A rally honoring the dead from the Idaho 2011-12 hunting season set as the unlimited 2012-13 seasons nears-
Surveys show that there are many people, maybe a plurality, in Idaho who favor wolves. Some favor a reasonable wolf hunt, which the planned hunt arguably is not. Others are completely opposed to wolf hunting. The Idaho political establishment is strongly against wolves, except for a remnant small token for some. Rallies can be an effective way to organize people and protest. As the Republican Party gets more and more extreme on wildlife and just about every other formerly settled policy as the election nears, those Idaho Democrats looking for a better future might be expected to show up if they are notified.
Those with view on this issue can also make their view known at the Idaho Wildlife Summit which begins on-line late this afternoon. Here is an article about it in the Idaho Statesman. Idaho Fish & Game chief wants public input during 3-day wildlife summit, By Rocky Barker
News Release on wolf rally-
A rally honoring the 379 wolves killed in Idaho, during the 2011-2012 wolf hunt, is set for Thursday August 30, 3:30 – 7:30pm at Fort Sherman/Coeur d’Alene City Park.
August 23, 2012
Contacts: Dr. Catherine Feher-Elston, Predator Defense (760) 617-7699
Brett Haverstick, Friends of the Clearwater (208) 882-9755
Ann Sydow, Northern Idaho Wolf Alliance (509) 671-0448
Wolves Belong: Stop the Slaughter rally set for August 30 in Coeur d’Alene’s Fort Sherman/City Park
COEUR D’ALENE, ID. — A rally honoring the 379 wolves killed in Idaho, during the 2011-2012 wolf hunt, is set for Thursday August 30, 3:30 – 7:30pm at Fort Sherman/Coeur d’Alene City Park. The rally will feature live music, guest speakers, refreshments, and a trap-release workshop by Footloose Montana aimed at educating citizens how to identify traps/snares, and if necessary, how to release a pet that is in harm’s way. Over 500 wolves have been killed in Idaho/Montana by hunting/trapping methods since the species was delisted via legislative rider from the endangered species list in 2011. This figure does not reflect the total number of wolves killed additionally by aerial gunning methods or livestock depredation removal. The 2012-2013 wolf hunt on public lands in Idaho begins the same day of the rally. Hunting on private lands in certain areas of the Panhandle region of Idaho has been occurring since July 1, making it legal to kill wolves 12-months a year.
“It’s time to end fairy tale fantasies. Science clearly shows that healthy populations of wolves and other predator species are critical for a healthy environment,” said Brooks Fahy, Executive Director of Predator Defense. “The shooting, trapping, snaring and torture of wolves must stop. The slaughter of wolves in Idaho is being driven by a fanatical blood lust that has no place in modern wildlife management.”
Many conservationists in the Northern Rockies feel that the Obama administration has failed in their duties to protect the iconic species.
“Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has utterly failed in his duties to keep federally endangered species like wolves from the blood-thirsty hands of our state fish and game agencies. What is happening in Idaho and Montana is about to happen in Wyoming. A lack of federal leadership and foresight is leading to a killing floor for wolves,” said Brett Haverstick, Education & Outreach Director for Friends of the Clearwater.
According to the 2011 Idaho Wolf Monitoring Progress Report issued by Idaho Fish & Game and the Nez Perce Tribe, there were 746 wolves in the state of Idaho.
“Of the 379 wolves killed in last year’s hunt, 40 were puppies, 56 suffered in leg-hold traps before being killed, and another 67 choked to death in snares,” said Ann Sydow with the Northern Idaho Wolf Alliance. “Special interest groups refuse to share their hunting grounds and their grazing allotments, even on publicly owned National Forests.”
Predator Defense, Friends of the Clearwater, Northern Idaho Wolf Alliance, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Footloose Montana and Center for Biological Diversity are co-sponsoring the event.
Brooks Fahy
Executive Director
PREDATOR DEFENSE
PO Box 5446
Eugene, OR 97405
541-937-4261 Office
541-520-6003 Cell
brooks@predatordefense.org
http://www.predatordefense.org
Comments
Ralph,
I’m sorry when I posted the same info on the have you come across page, I had not seen this. Glad its out anyhow
Louise
Louise,
I received this information several days ago and forgot to put it up; so you deserve “thanks.”
Finally, a good reason to end my boycott of Idaho!
I’d love to attend but will have to do so in spirit.
Many thanks to the people and groups who are putting this together.
Rally to honor killed wolves
Workshop will teach citizens to identify traps, snares; and release pet
http://www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_8a5487b1-0ba8-5b5a-a9d7-31e655620076.html
Quite often those who, are the worst afflicted are unable speak for themselves. Wolves are part of that number, that is why it is so important that we speak out for them and any other group or specie that finds itself in the crosshairs of the powerful and priviledged. Thank you all who act against cruelty or injustice. You are heard!
If you attend the rally be sure to bring your checkbook you’ll be told if you give enough the killing can be stopped.
The real question is why are the wolves killed in Canada never mentioned, appears they don’t matter.
Rancher Bob,
Your comment carries weight, yet this is not Canada, eh? It never has been Canada. Perhaps Rene Askins said it best, “I can comfort myself with the thought that this mortality rate is far lower than what these animals probably would have suffered had they been left in the free-fire zone in Alberta.
Everyone at one time or another opens their wallet to organizations, this, in my minds eye, little different than the NRA, SCI, …
Immer
I just enjoy the daily irony I read here, people with children bitching about the world population. Those living in what was once prime wildlife habitat bitching about those of us who now live in prime habitat. Those who complain about purchase of political power raising money for their favorite groups to tip the scales. Then the call to mourn for these wolves but not those wolves.
Also if history serves me right, this land and Canada were all the same land more than once just depends on what time frame we talk about, eh?
Anyway got to go back to work and enjoy life.
Rancher Bob,
No real argument from me, but it’s simply not Canada here. Even Mech has made a comment or two about almost feeling guilty about all the attention given to wolves when there are so many other important problems in the world, and in this country.
I think that this time through though, wolves have folks willing to speak up for them, unlike 70-80 years ago, and that ain’t bad. Every cause has need for a paladin, eh.:)
Rancher Bob,
The simple answer to the Canada wolf issue… it’s not in our jurisdiction, we have no power of the vote there. Not that we do here anymore either but we are in our own supposedly sovereign nation.
“The real question is why are the wolves killed in Canada never mentioned, appears they don’t matter.”
The answer is that Canada can support 40,000 wolves with a bit of bitching from ranchers, a fair amount of control, and lots of hunting and trapping. Here in the US less than 1,000 is apparently enough to declare a state of emergency–at least in Idaho. So Canada’s population is secure, whereas the US population is tenuous.
Ravnesong Group and our allies care about all wolves and all wildlife. Canadian provincial governments and both Canadian and United States federal governments are controlled by the same corrupt corporate interests. It is time for decent citizens of both nations to Take Back The Night and destroy the darkness.
Any reader have a report on the event? I heard there were about 70 people there.
I spoke at the Wolves Belong event. About 100 people attneded and there was a fair amount of press coverage. For those that don’t know, California Department of Fish and Game wants to list wolves as a California Endangered Species. They want full protection for wolves. I will share more about this as things develop. Meanwhile, contact California Fish and Game and ask what you can do to help. California leads–America follows. Dr. Feher-Elston, Director, Ravensong Group.
Thank you for that information. One thing I see as a potential problem is that the power interests in the NRM have made a mantra out of the general condemnation of any progressives ideas that come from anyone any where and particularly California. Sad but true.
Thanks for letting those of us who are willing to listen and support progressive movement know more about what happened at that event.