Folks,

Today’s landmark announcement of wolf delisting in the Western Great Lakes is making major headlines across America.

Here is a quote from the release: Secretary Salazar said. “Thanks to the work of our scientists, wildlife managers, and our state, tribal, and stakeholder partners, gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region are now fully recovered and healthy.”

To read the official press release visit: http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Announces-Recovery-of-Gray-Wolves-in-the-Western-Great-Lakes-Removal-from-Threatened-and-Endangered-Species-List.cfm

Wisconsin isn’t wasting any time to start implementing its wolf management plan.

From Wisconsin DNR’s press release: “Gov. Scott Walker has charged the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with being ready to begin implementing Wisconsin’s Wolf Management plan by Feb. 1, 2012.”

“ ‘We are eager and ready to take on the challenges of wolf management,’ said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. ‘We appreciate Governor Walker’s attention to this issue.’ ”

To read the full release visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2255

Minnesota is ready to take over management of wolves.  That is great news for many Minnesota residents.

Here is a great quote: “We are pleased with the final decision to delist wolves in the region,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “This is a great success for the Endangered Species Act. Minnesota is ready to assume management of wolves under the guidance of the state’s wolf plan.”  Later Landwehr explains, “Today’s announcement by the federal government reaffirms the fact that the wolf is not threatened or endangered in Minnesota.”

To read the full release: http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/2011/12/21/minnesota-ready-to-assume-state’s-wolf-management-again/

For those of you who are interested how today’s delisting will impact wolf management in Michigan, there are some very interesting comments in Michigan DNR’s press release.

DNR Director Rodney Stokes. “Treating wolves as an endangered species, when the population has exceeded federal recovery goals in Michigan for more than a decade, has negatively impacted public opinion in areas of Michigan where wolves are established on the landscape. I firmly believe that the more flexible management options allowed under the state’s Wolf Management Plan will help increase social acceptance of the species while maintaining a healthy, sustainable wolf population.”

Read the full release: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-38946-267852–RSS,00.html

Big Game Forever has been suggesting that there are plans to expand wolves across the entire West.  New article indicates that Defenders of Wildlife is advocating for wolf reintroductions in California.

Read More: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/wolves-in-california.html#ixzz1gQy2aGnr

Dec. 12 Letters to the Editor

Lewiston Morning Tribune

Elk harvests declining

I would state a few comparisons in response to Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s woes as printed Nov. 13 in the Lewiston Tribune.

My wild game processing plant has a large five-rail cooler for elk and a large five-rail cooler for deer.

Hunting season 2008 started with a loaded elk cooler (40-60 elk) and 60-70 deer out back. Long hours of cutting did not empty the refilling rails for six weeks.

Hunting season 2009 yielded only 60 percent compared to 2008 and in 2010 the numbers dropped another 20 percent.

Hunting season 2011 did not fill two rails of elk and only two rails of deer. From 2008 through 2011, wild game carcass numbers have dropped more than 60 percent.

My son has guided hunters on the South Fork, Middle Fork and Main Salmon River. In the last 15 years, he has witnessed the disappearance of elk in Chamberlain Basin and very depleted elk numbers on all main forks of the Salmon River hunting areas.

Hunters coming into the plant from Elk River and the Clearwater Drainage are not finding elk and most hear wolves howling at night.

It would seem the reason license sales are down is because there is no game left to hunt. I feel that Fish and Game and government have nobody to blame but themselves.

I hope the Lewiston Tribune’s Nov. 28 front-page doesn’t prove to be Washington’s trophy elk demise before some young hunters get to harvest one.

Terry Gregory
Moscow

This huge wolf was taken by grandmother and avid bowhunter Rene Anderson.  The wolf spotted Anderson then ran at her from down wind.  Realizing that this wolf showed no fear, she shot the wolf at a mere 10 feet.

read more:  http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/shots-fired-wolf-war-by-idaho-archer

News of Oregon’s traveling wolf are amazing.  This particular wolf traveled 730 miles from Eastern Oregon to Western Oregon.   The story is not new, but it’s attention overseas is making headlines.

Here is a quote from the article:“It’s not every day you see a wildlife biologist pictured next to the future queen,” Dennehy said. The Italian paparazzi (or at least an Italian photo agency) emailed for a photo or video of the wolf “traveling along Oregon to find his love,” she said.

Read More: http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2011/12/nomadic_trek_of_oregons_lonely.html

Folks,

Canadian wolf experts have been warning that habituated wolves can be a threat to people.  Anti-hunting groups have been arguing that wolves are harmless.  Here is a great article from Canada acknowledging that wolves should be removed when signs of habituation are seen.

Here is a quote from the article:

The N.W.T. Department of Environment and Natural Resources killed a wolf at the Yellowknife dump Tuesday.  Renewable resources officer Ian Ellsworth said they killed the animal because it didn’t show any fear of humans.

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/story/2011/12/08/north-wolf-killed-dump.html

Montana has only harvested 105 wolves so far in 2011.  Far short of the quota of 220 animals.  Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks hopes that by reaching the 220 wolf quota, overall wolf populations in the state would drop by 25%.  As a result, the wolf season has been extended until Feb. 15th, 2012.

Here is a quote from the article:  This year’s hunt is the state’s second and its first since Congress earlier this year removed federal endangered species protections for the gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain states except Wyoming. A wolf hunting season also is under way in Idaho, where 154 wolves have been shot or trapped since Aug. 30.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/08/1909569/fwp-commission-extends-wolf-hunt.html#ixzz1gARwMKQo