Marty Essen asks for balanced management of our forests and wildlife- We shouldn’t manage Montana’s wildlife like a giant game farm In response to some recent anti-wolf letters in local newspapers, I’d like to offer an alternative point of view. Blaming the wolf for fewer elk, without considering other factors, is disingenuous at best. Here’s…
For quite some time news of wolves moving into Washington state has excited many wolf supporters and Washington residents. A couple photos of the Washington wolves. As is usually the case, news of Washington wolves has also prompted local ranchers’ to kick up controversy and concern that their livelihood won’t be able to compete with…
Judge B Lynne Winmill ruled in favor of Western Watersheds Project ordering that the group’s comprehensive challenge of over 16 Resource Management Plans, directing management of over 30 million acres, can be litigated in his single court. Resource Management Plans (RMPs) guide management of livestock grazing, off road vehicles, energy development, and other potentially environmentally…
As elk hunters in Montana let out a bellow for wolf “control” right alongside their friends in other western states – elk distribution and populations in Montana demonstrate a soaring population of elk in areas – enough so that ranchers are getting fed up with elk depredation on cattle forage. Changing attitudes stymie elk managers…
Group calls for the arrest and prosecution of the suspects- Two of the members of Washington State’s first known wolf pack have been killed by poachers. The suspected poachers are known and live in Twisp, Washington. The wolf pack lives outside of the area where the federal government is trying to delist wolves. They are…
Senate Bill 183 would limit the number of wolves in Montana to 225. Montana State Senator Joe Balyeat (R-Belgrade) has introduced Senate Bill 183 which would limit the number of wolves in Montana to just 225. Currently the estimated number of wolves in Montana is around 500 according to the recently released Montana Gray Wolf…
Good news. Lack of feeding has kept wolves from keying on the feedlots- In general not feeding is good regardless of wolves- It is good news when elk don’t have to be, or simply are not fed. Mike Jimenez, wolf coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said recently that wolves appear to not…
Weiser sheep rancher tells Idaho lawmakers Forest Service threatens his livelihood Brian Murphy – Idaho Statesman Sheepherder Ron Shirts has appealed to the Idaho Senate to intervene and give him special consideration above the interests of the public, wildlife, and the Nez Perce Tribe. Shirts complains that his livelihood is threatened because the Payette National…
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.