Wolf population thriving in Rocky Mountain states

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The Big Glad Wolf

The wolf population in the Northern Rocky Mountains has grown by more than 20 percent since last winter. Officials estimate that 158 wolf packs, totaling at least 1,229 members, are living it up in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The midyear estimate is the highest population estimate since wolves were reintroduced to the region in 1995 and 1996; however, "[i]t is important to note this estimate is very rough and a lot can change because of wolf mortality during the fall," says Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Guess we'll put away the pom-poms. Importantly to the area's ranchers, the rise in wolf population has not corresponded with a rise in the number of livestock killed or injured.

straight to the source: Billings Gazette, Mike Stark, 28 Sep 2006

see also, in Gristmill: Go west, young wolf

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Comments: (2 comments)

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.

love them lobos!

Said the post:
<<
Importantly to the area's ranchers, the rise in wolf population has not corresponded with a rise in the number of livestock killed or injured.
>>

Of course not. Wolves were never responsible for more than a minuscule percentage of lost livestock.

Anyone who continues to mistrust wolves are alpha lycophobes. Definitely not an admirable breed.

One thing we need is a bunch of learned wildlife folk, who know wolves well, but also have good people skills, to talk to owners of livestock, from the northern Rockies, across Idaho to Oregon, to assure them that the wolves are not going to be a problem.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 9:43 PM on 29 Sep 2006

Odd

There was no mention of dog and cat waste. I have a friend who has a large dog and his backyard looks and smells like an open sewer. The pollution here in Seattle's streams is most likely from dogs and cats, did they miss something in the other Wahsington?

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 10:27 PM on 29 Sep 2006

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