<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Wolf recovery chief Ed Bangs talks about the species’ delisting]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by crumbrye http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:15:21 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/1 The role of the Endangered Species Act

I think its important to point out that sometimes we are limited by the laws that give us our authority.

Unfortunately, the Endangered Species Act is a safety net. Its triggered by an unsustainable level of a particular species. There is no law that gives authority to the Fish and Wildlife Service to step in when long term threats are forecasted but have not yet materialized.

Many people are confused by this. Probably because it seems counterintuitive to wait until a species is threatened or endangered to begin protecting the habitat from negative impacts. But this is the system that is in place.

It is an outdated system that emphasizes specific threats, like deforestation, rather than diffuse threats, like global warming. It measures the success of a species rehabilitation in sheer numbers rather than the overall balance of the ecosystem. Finally, it doesn't sufficiently account for the range of factors that contribute to the shifts in population numbers of a species.

Just thought I'd point that out.

http://www.greenpieceblog.com

]]> The role of the Endangered Species Act

I think its important to point out that sometimes we are limited by the laws that give us our authority.

Unfortunately, the Endangered Species Act is a safety net. Its triggered by an unsustainable level of a particular species. There is no law that gives authority to the Fish and Wildlife Service to step in when long term threats are forecasted but have not yet materialized.

Many people are confused by this. Probably because it seems counterintuitive to wait until a species is threatened or endangered to begin protecting the habitat from negative impacts. But this is the system that is in place.

It is an outdated system that emphasizes specific threats, like deforestation, rather than diffuse threats, like global warming. It measures the success of a species rehabilitation in sheer numbers rather than the overall balance of the ecosystem. Finally, it doesn't sufficiently account for the range of factors that contribute to the shifts in population numbers of a species.

Just thought I'd point that out.

http://www.greenpieceblog.com

]]> Comment #2 by GEspatial http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/ Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:14:46 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/2 Wolves and Pop Culture

The delisting of the wolf in the Northern Rockies has generated as much heated discussion as the original reintroduction.

Edward D. Mann was curious about the strong negative feelings, and searched for an answer.

You can read his journal recently posted.

]]> Wolves and Pop Culture

The delisting of the wolf in the Northern Rockies has generated as much heated discussion as the original reintroduction.

Edward D. Mann was curious about the strong negative feelings, and searched for an answer.

You can read his journal recently posted.

]]> Comment #3 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:32:23 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/3 "a lot of wolves"

No, we do NOT have a lot of wolves.  Relative to zero, sure, there are more now than there were not long ago; but that hardly means that the current population in the northern Rockies fills the natural complement.

It is certainly true that "the states are not to be trusted."  And why should they?  What record of wisdom have they shown?  Have the states been glad about the wolves' relative successes after reintroduction?  Have they been kind?  NO!, they have consistently supported the anti-wolf forces.

Fair-minded wildlife experts should indeed be teaching residents, including ranchers, about the needs of the big predators.  And compensation of ranchers should be swift and generous, so long as it is clear that, regarding a killed hoofed animal, predation by wolves canNOT be distinguished from that of dogs on the lose; and generally wolves are accountable for a fraction of one percent of lost farm animals.

More generally, wolves (and other predators) will continue to be threatened, so long as human residents, and their elected or appointed wildlife managers, are going to consider the wolves an unnecessary indulgence, imposed on them by authorities and a public will from elsewhere.  So long as the people of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming believe that only their opinion matters, regarding what wildlife should be allowed to roam free in the northern Rockies, then the wild animals there are doomed to gross ill-management.

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

]]> "a lot of wolves"

No, we do NOT have a lot of wolves.  Relative to zero, sure, there are more now than there were not long ago; but that hardly means that the current population in the northern Rockies fills the natural complement.

It is certainly true that "the states are not to be trusted."  And why should they?  What record of wisdom have they shown?  Have the states been glad about the wolves' relative successes after reintroduction?  Have they been kind?  NO!, they have consistently supported the anti-wolf forces.

Fair-minded wildlife experts should indeed be teaching residents, including ranchers, about the needs of the big predators.  And compensation of ranchers should be swift and generous, so long as it is clear that, regarding a killed hoofed animal, predation by wolves canNOT be distinguished from that of dogs on the lose; and generally wolves are accountable for a fraction of one percent of lost farm animals.

More generally, wolves (and other predators) will continue to be threatened, so long as human residents, and their elected or appointed wildlife managers, are going to consider the wolves an unnecessary indulgence, imposed on them by authorities and a public will from elsewhere.  So long as the people of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming believe that only their opinion matters, regarding what wildlife should be allowed to roam free in the northern Rockies, then the wild animals there are doomed to gross ill-management.

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

]]> Comment #4 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:14:49 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/4 acerca de los lobos, ya ma's

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/28/gray.wolves/in ....

No discussion of wolves and "management" and "states' rights" and "local jurisdiction," etc., is complete, without recognizing the hideous anti-predator prejudice which the wolves especially suffered, throughout the history of this republic.  Fortunately, the CNN article makes a brief reference to that.

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

]]> acerca de los lobos, ya ma's

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/28/gray.wolves/in ....

No discussion of wolves and "management" and "states' rights" and "local jurisdiction," etc., is complete, without recognizing the hideous anti-predator prejudice which the wolves especially suffered, throughout the history of this republic.  Fortunately, the CNN article makes a brief reference to that.

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

]]> Comment #5 by mtvyfan http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:45:33 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/aspen-envt-forum-the-word-on-gray-wolves/5 In Montana, unfortunately the ranchers win

I live in Montana and we have a lot of ranchers. They are the ones who most often scream and yell about de-listing any animal that even remotely threatens their livestock. We talking about an outrage over hunting wolves, but the poor coyote can be hunted all year long and doesn't require a hunting license.

Montana has a strong environmental voice and we try to positively enact change, but it seems our law-makers listen more to the ranchers.

"For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide, to dispel the misery of the world." - Shantideva

]]> In Montana, unfortunately the ranchers win

I live in Montana and we have a lot of ranchers. They are the ones who most often scream and yell about de-listing any animal that even remotely threatens their livestock. We talking about an outrage over hunting wolves, but the poor coyote can be hunted all year long and doesn't require a hunting license.

Montana has a strong environmental voice and we try to positively enact change, but it seems our law-makers listen more to the ranchers.

"For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide, to dispel the misery of the world." - Shantideva

]]>