staff after the successful attack at Pearl Harbor: “I feel all that we have done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”
Perhaps, this wanton and senseless slaughter of 253 may, hopefully, be one of those defining moments in this struggle to save the wolf some space to live among us and to teach us to realize the “better angels of our nature.”
Todd has a great idea. I would just like to add that when you buy something in the portion of Yellowstone that is located in the state of Wyoming that you are paying sales taxes to Wyoming. The federal government waived exclusive federal jurisdiction long ago allowing Wyoming to collect taxes.
I’m with everyone else. 253 was the first wolf I saw in the wild and I can’t believe his incredible life ended this way. I do a lot of the things that everyone on this blog talks about. I’ve never spent a dime in the state of Wyoming although I’ve been to Yellowstone three times in the past five years. I haven’t eaten beef for a very long time and I talk about the wolf issue, about the the bison issue and more recently about the bighorn sheep issue to anyone who will listen. I’m fed up with the way politics are ran in the west. Our public lands are being raked over and things will only get worst during Bush’s last few months in office. The local media not to mention the national media won’t spend the time to cover these stories fairly. Need I remind you of Peter Jennings crap, one-sided story that he ran a few years back on the Idaho wolf situation. I can’t wait for this to go to court, but unfortunately I think there needs to be a bigger grassroots movement to go along with the litigation. Ralph or anyone have suggestions? I’m willing to do anything at this point. People need to at least be aware of the situation and how our public lands, wildlife and resources are being abused.
Jason wrote “…I think there needs to be a bigger grassroots movement to go along with the litigation.”
I second the motion, brother.
None of our wildlife policies in place will change unless we CHANGE THE LAWMAKERS. We MUST break the hold that livestock producers have over our legislatures and wildlife management agencies here in the mountainous west. We must support wildlife friendly politicians, or loudly not support wildlife unfriendly politicians.
The major conservation groups are top heavy with management; they’re good litigants and some are good lobbyists, but how many are involved in political campaigns?
This is why I’m excited about Wildlife Watchers. We’re based on the Public Trust Doctrine, a tenant of common law that requires states to manage their public resources on behalf of all the citizens of their respective states and not special interest groups. Well, it ain’t happening. And we’re going to change that.
We’ll be a grass-roots organization, not top heavy with management and we’re going to form a 501(c)(4) which will give us unlimited lobbying ability as well as the ability to support wildlife friendly candidates or loudly not support wildlife unfriendly candidates.
We’re pro-hunting and pro-fishing. U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s 2006 National Survey – http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/2006_Survey.htm – indicates that there’s over 71 million wildlife watchers in America, more than hunters and anglers combined. We are going to be an organized force and we are going to shake things up.
We’ll be launching soon.
I hope everybody will join us. If you can send money, thank you. If not, we’re going to have a category whereas you send NO money in; just send a picture, story or poem about wildlife, and you’re a member.
We want every wildlife watchers we can get.
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
How freakin sad. here we go… the end of the reintroduction little by little. Please judge give us an injunction.
Say it isn’t so. My heart is broken and I have cried a river already. 253 (our Utah wolf as I call him) didn’t deserve to go out this way, he deserved a dignified death of old age. He overcame so much in his many years. I was only able to catch a distant glimpse of him once in Lamar, but it was still inspiring. I have wondered about him and asked all over about any news on him. It makes me sick to hear this. 253 will always live in my heart. Maybe he will be a martyr and people will be as outraged as me by his death.
Is there any way all of us on this site can band together and say, shackle ourselves to Butch Otter’s building?? or Wyoming governor. ( the killing is happening in both states.) when it happens in mine, I’ll be doing something. I can’t sit by and read this anymore. letters to the editor aren’t cutting it…
“I think there needs to be a bigger grassroots movement to go along with the litigation.”
We need to do this now. I won’t sleep tonight. and many other nights.
Start contacting major news organizations. Anderson Cooper 360 recently had a segment with Doug Smith in Yellowstone…I’ve already emailed via their “Contact” link, but more wouldn’t hurt, suggesting a follow-up.
Tom Brokaw did several pieces on the wolves in YNP, I believe…it wouldn’t hurt to contact NBC, as well as any other major outlet that has done any coverage of the reintroduction.
It is possible to turn the loss of 253 into something positive…but people have to hear about it – more people than are on any blog or forum. That means mass media.
I’ll contact a person I know at the L.A. Times, as well.
That is a good idea FlyingScotsman. But I was thinking of something local. Like the 2 ladies in Yellowstone recently. I was thinking of 50 people had done that, more news would have happened and it would have made a bigger impact. What the 2 women did was great, but some may say “look, just 2 people care!” when that isn’t so. If we could band together somehow, and seemingly there are many that care – we could make a statement. something. there has to be something.
I read the sad news of B253M and unless lawsuits reverse delisting and the latest gutting of the10(j) rule, there will be hundreds more wolves shot by year’s end. The predator zone in WY is terrible, but there’s almost no protection left in Idaho for wolves, either, because of “Idaho Code 36-1107. Wild animals and birds damaging property.”
Here are excerpts from the code: “Wolves may be disposed of by livestock or domestic animal owners, their employees, agents and animal damage control personnel when the same are molesting or attacking livestock or domestic animals and it shall not be necessary to obtain any permit from the department.”
“For the purposes of this subsection (c), “molesting” shall mean the actions of a wolf that are annoying, disturbing or persecuting, especially with hostile intent or injurious effect, or chasing, driving, flushing, worrying, following after or on the trail of, or stalking or lying in wait for, livestock or domestic animals.” [I’m not making this up!]
In other words, all a person has to do before shooting a wolf is claim that it was “worrying” a pet dog. A houndsman running lions could say a pack of wolves was “following after”. A cattleman or sheep herder could claim that wolves were “lying in wait”. Someone killing a wolf doesn’t even have to report it to IDFG for 72 hours.
A beautiful female yearling wolf, B313, of whom I was very fond was shot last June by a range rider who saw her in a field hunting squirrels. The man was fined $275.00 by USFWS. Now, this range rider can legally kill any wolf including the rest of B313’s family, the 13 Basin Butte wolves — if he perceives the wolves are doing some “annoying” action to cattle or dogs.
A quick comment. We’ve talked about hazing wolves a lot on this blog and all wolves (except in Ystone I would suppose) must be made afraid of people or else they are going to get shot one way or another. Wolves must learn to run at the sound, sight and smell of humans. I’m sorry it has to be this way, but without tough love, way too many wolves are going to die at the hands of state mgt.
This is really sick and so sad. It seems ironic that it is 253 M who got shot. He has always been a symbol of endurance and survival strength, and now he will be a symbol for our fight against this senseless killing.
Oh – something else. Can somebody put a list together of people or organisations to contact and protest, and put it on the web and let us know.
That makes it easier for us here in Europe to send out protests.
Thanks
I live in Australia and have a deep affection for wolves. In the near future I would like to visit Yellowstone just to see these beautiful animals. I had been reading a lot about the re-introduction of wolves to the park and to think that after all the hard work put in to restore these magnificent creatures, that the human race is again going to make the same mistake that it did all those years ago.
Words cannot really describe the sadness I feel when I hear that wolves are being killed just for the sake of killing. The death of 253 is a terrible blow.
In time, the wolves of Yellowstone will be no more and people will tell stories of how they were re-introduced and then how the human race got it wrong AGAIN!!
Is there not anything at all that can be done to fight this?
It’s really sad when this tough guy 253 lived successfully with only three legs and did ok for himself, only to be gunned down by a stupid human for no reason, perhaps the
person who did this to him needs to be chased and gunned down as well. If these people do not like or appreciate wildlife then they need to move out of the Rocky Mountain area to an area that does not have any wolves, grizzlies, mountain lions ect,,,, I see this as just the beginning of a free for all killing of wolves…
Very impressive display of sympathy, anger, mourning, and righteous indignation over the death of a noble wolf.
Your cause would have a lot more credibility if you expressed the same amount of emotional handwringing over the death of millions of humans through abortion.
Mack,
I’d be very interested in helping in Colorado. I go through Laramie about every weekend from May to September. If I can help there too, I will.
How old do you need to be to become a member?
I have held the position for a long time that we have to get youth involved. They will be the voters of the future.
I would suggest that we get schools involved too. Kids have a more sentimental impact on adults than other adults do.
I can help compile a list of contacts for the Environmental/Conservation clubs in my home state. We could send them letters, and info, so they could become spokesmen for this cause.
I recently read some stats about wildlife watching and how many people do it. HUGE. Let me know what I can do.
Lynne,
Each summer I visit the GYE once or twice. I try to take a group of kids who would otherwise never be outdoors. Could you suggest an activity that they could participate in, one that would raise their conscience and give them a sense of involvement and gratification?
Thanks,
Vicki
Vicki, you’re great. Wildlife Watchers will need state coordinators in every state. Please email me; addy below. 🙂
We haven’t discussed a membership age, but I can see that we need to. Nothing firm, but I would think Wildlife Watchers could have members of any age, while Wildlife Watchers Political Action should require members to be at least 21.
You’re right about our youth; they’re the voters of tomorrow so let’s set the stage for the future.
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
The Governor’s email:
http://governor.wy.gov/contact-dave/default.html
Mack
Age is not something yet discussed by the Board. My own view is that one is never too young to be a citizen.
Writing Governor Freudenthal willy-nilly about 253 and other wolves killed in Wyoming won’t do much good unless it is an organized grass roots campaign strategically designed to maximize impact on the governor’s well known limited sensibility to public concern about wildlife. Don’t forget: He’s in the pocket of the Stockgrowers, the Woolgrowers, the Outfitters, and SFW. He doesn’t give a damn about conservationists.
Remember the old organizer’s dictum: endless pressure endlessly applied and strategically targeted. Political pressure campaigns have to be planned and executed like military operations to have any good political effect. We’re halfway there with spontaneous public outrage at the killing of 253. But you have to go one step further and direct that outrage.
RH
Hi
I go to Yellowstone just to see the wolves. This makes me sick. I have just emailed Anderson Cooper, we need a follow-up story of how delisting will affect the wolf population.
Mack,
Since the voting age is now 18, rather than 21, I see no reason why you shouldn’t allow younger members. In addition, even high school students younger than 18 can participate in activities like tabling, letter writing, and other outreach. I’ve seen very effective action by students in local political campaigns.
Just a thought.
The killing of these wolves as a result of delisting and the handing off to local control is a shining example of why NOT to allow local control of any aspect of our natural resources. The backward state governments of Wyoming, Idaho and Monana have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to pander to the special interests of ranchers, outfitters and hunters. I am a hunter and I have also worked in the field of wildlife management for more than 30 years and to witness what has occurred in these states with regard to “bison management” in Montana and “wolf management” in all three states is appalling. It appears they have learned nothing from the past. It would be interesting to have the wildlife agencies in each state truthfully define ” wildlife management” because it appears that the only managing going on is the support of those species which bring in the most revenue, excluding any meaningful management of the rest. The achilles heel of most state governments is revenue and I would certainly advocate a national boycott of spending in these states and to illuminate to a national audience via national news media coverage, what is occurring here. In addition, I would advocate the boycott of any sporting goods dealers who promote or encourage the wanton killing of predators. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!
Sounds like Wildlife Watchers should have members of any age, while Wildlife Watchers Political Action should have members that are at least 18, yes?
Robert Hoskins wrote “Remember the old organizer’s dictum: endless pressure endlessly applied and strategically targeted. Political pressure campaigns have to be planned and executed like military operations to have any good political effect. We’re halfway there with spontaneous public outrage at the killing of 253. But you have to go one step further and direct that outrage.”
Robert, let’s do it.
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
Mack,
I’d love to help on the Oregon end and it just so happens that I am a middle school science teacher. I also spend several weeks in the summer backpacking in Idaho with the sole purpose of getting into the outdoors and seeing wildlife. Oregon is a beautiful state and the politics on a whole are much better, but once you get out of the Willamette Valley and on the east side of the Cascades, classic “western” politics prevail.
One side note, I do think a media e-mail blitz would be nice. I too am willing to e-mail Cooper Anderson and whoever necessary to start getting some of these stories covered. I am also going to be contacting a close friend that works for the Idaho Statesman, although, depsite her best efforts, this may be a dead end road.
I believe the wolf identified as 253 in the Kim Kaiser photo is not actually 253.
253 was a very large boy, larger than 21, and is the wolf at the lead of the group. He also is radio-collared and the leading wolf in the photo is, while the the trailing wolf is not.
The wolf trailing is more likely the uncollared female wolf half-black.
Jason, thank you ever so much for your interest and your passion. Please email me; email addy below.
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
I had planned to take our 3 year old son to Yellowstone this summer. I am boycotting any tourism to Wyoming and will tell their agencies.
There is power in numbers if many people boycott Wyoming.
Post just one of these Ralph…i would love to see just one reply based on science or fact…..ANYTHING other than this “poor me i cant photograph my favorite wolf anymore”……WTH…they would rather have this wolf die of old age and starvation instead of a quick humane death…pretty sick if you ask me….
this is the most pathetic contribution i have seen on your blog to date…i am pasting this right next to the save elk BS floating around the net….
Travis was nice enough to send about 20 of these comments with basically the same wording. I let him comment just once. Ralph Maughan
Was the person who killed wolf R-12 in Daniel, WY in 1996 ever caught?
news release from back then…
ANSWER: NO. Ralph Maughan
March 26, 1996
REWARD MONEY INCREASED FOR INFORMATION ON WOLF SHOT NEAR DANIEL, WYOMING
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it is increasing its offer of a reward to $2,000 for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the death of a gray wolf found dead Sunday, February 11, 1996, near the town of Daniel, Wyoming. As a result of several phone calls from concerned ranchers and citizens, several leads have developed and continue to be investigated.
A necropsy of the animal was performed by the Service’s National Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. Test results of the stomach contents conclude that the animal had been feeding on deer.
The animal, wolf R-12 from the group of 14 wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, was found shot along county road 112, in an area used extensively for snowmobiling. It is believed the wolf was killed at the site.
Information relative to the case can be given anonymously and the caller would still be eligible to receive the reward monies.
With additional information provided by witnesses and further analysis of evidence by investigators, law enforcement agents are hopeful of solving the case in the near future.
Anyone with information about the wolf’s death may contact Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Roy Brown in Lander, Wyoming, at (307) 332-7607, or any Service Special Agent, as well as any law enforcement agent with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
and from Ralph’s Wolf info
http://forwolves.org/ralph/MoreonthedeathofwolfR12.html
It is not certain how wolf R12 died. The
body has been sent to the same Ashland, OR
laboratory that autopsied wolf B13 from Idaho
last year and the calf the dead wolf was
originally thought to have killed.
Wolf R12 was found dead near Sublette (Wyoming)
country road 112 between Daniel and Merna. I
assume this would be near Horse Creek in the
foothills of the Wyoming Range of mountains.
There was no obvious reason why the wolf had
died. Investigating officers were surprised
by the size of the wolf. As I had reported
several times, the wolf weighed at least
130 pounds when it left the Yellowstone Park
area.
A news article in the “Jackson Hole News”
quoted Wyoming Game and Fish officer Bernie
Holtz from Pinedale, WY, as saying, “I don’t
sense the wolf hatred here you hear about
in other places.”
I made a quick list of people to contact for Yellowstone.net and then thought I’d add this here too! ~ Vicky
Send letters, make calls, etc about the Wyoming Wolf Killings!
It is very easy to see Yellowstone and avoid spending money or giving tax money $ to Wyoming. Don’t buy any gas in Wyoming or Yellowstone. Fill up with gas everyday in Montana or Idaho.
Lodging in the park creates tax money for Wyoming. Consider lodging outside of YNP. Let Xanterra know why you change your reservations. There is lodging in Montana in the gateway towns of West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Jardine, Silver Gate, and Cooke City.
Buy all trinkets, t-shirts and such in Montana gateway towns.
It will save you money (usually same items but are less expensive than in the park and in towns with resort tax- it’s less than WY tax).
Contact Wyoming Congressional Delegation
Reach out to Wyoming’s congressional delegation about federal legislation and other important issues.
Senator Mike Enzi
http://enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Home
Senator John Barrasso
http://barrasso.senate.gov/public
Representative Barbara Cubin (notice her Yellowstone graphics)
http://www.house.gov/cubin
Contact the Governor Freudenthal
By Mail:
State Capitol
200 West 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0010
By Phone or Fax:
307.777.7434 (phone)
307.632.3909 (fax)
EMAIL form http://governor.wy.gov/contact-dave/default.html
SUBLETTE County Commisioner
http://www.wyo-wcca.org/msublete.htm
PINEDALE ROUNDUP
(the other newspaper besides Pinedale online)
219 E. Pine St., Suite 116 (Summit Building),
P.O. Box 100, Pinedale, WY 82941
Phone 307-367-2123
http://www.pinedaleroundup.com/V2_contact_us.php?heading=4
WYOMING FISH & GAME
Customer Service Center at 307-777-4600
or write to:
Wyoming Game and Fish
5400 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82006
WYOMING TOURISM
Wyoming Travel & Tourism
I-25 at College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82002
TEL: 307-777-7777
FAX: 307-777-2877
TOLL FREE: 800-225-5996
EMAIL form http://www.wyomingtourism.org/sitetools/contact_us.php
Representatives / Senators
http://legisweb.state.wy.us/email/email.htm
EDITORS of Wyoming PAPERS
http://governor.wy.gov/take-action/editors.html
CODY ENTERPRISE
P.O. Box 1090
3101 Big Horn Ave.
Cody, Wyo. 82414.
Telephone number is (307) 587-2231.
FAX is (307) 587-5208.
E-mail address is office@codyenterprise.com.
Jackson Hole News & Guide
Jackson Hole Daily
1225 Maple Way
P.O. Box 7445
Jackson, Wyo. 83002
Main: 307-733-2047
Editorial Fax: 307-734-1160
Casper Star Tribune
307-266-0500 – 170 Star Lane
Casper, WY 82604
Wyoming RADIO stations
http://governor.wy.gov/take-action/radio.html
~~~
The BILLINGS GAZETTE
EDITORS AND REPORTERS
General Phone: (406) 657-1241
News stories and tips: citynews@billingsgazette.com
Submit a letter online
http://billingsgazette.net/info/?h/letters
Reporters
Ruffin Prevost Cody Bureau 307-527-7250
Brett French Outdoors 406-657-1387
Mike Stark Yellowstone Park/General 406-657-1232
~~
( stands to lose tourist $$ )
Buffalo Bill Museum
720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
Phone: 307/587-4771
CODY Tourism
list of Wy businesses and places
http://www.codyenterprise.com/tourism
A ban of spending money $$$ in Jackson will get noticed!
JACKSON WYOMING
JACKSON HOLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 550
Jackson, WY, 83001
call 307-733-3316
fax 307-733-5585
Jackson, WY business listing can be found here
http://www.jacksonholechamber.com
~~
Looking at the Pinedale Online Page this morning…
Some may consider calling all advertisements
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/#wyomingwolf
and asking them not to support the newspaper
by advertising with them. Most ads are geared
toward tourists… snowmobilers and real estate.
~ V
This whole thing just makes me want to cry – these creatures are helping to get rid of the diseased/old population of animals. They are an important part of the eco-system – wolves kill for food, not for fun like the human that shot wolf 253! The person who shot him is just a plain old coward and it makes my blood boil!!!
Let’s all participate in e-mail to media blitz and let them know that we intend to boycott Wyoming businesses.
Mack, should we make reference to Wildlife Watchers as a possible contact on this issue?
ynp4me: Was the person who killed wolf R-12 in Daniel, WY in 1996 ever caught?
Ralph Maughan: ANSWER: NO.
Then the question everyone wants to know is…
Could the two killings of Wolf 253 and R-12 in 1996 be by the same wolf killer?
Daniel, Wyoming has a population of 110 people.
After this amount of time, I doubt it would make a difference, the statute of limitations has expired on the wolf death in 1996
One thing I would like to add here, a lot of people are expressing the desired to know who this person was that shot 253, I would strongly suggest, keeping to the issue, if anyone is thinking about getting his name and then sending emails or snail mails to express your outrage and use him/her as example, be very careful, sending hate mail, or posting hateful comments, can and often times comes under the Federal Hate and Stalking statutes and you can be prosecuted for various violations…no matter your outrage, be very careful, as this was not an illegal act, it may be immoral depending on your position, but don’t play into their hands..
The most important thing to remember is what this says about the Wyoming wolf plan in particular and the delisting of the wolves in general.
Wyoming is too hostile to manage wolves. This will hardly be the last.
In Idaho, as Lynne Stone pointed out, the method for now will be to “control” entire wolf packs if even one lamb or calf is killed.
Excellent advice from Save Bears and Ralph. The critical thing here is to stay focused and stay on message, which is the awful Wyoming management plan that enshrines nineteenth century attitudes towards carnivores.
Urbigkit, along with other locals, said there were a lot of hunters out over the weekend in Sublette County looking for wolves. Most of the 30 to 35 wolves outside the trophy game zone live in Sublette County.
“There has been a lot of excitement and interest for hunters in Sublette County,” Urbigkit said. “The predator board has nothing to do with that, but if the hunters are successful in their efforts, then hopefully the predator boards will not be called in on conflicts.”
The Sublette County Predator Board will not hunt wolves, she said, and will only respond when there is a conflict with livestock.
Terry Pollard, co-owner of Bald Mountain Outfitters, said he, too, knows many locals who went out wolf hunting over the weekend. He said most of them came back empty-handed.
“I think they’re finding just what we figured,” Pollard said. “These wolves are an extremely tough animal to hunt. There was a significant amount of hunters out this weekend, and very few of them were taken.”
I look for the trophy zone to have a more liberal seasons on wolves…..not enough wolves are being killed looking at the hunter kill ratio…and the fact that after this weekend the wolves will be much harder to find and kill……
I just read where the Humane Society got an injunction against the killing of salmon eating sea lions on the Columbia River. Can someone explain to me why the same tactic couldn’t be used for the wolves and buffalo.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/02/sea.lions.ap/index.html
Jerry,
I am sure it could be used, but understand, you will have to find a Judge that thinks any case presented has merit as well as a chance to prevail in court before they will issue the injunction…
What about publications that cater to the traveling/tourism industry and public? A story or two in some of those would go a long way.
Catbestland said “Mack, should we make reference to Wildlife Watchers as a possible contact on this issue?”
Cat, not quite yet. I’m up to my eyeballs with email – our web site should be up in the near future.
id was made to me by a project member at the time the event took place,, I relied on their knowledge of the wolves for the ID,, the fact he was collared and that he visible moved with one leg crippled,,wouldnt have posted it if not for the info i recieved from them..
Meanwhile Idaho Falls News Channel 8 is posting ‘softball’ articles about Ron Gillette’s crusade…
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=8104366&nav=menu554_2_1
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=8104360&nav=menu554_2_11
A great campaign by Wildlife Watchers would be to get the word out before and during the Jackson art festival, which begins on September 4, 2008. People from all around the world come to Jackson for the festival. I will be wandering around the Y’stone region for about 3 weeks next month, and available to do some word spreading ten also. There is also an event in Jackson during May and there is a huge antler auction. I can not remember what it is but i recall noticing travel brochures and tourist mags promoting all things Jacksony.
There was a gallery in Jackson that i was hoping to have represent me. I will just have to hold off until the issue is resolved. However i will be sure to spread the word in the art community.
I be visiting the park while the festival is going on and i would be willing to go to Jackson and pass out flyers/info to everyone i meet. Perhaps a flyer announcing the mission of Wildlife Watchers,etc,??? hint, hint, Mack. Also i would like to create a piece of art, that could be made into prints for the purpose of fund raising for WW???
Hey Mack, lets do some brainstorming.
dbaileyhill, you’re GREAT…!
You’re right; there’s many, many opportunities/happenings/festivals not only around Jackson, but all the western mountainous states that Wildlife Watchers could use to “get the word out.”
Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to have the Jackson gallery you mentioned represent you. Jackson’s #3 in the western art world; some 30+ galleries, I think. I say this because it’s going to take some time before any of our issues are truely and finally resolved. Lots o’ work.
Yes, we’ll need a brouchure; I have some ideas; email me, please.
And THANK YOU, dbaileyhill, for offering to create a piece of art that could be made into prints that could be sold to raise funds for Wildlife Watchers…! You’re GREAT…!
Yes, let’s brainstorm; let me know when you’re in Jackson; I live north of town, in the valley.
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
I am sickened as well, and I am a Wyoming native living in Jackson. I will be glad to help as much as possible in organizing something here. The Governor of Wyoming is most concerned about economic development so boycotting WY and making sure that he, as well as our U.S. Congressional delegation know about this from as many people as possible is huge! I think that boycotting WY is needed now for our wolves but Montana is killing the bison. I plan to give money to Wildlife Watchers in 253’s name (numbers become names). I watched him for years in Yellowstone and saw him down here once. Tourism is the #2 industry in Wyoming after Oil and Gas. Agriculture involves only 5% of the population.
Mack, send me your address so I can send you donation.
I have snet e-mail to National Geographic and tons of my friends.
Is anyone trying Harrison Ford. He has a nice pad in JH.
Cindy, tomorrow I’m going to send an email to you and others in Jackson so we can set a place and time to meet, brainstorm, organize and ACT. Thank you for your interest and your passion for wildlife…!
Thanks, everybody, for being patient while Wildlife Watchers is being formed. It’s taken a while, thanks to the paperwork and delays/reviews. I’d rather milk rattlesnakes blindfolded than go through this process again.
Wildlife Watchers should be able to operate tomorrow…! Once we can legally operate, I’ll let everybody know. Our website is on the drawing boards…!
We can do this, everybody. We CAN organize, state by state, and become a grass-roots force and demand a place at the tables where wildlife management decisions are made. We CAN hold wildlife managers, politicians and entire states responsible for adhering to the Public Trust Doctrine. We CAN break livestock producers stranglehold on our legislatures and our wildlife managers. We CAN encourage federal legislation be passed that offers grazing allotment buy-outs.
We can do this, and more.
No matter what state you live in, be thinking about organizing locally. We want to support you – let us know how.
It’s going to take a lot of work to turn things around, and it won’t happen immediately, but we can do it, together.
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
izabelam, THANK YOU for wanting to donate…! Wildlife Watchers should be legally operating tomorrow. I’ll make an announcement and include our P.O. Box.
Harrison Ford is on our list of potential spokespersons. You’re right, he has a *way* nice pad in Jackson – some 700 acres, I think…!
—
Mack P. Bray
My opinions are my own
wildlifewatchers@bresnan.net
http://wildlifewatchers.jottit.com/
Mack,
you may get some emails frommy son’s high school environmentalist club soon. I dropped a bug, via my son, in their ear.
Cindy,
Actually the numbers are significantly less than 5%.
2005 ($000)
Farm Income: 184,198 1.36% of non-Farm
Non-Farm Income: 13,505,284
Source: http://eadiv.state.wy.us/i&e/WYearn01_05.htm
In 2002, farm income actually declined by 46% and did not reach 2001 levels until 2004.
Samuel Western, a noted author and economist wrote a book in 2002 called Pushed of the Mountain, Sold Down the River – Wyoming’s Search for its Soul.
I highly recommend this book to any one interested in the cultural and economic reasons behind the Wy. wolf “management” plan. The first chapter is entitled “Don’t Mess with out Myth”. Telling, huh?
Back to agriculture. The following is information from Western’s book: “For 1999, ERS (Economic Research Service, USDA) hass a total value of ag exports for Wyoming of $30.5 million……….how much did Wyoming spend to earn a $30.5 million export? In 1999, Wyoming sspent $15.2 million on its Department of Agriculture. Of that $15.2, $11.6 million came from taxes and fees from sources other than agriculture. The State looses million each year in opportunity costs in its $295 million (2001 figure) state farm loan program.
Opportunity cost for Farm laons $44,000,000
Dept. of Ag appropriation 11,600,000
Lost Revenue of Grazing Lease subsidy 4,500,000
Livestock Bard cost 1,200,000
Total Expendature 61,3000,000 !!!!!!!!!!!
$61.3 million spent on a $31 million export
So, why do the people of Wyoming put up with this kind of expense? In my opinion it is because most of them have no idea. The information is hard to find, the most current reports are 2005 and last but not least, we continue to elect the old timer rancher in each district. He is the one every body knows…..and trusts. They don’t know what he does in Cheyenne. Wyoming is made up of small towns, very parochial and it takes years for a new comer to even be acknowledged, let alone elected.
Don
DON’T MESS WITH OUR MYTH not out myth. Sorry for the typo
Don
I have read Western’s book and it is excellent. Actually at one point Governor Freudenthal was recommending that everyone read it but that was in his first term. My 5% figure was pretty old then, and it is significantly less now. Part of the myth is that we are all cattle ranchers when cattle ranching in WY has been minimal due to the amount of acreage needed to graze. In Sublette County they are having an oil and gas boom that is compromising all wildlife, air quality and quality of life. Most of the “boom” population is from elsewhere, not to minimize the extraordinary foolishness of Wyoming people. Most recognize that our public lands and wildlife are our most important resource, but somehow it does not stretch to wolves….because they were a federal reintroduction. The WY legislature has modified on many things but while they eagerly accept all the benefits of federal assistance, they fight every federal mandate tooth and nail. How is Wyoming going to be wild without wild animals? It breaks my heart.
Like all, this has made me and my husband so sad and just sick. Limpy, 253M, was a wolf we watched numerous times and felt that we came to “know”. After reading all the above and everything else I can about his awful death, I think maybe 253M was to his end a tribute to his wolf race, and as always, an ambassador. I think how I wish it hadn’t been a wolf I knew, but any wolf gunned down is bad. It just hurt extra hard because so many did know him! AND, that is where Limpy can do his final act of being a good and helpful beta wolf! Let’s make him the martyr everyone has mentioned above. Let’s all contact each and all of the mentioned numbers and adresses and e-mails above. Let’s let them know that this is really gonna hurt their economy, because that is probably the only thing they care about. Let them know that we ARE the people who visit their state and that we’ll not spend a penny there anymore until they stop this crazy killing. People here in my far away state of AR were so confused about why they are being allowed to “hunt” the wolves. I explained that there are SO many wolves now, that they are killing all the elk, cattle, sheep, pets, and possibly unreported killing of children! I then explained that this is the way the people of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana who hate wolves tell their stories. They asked me how many wolves there really were now. I gave the latest estimates and they were horrified! If there were only that few deer in our state, or trout in our rivers, they would demand that hunting and fishing of them be halted. I am hoping to get some of these “new” outraged friends, who have never seen a wolf, to write in also. – Camille
“This whole thing just makes me want to cry – these creatures are helping to get rid of the diseased/old population of animals. They are an important part of the eco-system – wolves kill for food, not for fun like the human that shot wolf 253! The person who shot him is just a plain old coward and it makes my blood boil!!!”
Well go ahead and cry then. Wolves kill for sport. Man knew this many years ago and that’s why they were hunted down and killed into extinction.
Now they have been introduced and they are totally recovered and they will be managed.
This wolf is no Hollywood movie star like you make him out to be.
He’s just one wolf in the big scheme of management.
Nothing more nothing less.
Maybe we should add Xanterra (the concession comapny for YNP) to the list of those to contact about a boycott. They will be really shaken up if they lose business, and may have some money to throw into the political arena.?
Thanks Mack! And also a big thank you for your persistence in creating Wildlife Watchers!
Hi All –
If anyone out there would like the Wolf Meditation Card
I produced please get a hold of me. The photo I used, which was gifted to me, is of a black beauty from the Druid pack, taken this winter. The card was created out of love and respect, what better way to honor beautiful 253…and all
the spring pups that are going to need some new skills to survive. Please email your requests:fatdog101@msn.com
and I will say again, got abad intention?–please don’t waste
your time on me and my cards.
another name to add to the list of influential people is
Ted Turner, he has a pretty large ranch near Bozeman
and is very pro-wildlife.
Vicki,
Do you live any where near Grand Junction? The reason I ask is, I just got an invitation from Defenders of Wildlife for some kind of conference there next week to discuss the delisitng issue and what it may mean for Colorado. There will be other conservationists groups there as well. It’s free and is on Thurs. April 10 at 6:30 pm. I can forward you the email if you are interested.
denny p. – Common sense tells me that if people thought this could be “managed” as you say – there wouldn’t be such an outcry on this blog – now would there??? As was quoted higher up by someone else “Wyoming is too hostile to manage wolves and this won’t be the last”.
“Well go ahead and cry then. Wolves kill for sport. Man knew this many years ago and that’s why they were hunted down and killed into extinction.”
What?! (1) Wolves were hunted to near extinction because they were feared and viewed as valueless by a society that thought wildlife were only worth something if it was culturally acceptable to eat them.
(2) Wolves kill to SURVIVE, period. They sometimes kill more than they can eat in one sitting, but almost always return to finish off what they’ve left, unless they’re scared off by other predators (e.g. humans).
(3) They also kill (and often don’t eat) animals they view as competitors (e.g. dogs, coyotes). People are the only animals that make a sport of killing.
“This wolf is no Hollywood movie star like you make him out to be. He’s just one wolf in the big scheme of management.
Nothing more nothing less.”
Management (i.e. killing wildlife) is only “needed” when there is a perceived conflict between the presence of wildlife and the interests of some group. The only reasons to manage wolves are (1) they sometimes kill livestock (conflict with ranching); (2) they sometimes kill domestic pets (conflict with local residents); (3) when they become habituated to people or rabid, they can be a danger to people (conflict with local residents); and (4) they are perceived by some hunters as a competitor for game (conflict with hunters). The “big scheme of management” is exactly that; a scheme to kill wolves for the benefit of a few, to the detriment of the many.
Today, Thursday, the Pinedale Online editor said
There have also been some outrageous statements about the folks in Daniel, Wyoming because of the recent wolf killings there, as if the town residents are somehow personally responsible for those wolves that were killed near their town. Daniel is a tiny town with a population of 110. The hunter/s who killed the wolves near Daniel may not even have been from Wyoming, but somehow Daniel residents are the target of the anger and blame in some people’s minds. That isn’t fair
As Editor, she should then post the name and
where the hunters are from to clarify that
the Hunters may not even be from Wyoming!
~ Vicky
Pinedale Online Editor Comments
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/#wolfcomments
It should be re-emphasized to anyone who is writing letters that they should make their point without obscenities, name calling, accusations etc. Such letters just end up in the trash, or are deleted. I am actually getting responses from some Wyoming officials who are thanking me for my civility. A few have even implied that they personally agreed with my position, and suggested that I urge everyone I know to send letters. Volume counts. Make your point. Leave no doubt about it, but do it in a professional and business-like manner.
also from http://www.pinedaleonline.com/#wolfcomments
Make that five wolves (posted 4/2/08)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
Apparently there have been five wolves killed in Sublette County, in the predator management area, since wolves were officially delisted on Friday. Three were killed in the Daniel area, one near Cora, and one in the Middle Piney area.
Why do you want the hunters name>>?
bringing attention to this may encourage hunters to target collared wolves just to spite the hate mail or whatever you have planned…..think about it…
Not the same wolves…mutant wolves traveling in mega packs
What we have seen transplanted here below the 45th Parallel into the Northern Rockies, are wolves that evolved for eons in the Arctic , were culled naturally by severe Arctic weather, with a significant amount of pups that starved naturally because of the natural expansive dispersement of the prey base and the massive amount of country that Arctic wolves naturally had to cover in search of food and mate.
They have become mutant wolves below the 45th Parallel as a result of no natural culling from weather ,a condensed prey base and beyond extraordinary government protections.
Now those same mutant Arctic wolves ,that were dumped on an unadapted {un monitored} prey base, have now become habituated to humans and livestock , all the young pups survive and they know no defined territories.
Dr . Richard Mitchell, Ph.D. testified at the Jan 11, 2000 at the “Predator Management Symposium” ,that the wolf ‘re- introduction’ violated the ESA by dumping non native wolves on our existing native canis lupus irremotus –Rocky Mountain wolves.
Common sense dictates that those involved with Arctic wolf introduction had malicious intent, otherwise they would have done intensive monitoring of the un adapted prey base and would not have squandered the scientific opportunity of a lifetime and career, to do the biological studies of the prey base.
Their scientific peers repeatedly warned them to do intensive monitoring of the prey base before their wolf ‘re – introduction’.
Bob Fanning, didn’t they used to be “vicious Canadian wolves?” So now they’re Arctic wolves. Well that’s easy to see because all of the reintroduced wolves are white just like Arctic wolves, correct? Ralph Maughan
somebody notify the nationals ~ this guy needs a check
Catbestland,
I live in Greeley, but I am still very interested. I will email Ralph that he can give you my email my address. My ids are on spring break, so I may bring my oldest down with me. I think it’d be great.
Fonyeh is a FOOL, period, if they ever made any sense at all, the hunters of the state of Montana would be on their side, and at last count 89.73% of the hunters in the State of Montana, don’t agree with their Bullshit!
We lovers of nature should boycott Wyoming. Don,t stay in their hotels, don,t eat at their restaurants, don,t spend a dime in their communities!
…”correct? “Ralph Maughan
Just seeing if you’re on your toes Ralph.
In court there are always two sides arguing the case not just a one sided verbal vomit.
I just like to peek in on “Ralph Maughan’s Wildlife News”
every month or so to see what the far left is up to and who they hate today. The best thing that happened to you boys and girls since I last checked in was Ron Gillette.
I’ll check back with y’all after the 60 day notice runs
Bob Fanning,
Maybe it’s the Dire Wolf back from 12,000 yrs extinction.
Friends of the northern elk herd, you have got to be the most uneducated buffoon to have ever posted here. Your ignorance leaves one speechless.
Vicki – re. your email to me about suggesting an activity for youngsters you will be taking to Yellowstone. I am in Central Idaho so probably it would be best for you to inquire of someone familiar with the park.
Catbestland is smart.
Save Bears pulls stats out of his ass like they were pin worms.
Bye !
Bob Fanning,
I was being facetious.
Fonyeh,
You might be very surprised at where I pull stats from, your a fool, you guys have been foolish since day one, and the whole hunting industry around the country thinks your foolish, just check around the next SHOT or Bowhunting show you go to, By the way, will be happy to meet ya at the next SHOT to tell you to your face, how foolish and how much of a bad name you guys are giving hunters…Ron Gillette is going to give himself a heart attack, and unfortunately he deserves it!
Fanning the fool! Has a sort of a ring to it doesn’t it!
LOL
You are so far out there….
unfortunately???
And just to let everybody know, there is no legitimate hunters in the states of Montana, Wyoming or Idaho, that feel the same as these lazy radical jerks that like to pop up every once in a while, they just loud mouths who always say they are going to sue, but never seem to be able to get enough signatures to get their measures on a ballot…Friends have been trying to get money to file a lawsuit for several years now and still can’t raise the money, Gillette’s group in Idaho, is still only able to get about 1/2 half of the signatures they need to get on the ballot…time to move into the 21st century boys, cause your way is the highway, past history, and ain’t going to fly anylonger!
Cat,
My belief’s don’t allow me to wish anything bad on another human…so yes “unfortunately” and I will leave it at that!
Ah, the gouvernment sponsored white arctic (no longer canadian?) wolves parachuting from black copters onto ranchland (I love the X-files, especially Scully) have finally spilled over from the Billings Gazette.
Kim, are you sure that’s 253 in the photo? If so, he looks an awful lot like 21. Thanks for sharing.
Connie,,
the first black wolf, left to right is unknown
the second wolf was 42f the third wolf is 21m the last one on the right was identified to me at the time of the shot as 253. Now if someone wants to dispute that, fine, I did not dream it up, I had just starting attempting to photograph these animals at the time and asked about the id…the entire druid pack had just crossed the road,, one and two at a time and were heading south in Little America. In this shot,,,http://kimkaiser.com/display_photo.php?i=236 which was taken just moments before the posted shot and right before they got together,, and is w/o question wolf 42 and 21. Here is a much closer version of 21 http://www.kimkaiser.com/draft/display_photo.php?i=423 and there is big distinction in my mind..They had all just crossed the road…and the wolf the rear of the original had a very pronounced limp, and was collared…IF i am wrong, then i am sorry for the incorrect ID.
good video on the coverage of 253,,
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2994073
Connie & Kim,
On my home computer, the photo on the web page comes up with only three wolves, 21 in the rear. However on my work computer, the whole photo comes up with 4 wolves & 253 in the back. I don’t know why it is formatted differently, but that could be the confusion on the ID.
—-
What resolution is you home computer monitor set for? Ralph Maughan
LM,
Thanks for the clarification. I see only 3 wolves. I’m sure Kim is correct and don’t doubt the identification now. I’ll check my resolution and enjoy looking at photos of 21 anytime! 🙂
BTW, does anyone here know 253’s lineage? I can’t find that information on my wolf charts.
Ralph
A favor before you head off to Chico. Somewhere in all this information I have been reading for the last few days there was a post that had the Wyoming Wildlife Management charter in the article. It stated something to the effect that
“Wyoming will Protect, Preserve,etc,etc.etc for all the people, with no consideration for private interests, so on and so forth”. Somethig along those lines. If indeed the words that I read was Wyomings charter to manage Wildlife, it is completely out of line to what is going on now. Know where I can find this material?
Thanks Ralph
Jack
Jack,
I think Mack Bray or Robert Hoskins could find that for you.
Is this what you are looking for?
Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust
Wyoming is a vast landscape, sensual, mysterious, and unique. From jagged peaks rising above verdant valleys, to steamy vapors shared between river and sky, no two places are the same. Wyoming is a place where grasslands give way to sagebrush oceans, where mountains continue to rise, and wildlife thrive. This land is home to some of the greatest herds of large animals – bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer – and one of the richest assemblages of species in North America. Wyoming is a landscape rich in human heritage, a place where hope rides the range as regularly as the cowboy.
To maintain this legacy, The Wyoming Legislature created the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust in 2005. Funded by interest earned on a permanent account, donations, and legislative appropriation, the purpose of the program is to enhance and conserve wildlife habitat and natural resource values throughout the state. Any project designed to improve wildlife habitat or natural resource values is eligible for funding.
http://wwnrt.state.wy.us/index.htm
~ Vicky
Sublette Has Four Reported Wolf Kills
All were taken on ‘opening day’
by Joy Ufford
The first day of “open season” for most of Sublette County’s gray wolves, now under state management and divided into predator and trophy-game areas, brought a total of four reported legal wolf kills occurring last Friday. “Four wolves were reported killed in the predator area,” confirmed Eric Keszler, Wyoming Game and Fish (G&F) spokesman, Tuesday.
Friday, March 28, was the day the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s gray wolf recovery program was deemed complete in the Northern Rockies’ population and management was transferred from the FWS endangered species’ program to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana wildlife agencies.
Three of the wolves were taken west of Daniel close to the Jewitt Feedground, a G&F elk winter-season feedground. Two were reported Monday and one Tuesday – one female and two males, Keszler said.
The fourth wolf was taken Friday as well in the area of the New Fork River and reported Tuesday afternoon, Kezler said. He wasn’t sure if the wolf was the same as the one shot Friday by a Cora rancher who killed it in his cattle herd while calving.
MORE
http://www.sublette.com/examiner/v8n2/v8n2s3.htm
RE: the comment I’ve seen on this site and other websites regarding the concern of wolf murders as compared to bison, ie, small percentage of wolves compared to the large amound of bision killed – this is just the beginning of mass wolf kills, in relation to the quantity of wolf population we have. I think the concern comes from that – that the wolf kills be in line with bison kills – both without reason, not just amount of individuals killed. The wolf “mythology” (people have a mystery love with the wolf) argument gets overused in my opinion…
Connie, I read somewhere, & I’m not sure where, but I think it came from a grad student at UCLA doing genetic studies on the Yellowstone wolves, that 253’s parents were 21 & 106.
No one should make the mistake of making wolf deaths and bison deaths a rivalry. The really are two symptoms of the same desease. Killing less wolve, less bison… how do you distinguish the value of either? I don’t think you can.
When legislation is weakened for one, the other is bound to suffer as a result. The laws that we try to change are set forth by the same narrow minded people…. they have no use for conservation or environmental stabilityand balance.
There needs to be reform for bison, and wolves, and sage grouse… the laws need to clearly regulate and control the excessive misuse of public lands. The laws need to assure that wildlife, as a public asset , should be allowed to utilize public lands to survive. The law needs to protect our natural resources… and both wolves and bison fall into that category.
If you open the door for one, the other will be able to walk through it a whole lot easier.
Changing laws will be a whole lot easier than changing the sentiment of ignorant people. So if, and when ,laws are changed, some idiot will still be out there shooting wolves and crying Brucellosis. Too bad those idiots aren’t more endangered.
Right on, Vicky. It all stems back to the ESA. I think. Which had the right intent. Protection of species and its critical habitat… not just our interests.
I love how people whoe live no where near an area feel it necessary to shove there values down others throats. The ranchers in Daniels and other places have to deal with leaner live weights due to cattle getting run by wolves, some outfitters (I know god forbid hunters) are losing there businesses. And while I have seen several pound there chest about wildlife viewing being more popular than hunting or fishing. The fact of the matter is, without hunters and fishermen there wouldn’t be the wildlife here to view.
As for the sea lion issue brought up here. The steelhead in puget sound are ESA listed in large part due to Hershal and others at ballard locks. There are plenty of california sea lions, but not enough salmon.
has anyone posting here actually read the Wyoming Wolf Management Plan? It does a decent job of balancing needs of wildlife, livestock and human interests. The GYA wolves expanded dramatically faster than any biologists predicted. The recent wolf kills in the predator range isn’t excessive, but it will likely slow down their natural migration to Utah and Colorado, giving those states time to figure out whether they want them or not.
News from Sublette Co
Four wolves killed for livestock depredation (posted 4/7/08)
Federal animal damage control officials, working closely with a rancher, his personnel and the Sublette County Predator Board, killed four wolves Monday morning in the Cora/Pinedale area. The control effort was in response to livestock predation on the ranch, in which four calves have been killed and the wolves continued to return to the calving pastures during the night since at least last Thursday.
pinedaleonline.com/#fourwolveskilled
TUESDAY 4/8/08
Wyoming Wolf kills reach 10
By CHRIS MERRILL
Star-Tribune environment reporter
LANDER — At least 10 gray wolves have now been killed in Wyoming since the animals were removed from the federal endangered species list.
All of the canines have been killed in the state’s new wolf predator management area, where it is now legal to shoot the animals on sight. All 10 have been taken in Sublette County.
Four wolves were destroyed by USDA Wildlife Services agents Monday morning on a ranch near the border of the state’s new trophy game zone for wolves, a spokesman for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed today.
The wolves reportedly killed four or five calves inside a rancher’s cow pen over the weekend, starting Friday, said Cat Urbigkit, a Sublette County predator management board member.
The predator board asked Wildlife Services to destroy the wolves after the rancher found the first two dead calves, she said.
MORE
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/04/08/news/breaking/doc47fbae45ba48d092521955.txt
Ryan,
I am a hunter, and an angler. I post here all the time. Not once have I been berated for being either. I agree, and it is well known that hunters/anglers commit more funds to conservation than any other source.
However, there are some serious flaws in Wyoming’s plan.
I understand that the wolf is being blamed for the economic decline of the livestock industry in Wyoming. But perhaps some thin cattle may have lost weight due to other cattle over grazing, or maybe because vegetation takes a hit when there has been drought. Maybe the industry is hurting because the days of small cattle ranches are ending, because large feedlots here, and in Central America , are vastly out producing the smaller operations and under cutting their prices? Or because it’s cheaper to place 500 head on a few acres and feed them hay?
To blame wolves for all the cattle woes is just as naive as blaming fly fishermen for a shortage of cutthroats. It is simply not valid. It is an opportunity to manipulate laws and minimize each parties responsibility for their own problems.
What about everyone else who wants wolves? What about all the gateway communities who profit from wolf watching tourists? Aren’t small business owners just as important as cattlemen?
I see the difference is that cattlemen have rounded up enough money to buy legislators, and small businessmen and tourists be damned.
I see that anyone who is opposed to Wyoming’s plan isn’t welcome or their opinion is irrelevant. While they don’t reside in Wyoming, their federal taxes still assure public welfare in that state, and it isn’t being turned down. The money they contribute that is spent on maintaining national forests isn’t being handed back with a “no thank you, your opinion doesn’t matter so we won’t accept your money” note pinned on it.
There are more than two sides here. We’d all do better to see that this is not a black and white issue, not in it’s dilema or it’s faults, nor will it be in it’s resolution. Look beyond all wolves, or no wolves, and find a SENSIBLE middle ground. Key word, sensible. The management plan of Wyoming is not that.
The Wyoming managament plan is that. They held the Feds to there origional plan. As it sits right now there can still be tourism dollars from travelers going to yellowstone and ranchers and outfitters still see benefits. The rest of wyoming will not see the tourism dollars from wildlife watchers, but they will feel the negative effects of wolf predation. The population numbers have already wildly exceeded the Federal ESA delisting goals.
As for the cattle woes and sheep woes, where should the blame go? The average loss pre wolf and grizzly bear was 3% a year, its creeping up to 9 to 10% year now in many areas. This is a hard loss for many ranchers to take every year.
The national forest money goes both ways as well, Wyoming Fish and Game is shelling over a million dollars each year to deal with the recovery which hunters and fishermen are paying for directly through higher tag and application costs. My out of state application costs for Wyoming each year have more than tripled in the last 5 years.
I grew up around wolves in AK most of my life and fail to see the mythical allure that others do. There just an animal like any other that needs to be managed for what the local populations best interest is. They won’t be completely irridacated by hunters, even in the predator zone. They reproduce fast and are very elusive.
Ryan said,
“I grew up around wolves in AK most of my life and fail to see the mythical allure that others do. There just an animal like any other that needs to be managed for what the local populations best interest is. They won’t be completely irridacated by hunters, even in the predator zone. They reproduce fast and are very elusive.”
There’s no mystical allure, it’s just a matter of the wolf being an important and rightful part of our western ecosystems. I don’t believe in basing the status of our enviroment’s ecological health solely on the narrow interests of the rancher or elk hunter.
As for wolves not being erradicated…well thanks for your assurances. You might be right. But then again you might be wrong. After all, how were they erradicated in the first place?
“After all, how were they erradicated in the first place”
Easy poisioning, unregulated killing, and no protections what so ever.. Much different than what is going on in WY right now. Wyoming is sticking with the plan laid out by the Feds in the beginning by sticking to pre established Population goals and ranges.. In a sense allowing the best of both worlds. Still wolves to see in the areas where tourism brings in money and there is good established habitat as well as minimal human impacts while protecting the lively hood of its residents.. Which should be the states main concern, not outside interests of non residents who don’t have to deal with the everyday struggles apex predators can cause.
If you read the plan in Detail, you will see the protections offered in and around the yellowstone ecosystem which ensures the population will remain stable and then the rest of the state which is managed for the best interests of its residents. If you remember right, Wyoming never wanted wolves in the first place as did many western states.
Ryan,
the majority of Wyoming residents, as stated in Wyoming’s “PLAN”, favored wolf reintroduction.
“There’s no mystical allure, it’s just a matter of the wolf being an important and rightful part of our western ecosystems. I don’t believe in basing the status of our environment ecological health solely on the narrow interests of the rancher or elk hunter.
As for wolves not being eradicated…well thanks for your assurances. You might be right. But then again you might be wrong. After all, how were they eradicated in the first place?”
They were eradicated by the government on a bounty.
Ryan is the voice of logic from what I have read here so far. The plan that Wyoming has, is a very fair and efficient plan.
The protected area where wolves cannot be shot, make up 90% of the wolves habitat. So they are protected very well and everyone that visits Wyoming will not see any difference. Well you might (ACTUALLY) see a moose or 2 now)
Also, This “Boycott Wyoming” thing that is going around is useless. Since the wolf population has been ENHANCED (you can’t “reintroduce” a species where members already exists) the revenue that is generated yearly by tourists and hunters (who make up 45% of Wyoming’s revenue) has declined dramatically.
Now I’m not saying that all wolves need to be eliminated, but there does need to be effective management strategies in place. Humans are part of this ecosystem and we need to put ourselves in the equation. We are here to keep everything in balance and do the best we can.
Luke,
Its all sematics.. There was a some about 10% more that favored reintroduction to yellowstone, not the entire state. I would also be interested to see how what the survey read. It was a mail survey which would also be tainted because it requred people with a vested interest to reply versus a telephone survey or a door to door survey. I would be willing to guess that most surveys ended up in the trash no matter which way the survey went. It wasn’t valid using standardized survey methods.
Luke says:
respectfully, it seems to me that if “we” are here to keep things in balance ~ “we” have done a piss-poor job of it. “We” have thrown things off balance, and chase our tails in prescribing anthropogenic ‘restoration’ efforts altering intact ecological systems in our efforts to ‘restore’ particulars to perpetuate farcical ideas that some ‘uses’ of land can be sustainable. Many are not anyway, and this ought be considered when normative decisions are made to afflict systems with our management goals.
The wolf is a keystone predator – a critical component to the passive restoration of ecosystems. An experiment in letting go an active component of the wild. Unfortunately, industry (whether Livestock or Big Game) has been allowed the influence to keep ‘our’ heavy hand all over the effort, despite the majority of land being held as public. That has sabotaged this effort at restoration – at the ecological effectiveness of wolves on the larger systems.
One of the problems with this hyper-management and premature delisting is that “we” are cutting off the chance of the ecological effectiveness of the restoration of this species mid-stream. Systems that take decades to respond/restore are being cut short of the opportunity at response. Many systems throughout the west will not know balance that could and should take place because of ‘our’ ecologically arbitrary hubris informing the idea that we know better than the wild ~ and there is very little economic justification for this heavy handed management.
‘Our’ efforts to “manage” are not restricted to areas of human habitation ~ I doubt that anyone has a qualm with “managing” these areas, doing so is more an exercise of “managing” ‘ourselves’. Nor do I hear many qualms with allowing hunts ~ the qualms I hear arise when such hunts cut into the ecological contribution, the ‘principle’ of such that wolves have in areas not in conflict with private property. Hunting ‘surplus’ is fine, but the ‘principle’ population is a number that “we” ought not be arbitrarily defining ~ the ability for ecological systems to exist soundly ought inform that determination. This is part of ‘our’ obligation to hold this public asset of the wild in trust for future generations ~ such that future generations are afforded the same determinations not degraded ~ not lessened in potential ‘value’ ~ as we found them. Perhaps one day we will even be able to organize enough of ‘us’ to exercise the wisdom of humility regarding ‘management’ – such that this public trusts will be afforded the potential to heal and future generations will be afforded more ‘wildness’ than we were.
‘Our’ management is appropriate of private land. Public lands become more contentious ~ but the compulsion to extend ‘our’ management extends so far as wilderness, land that by definition is intended to be as free of ‘our’ influence as possible.
I would not skirt the idea of “mystical allure”. I think that this way of valuing the wild is as legitimate as any economic ‘use’ or value. Perhaps that cuts into the ‘legitimacy’ that most advocates hope to project ~ oh well. I think it would be great to build on. I think that the courts, congress, and several administration have recognized this value in “managing” both public lands as well as not “managing” wilderness to a degree that would surprise many.
I grew up in what will be described as, and is, the last generation of an era of generations that grew up with the same pioneering and frontier ethos that created this great country, in effect a template that served many generations well, it was the 50’s.
Can you imagine that, these days? In these times of sound bite journalism and daily top ten tips concerning everything in your personal life? One of the most enduring and surviving ethos from that generational era is that of hunting. I grew up with guns of all sorts hanging on the wall and ammo in the drawer at the bottom of the open gun rack. Started handling and shooting guns at 7, hunting entailed early training, responsibility and practice, the idea being to press your skills and make it a challenge. I got so good at shooting that I could hit birds in the air with a 22 rifle. To me the skill and quickness with the gun was as important as the skill to hunt itself, two very different elements of hunting, but both essential. So one day after picking a swallow out of the air, God spoke to me and said, “Well now that you know you can, why are you doing it?” I was 17, and haven’t “Sport” hunted since. The hunting instinct runs deep within my veins and I love it, there is nothing like the primal drive of the primeval.
Now against this backdrop I address the heinous and COWARDLY killing of wolves in Wyoming by what I can only describe as human trash out to achieve egoistic grandeur by the killing of our brother and fellow top predator the wolf. These hunters are the same scum that killed off the buffalo, scum who’s weak spines were stiffened with reasons and excuses that made them heroes in their own minds instead of the obviously COWARDLY TRASH that they are before God and all good men with eyes.
Power and Responsibility are two sides of the same coin, everybody wants the power, nobody wants the responsibility. So when you go around committing evil before God and go around killing Mother Nature’s children off because of your greed, ignorance and your ego says it’s grandly gratifying, the fact that your momma didn’t change your diapers enough doesn’t excuse your guilt and RESPONSIBILITY before God and all good men of conscience and thought.
Man’s laws you say, don’t speak to me of man’s laws. slavery and genocide, still legal to this day, and what’s that compared to specie extinction anyway?
This continent was lush, verdant and robustly exploding with more forms of animal and plant life than we could imagine. We then started to killed off 80, 90, 100 percent of certain species and inhabitants who either had the misfortune of getting in our self righteous way or just because we wanted to and could. We have taken and killed enough, what’s left should be left unmolested to regain their strength and proper place in God’s and Mother Nature’s creation.
Wolves, grizzlies and mountain lions included.
Most Sincerely,
Avery C. Mac Cracken Telluride, Colorado 81435
All this talk about sport and recreational hunting is really getting on my nerves. It is an act of barbarity prolonged by a minority group that has since lost its necessity in today’s world. Recreational Hunting has been the cause of all the environmental upsets to date. Killing but one wolf can cause a calamity, shoot any member of a pack and it will weaken it considerably, and is apt to cause more trouble because of this unexpected handicap.
I am not against hunting or fishing for the live or die necessity. But this quite clearly is an act of malice towards predators and nothing short of a wanton slaughter allowed to go rampant for a profit. So far these wolves have proven that anyone who desires to make money will tread over any rule, science or person: advocating laziness among farming communities, destroying protected zones and making a mockery out the E.S.A.
The ecosystem will begin to feel the pinch and sooner or later: Wyoming, Idaho and Montana will have a herbivore problem – don’t think that it won’t happen.
Because it already has happened before now…
Heck I’ll quote: “If they wanted to create a martyr, then they have succeeded.”
You tree huggers forced these wolves upon the residents of wyoming who desperately tried to oppose you. Then you forced our state wildlife agency to take over management of these non-native predators. Now you don’t like the way the wolves are being managed. Please take them back so that the hunters and fishermen of wyoming won’t be burdened with the expense of lawsuits, and management related to these damn dogs! As far as boycotting wyoming as was suggested earlier, please do. WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE!!!
From a proud tree hugger, I would really love to stand in front of a wolf that one of these ignorant wolf killers wants to shoot and say, “Go ahead, if you shoot it, you shoot me too.”
Wonder what they’d do then?
I really do think those who hate any animal like this (and those who protect them (like “dirt” above) with such a vengeance has serious issues and anger problems.
— Sincerely, Proud Tree Hugger
Snow crunches as paw presses down.
The cold of the night has made the snow crispy,
Squeaky as snow only is in the deep cold of Wyoming winter.
But quiet! For the wolf he hunts the elk,
And our human noise and scent will as usual,
ruin things if we are discovered.
Quick as night he leaps,
The black wolf leaps, and all is still.
The elk sleeps but will not awake and
The wolf limps over to feed.
Until he notices us, a misplaced footfall
on crunchy show. His ears perk and
Quick as night he is gone,
he leaves, a meal undone,
and I shuffle away in misery
the Lamar stretches around me
His home here is safe for him and his people.
253 can you tell me of Yellowstone?
Can you still feel the pups in the den
your brothers and sisters.
The soft mewling of the newborns.
Can you tell me of the Elk Refuge?
Elk by the thousands,
a heaving multitude of life.
A wolf living like a lottery winner.
And what of Utah?
Full of people, full of traps.
253 can you tell me of Wyoming,
Of the sharp winds of the spring meadows,
how does it feel to be shorter than the flowers
but stronger than the hills?
How does it feel to smell the essence of our world,
long before you see it.
253, can you tell me of the final blackness.
Did you smell them before they shot you?
Did you look them in the eye as an alpha as you died?
I wonder did you understand why they had acted,
while others like me had only been
a jagged interruption on your consciousness.
Did you fade away quietly
Or did you fight as you always had to survive?
Your paw has tread many thousands of miles
I will never see
And you will never see, again.
253 know this: we are all too much the same for this.
I know, you know
We are all too much the same.
Copyright Tenley Thompson 2003
Thank you.
Unfortunately, more and more wolves have been killed since.
Inlcuding recent 27 near Kalispell.
Is the ‘hunt’ ever going to stop?