by Aaron Flint
Well, The New York Times says the grey wolf is in trouble. This, during an editorial in Monday’s paper where they also bashed legislation by all three members of Montana’s congressional delegation that would help to restore Montana’s wolf management plan.
These days, the gray wolf is in trouble in the Rocky Mountain West and in Washington, D.C. Several members of the House have introduced a bill that would permanently remove wolves from the protection of the Endangered Species Act. A more “moderate” proposal sponsored by two Montana Democrats, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, would exempt only wolves in Montana and Idaho. Both bills could be pushed hard in the remaining days of Congress’s lame-duck session.
Either would set a terrible precedent, opening the door for special-interest groups to push other inconvenient species off the list.
The grey wolf is in trouble? I guess the NY Times editorial board hasn’t tried finding elk in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley.
Click here to read the full editorial.
Andy in Butte had a good response to the Times editorial:
I was saddened to read your editorial on “Wolf Politics”. It obviously
was written by someone who has not experienced our dilemma first hand.
Our indigenous gray wolf was not “reintroduced” from Canada. A
sub-species, much larger and more vicious, was transplanted from Canada into Yellowstone National Park and Idaho during the Clinton
administration. Since then their population has spread out over the
Northwest, growing to over 5 times the initial goal set by our Fish and
Wildlife agencies. Lawsuits against control efforts by the agencies are
constantly filed by “Professional Protestors”. That’s how they earn
their living, thanks to their “Equal Access to Justice” designation by
President Carter. They always get a sympathetic ear from Judge Molloy.
Thanks to his insightful (?) decisions, the wolves are now running amok
over public and private lands alike, creating havoc for stockmen and
fear for rural communities.
To understand our dilemma better, please contact the Fish and Wildlife
agencies. Have them transplant a couple of our wolf packs to Central
Park in New York City. You will be amazed at the transformation of your
fair city. Soon there will no longer be stray dogs and cats. No longer
will you see rats rooting through garbage. And no longer will you see
derelicts, druggies, and drunks inhabiting doorways, hallways, and
abandoned building. Then all you will have to do is figure out what to
do with the wolves. In this regard, we will be most willing to send
along Judge Molloy to help you with that. Good Luck !!!
Rsp.
EA Johnson
Butte, MT 59701