Editor's note: A rally to raise public awareness about wolves in and around Yellowstone National Park is scheduled for late June near the north entrance to the park at Gardiner, Montana. The following release came from the program's organizers.
The establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 represents one of the greatest achievements in American history, affording protection to one of our country's true wild places. Appreciation for this action, and the land it preserved, is increasing with each passing generation. And Yellowstone is much more than an American treasure; it is an international jewel, attracting millions of people from all over the world every year.
Fast-forward 123 years to 1995 and 1996, when the federal government, at the behest of the American people, released 66 gray wolves into Yellowstone. After one of America's most iconic species was brought to near extinction through hunting, trapping, poisoning, and other government-funded methods in the 19th and 20th centuries, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service finally began to recover this internationally beloved species. And, because of its wildness and large size, as well as its complement of abundant prey species, Yellowstone was one of two places chosen to welcome the wolves home. Idaho was the second place.
On June 28-29, 2014, people of all walks of life are invited to attend Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014, a 2-day family-friendly celebration of wolves, predators and other native species that contribute to our rich national heritage. The event will be held at Arch Park in Gardiner, MT, just north of the Roosevelt Arch, near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014 will feature prominent speakers and authors from the conservation community, and will include live music, education booths, children's activities and food vendors. The event is free and open to the public.
In addition to daytime activities at Arch Park, the screening of two wildlife documentaries will occur on Saturday evening, June 28, at 7 pm. The films will be shown at the Gardiner Community Center, which is located at 210 W. Main Street in downtown Gardiner. Organizers will be showing Predator Defense's film, Exposed: USDA's Secret War on Wildlife and Project Coyote's film, Coexisting with Wildlife: The Marin Livestock and Wildlife Protection Program. The films will be followed by a panel discussion composed of conservationists and scientists. The films are free.
Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014 is an opportunity for the American people to unite and demand wildlife management reform, and to take an important step toward restoring our national heritage. Unbeknownst to many Americans, over 3,000 gray wolves have been slaughtered across America, including around Yellowstone National Park, since certain segments of the wolf population were prematurely stripped of federal protection under the Endangered Species Act just a few years ago. The controversial delisting of the northern Rockies gray wolf was the first time Congress intervened and delisted a species in the 40-year history of the Endangered Species Act.
A public rally is scheduled for late June to raise awareness about wolves/Monty SloanLengthy hunting seasons now occur in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Hunters are permitted to hunt wolves with dogs in Wisconsin. Barbaric trapping/snaring seasons exist in Idaho. The USDA Wildlife Services just gunned-down 23 wolves from a helicopter in a rugged national forest in Idaho. In just 20 years, the federal government has completely reversed its course on the biological recovery of the gray wolf, and is now in the business of wiping them out again.
While many people are calling for relisting of gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act, others are saying that it is time to completely reform wildlife management in the United States.
Event organizers for Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014 have developed the following five keys to reforming wildlife management in America:
* Ban trapping/snaring on all federal public lands.
* End grazing on all federal public lands.
* Abolish the predator-control department of the USDA Wildlife Services.
* Reform how state fish and game agencies operate.
* Introduce legislation to protect all predators, including wolves, from sport hunting, trapping, and snaring.
Please consider attending Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014. The only thing that can save the gray wolf from a second extermination is a strong grassroots movement consisting of every-day people. Let's come together and embark on this journey together. Let's make the world a better place, for not only current generations, but also for those generations still to come. Your support is greatly appreciated! Learn more at www.speakforwolves.org or follow the event for updates at www.facebook.com/speakforwolvesyellowstone2014.
Comments
Here is a link to a good summary of the effects of wolf predation compared with other causes of loss of cattle, sheep, and game animals.
http://www.westernwolves.org/index.php/wolf-conflict-facts
In all three categories, wolf predation falls far below other causes of deaths of animals. In fact, in the case of beef cattle, wolves account for less loss than theft -- plain old fashioned cattle rustling.
What is shameful is someone using the name of an organization that is based in Idaho that has and does live with wolves. Are you someone who got banned from their page or something? Ranchers feed only 3%-%5 of Americans, contribute very little to the work force of this country as compared to other businesses, suck up over $200 million in subisides furnished by the American tax payers yet pay in around only 10% of that. There are many, many people in ID, MT, WY, and other wolf states that DO want wolves on the landscape. You don't speak for those people. A national heritage whose time has come and gone, especially trapping. Some people evolve past the 1800's or even 1996 when the wolves were reintroduced into ID but living in the past makes it hard to live in the now. You "witness" only what you want to see, period. And I'm sure half of that is made up anyway.
Very well said!
There is not one shred of truth in his statement. But it is true that the Yellowstone elk herd is lower since the wolves returned. Prior to the reintroduction, excess elk were shot by the park service, like they are in the Rocky Mt. Nat'l Park in CO. However, WY just had one of its top two very successful elk hunting seasons and MT wants to kill more elk because they are overpopulated in some areas of the state. Ranchers in ID want elk killed because they are eating food for their cows. What Freedom 1080 says has been circulated for years, one of the more popular sayings he left out is that wolves stalk kids at bus stops...which is not true either. By the way, 1080 is a poison that used to be used to poison wolves and other predators. It has since been discontinued.
Thank you for doing research on this and posting the data.
Oh, please. You only speak for a very tiny fringe element whose "time has come and gone". The majority of America wants safe regulated food, and a good job. Yeah, I'm speaking for us. Overpopulated wolves will not last in the modern progressive society of 2014, any longer than they did in the 100 years when there were a lot less people.
Get used to it. You will not save any wolves.
You REALLY need to educate yourself on where your food comes from. Do you think it drops out of the sky or comes from China?
Ranchers who are also farmers, feed 100% of Americans, moron. Besides all the dairy and meat products, we grow wheat, barley, oats, corn, soybeans, canola, sugar, potatoes, etc. to name a few, out here in the West. We have (organic) honey beehives that pollinate in our alfalfa fields. All, or a portion of all the food you eat each day, as a consumer, was produced by an American rancher/farmer. All the pet food you feed your animals is produced by ranchers/farmers. What are wolves doing to feed you?
The Farm Bill has eliminated most CROP subsidies which were for conservation, storm damages, fire, etc. Those subsidies helped to keep the cost of food prices down. I guess when you are paying $20 for your granola bar, it might hit you.
Quit being an ungrateful bigot.
I "witness" only what you want to see"? Haha, good grief you are naive.
No, dear, I DO NOT want to see what wolves do to animals,it's disgusting, horrific and makes me angry. I guess I could close my eyes but that doesn't change the reality that it happened
Oh, please. You only speak for a very tiny fringe element whose "time has come and gone". The majority of America wants safe regulated food, and a good job. Yeah, I'm speaking for us. Overpopulated wolves will not last in the modern progressive society of 2014, any longer than they did in the 100 years when there were a lot less people.
Get used to it. You will not save any wolves.
You REALLY need to educate yourself on where your food comes from. Do you think it drops out of the sky or comes from China?
Ranchers who are also farmers, feed 100% of Americans, moron. Besides all the dairy and meat products, we grow wheat, barley, oats, corn, soybeans, canola, sugar, potatoes, etc. to name a few, out here in the West. We have (organic) honey beehives that pollinate in our alfalfa fields. All, or a portion of all the food you eat each day, as a consumer, was produced by an American rancher/farmer. All the pet food you feed your animals is produced by ranchers/farmers. What are wolves doing to feed you?
The Farm Bill has eliminated most CROP subsidies which were for conservation, storm damages, fire, etc. Those subsidies helped to keep the cost of food prices down. I guess when you are paying $20 for your granola bar, it might hit you.
Quit being an ungrateful bigot.
I "witness" only what I want to see"? Haha, good grief you are naive.
No, dear, I DO NOT want to see what wolves do to animals,it's disgusting, horrific and makes me angry. I guess I could close my eyes but that doesn't change the reality that it happened
lol. Ahhh, there it is: the same predjudiced propaganda "statistic" constantly posted by your ilk, somehow assuming is is a valid argument. I knew you wouldn't disappoint.
Why, no. It is not. It is actually laughable; a cow that dies of old age in a state like Alabama(no wolves) has nothing to do with a young healthy cow that is killed by wolves, in a state like Wyoming, with wolves. NO comparison or relevancy at all. Wolves that kill livestock in states infested with wolves, are the top cause of deaths by predators.
Can you please post the link for your USDA stat of the wolf-killed livestock, in states with wolves only? Then post one of the cows that die of alligator attacks in states with alligators. lol. I'll be awaiting your reply.
90% of the livestock kills are unreported anyway. No one I know has any need to report them now that wolves are delisted, and NO one reports any of their cattle dying of old age or illness, either. How stupid.