Today, a coalition of Montana residents and wildlife protection organizations condemned the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department (MFWP) and the federal agency, Wildlife Services, for killing an entire wolf pack near Kalispell last week.
The coalition, comprised of a Stevensville, Montana farmer, other state residents, and the wildlife protection groups, Wildlife Watchers and Big Wildlife, said the agencies’ killing of all 27 wolves of the Hog Heaven pack was "unnecessary and outrageous." The coalition also said it would take up the wolf killing incident with the Obama Administration next year and urge the federal government to dramatically overhaul how it deals with wildlife conflicts. Finally, the coalition said it would press the new Administration to increase safeguards for imperiled wolves.
"Gunning down an entire pack of wolves -- a species that is supposed to be protected under the Endangered Species Act -- borders on criminal. We are outraged by this senseless slaughter of one of Nature's most majestic animals," said Jerry Black of Wildlife Watchers in Missoula.
The Montana residents and groups said the killing of the Hog Heaven pack was unwarranted since most wolves avoid preying on domestic animals. In addition, the coalition said many conflicts with wolves are the result of irresponsible human behavior. For example, a rancher who refuses to adequately protect his/her domestic animals (e.g. by installing proper fencing) creates an environment ripe for conflicts with wildlife. The coalition said in most cases problems with wolves can be avoided if farmers and ranchers take appropriate steps to safeguard their animals and property, such as erecting electric fencing, using guarding animals, penning animals at night, and installing motion detection lighting, strobes, and other devices that frighten wolves.
"Whenever possible, state and federal officials should employ non-lethal methods when dealing with wolves. People with livestock must also take responsible steps to minimize setting up wolf/livestock encounters," said Stevensville resident, Susan Eakins, who runs the New Dawn Montana Farm.
The coalition said the MFWP and Wildlife Services should shift away from aggressive lethal responses to alleged wolf encounters toward strengthening protections for the species and providing education and technical assistance to the public to help prevent conflicts. In addition, the coalition said recent media reports had left unanswered a number of critical questions about the agencies' actions. They called on the MFWP and Wildlife Services to fully disclose information about the killing of the wolves.
Specifically, the coalition wanted to know: were any of the alleged wolf attacks on public lands; what non-lethal methods were employed and why were they abandoned; did farmers and ranchers entice -- either purposefully or through poor animal husbandry -- wolves onto their properties; why was the entire Hog Heaven pack killed if only a few wolves were responsible for the alleged depredation; why were the interests of a few farmers and ranchers placed above the larger interest of protecting public trust resources owned by all Montanans; and why were taxpayers being forced to provide "nanny care" for agribusiness interests when farmers and ranchers should take personal responsibility for safeguarding their own animals?
"Both agencies are acting like its the Wild West with all guns blazing. Why should an entire pack of wolves pay the fatal price for a situation that could probably have been avoided?" asked Brian Vincent, Communications Director for the international wildlife protection organization, Big Wildlife.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
*Urge President-elect Obama to overhaul how the federal government responds to alleged conflicts with wolves and to strengthen protections for the species. Also, please urge the President-elect to appoint Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) as Interior Secretary. Rep. Grijalva has been a champion of protecting wildlife, wildlands, and imperiled species.
Obama transition team phone number: (202) 540-3000
To submit comments online click here. Be sure to scroll down the page to "Contact." You will be able to submit your comments to the transition team via an online form there.
*Urge the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department to shift its actions away from aggressive lethal control of wolves toward policies that will safeguard the species and educate the public about how to prevent conflicts with wildlife.
Contact MFWP Director Joe Maurier at:
Email: jmaurier@mt.gov
Phone: (406) 444-2535
Fax: (406) 444-4952
For more information, please visit Big Wildlife.
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Missoulian, Montanans, wildlife groups condemn state, feds for wolf pack slaughter