Help Save Oregon's Gray Wolves
Published October 11, 2011
Wolves in Oregon Sakarri
Help save Gray wolves in Oregon, who are currently in danger of extinction.
Wolves in Oregon might have a chance of survival thanks to recent court order; this is a big relief since, just like many animal lovers who get politically involved in animal protection, I am not alone in wondering if signing all those petitions, and calling and emailing my political leaders asking them to take action to pass pending legislation, is really working.
Although the news about Gray wolves in Oregon was not earth-shattering, I was a bit heartened when I received an email from Endangered Earth Online about the Gray wolf in Oregon, which brought to mind the expression, “together we can make a difference”.
Following an emergency appeal by the Center for Biological Diversity and its allies, a temporary reprieve, stopping the killing of two of Oregon's remaining wolves, was issued by the Oregon Court State of Appeals.
Center lawyers obtained an 11th-hour court order to stop the wolf killing after rushing to the courthouse, even though the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials were already actively hunting the alpha male and another wolf from the small Imnaha wolf pack in the Oregon mountains.
Had that order not been issued, the first successful breeding wolf pack since the extermination of the species decades ago would have been completely wiped out, with only one alpha female and her pup remaining. She and her pup might not be able to last through the winter without her mate and a functioning pack. The pack’s very existence was put in grave danger last May when the state killed two other Gray wolf pack members.
Earlier this year, Congress removed protection of the Gray wolves in Oregon and Washington. It is speculated that the State Department gave in to the pressure of ranchers and livestock groups to get rid of the wolves in the region, even though the species is presently at grave risk of extinction in these areas.
While the Oregon reprieve is a temporary stop-gap measure, it affords the court an opportunity for the Center's full legal case to be heard. Since in the coming weeks a permanent decision will be made, it is crucial the Center can convince the court that not only is the further killing of these wolves illegal, it is also thoughtless and inhumane
Even with the highly impressive numbers of Center supporters (reaching into the thousands) who sent letters, emails and who made phone calls to the Governor of Oregon, we cannot remain complacent in protecting the wolves in Oregon. We must continue to reach out to reinforce the necessary pressure on those legislators in which the lives of these wolves are literally in their hands.
The Gray wolf is part of Oregon’s great resources. We must not allow them to go extinct. You can help by letting your voices be heard. Write the Governor and tell him how crucial it is to preserve these magnificent wolvesin Oregon, by keeping these packs alive and thriving. And also contact the Oregon State of Appeals.
What are your feelings about causing the extinction of the Gray wolves in Oregon? Share with a comment.
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (8)
"Wolves that we as humans have reintroduced to the wild to maintain the ecological balance deserve to be protected."
This is not ecological balance, wolves are decimating elk and moose herds at rates over 50%.
"Killing the wolves is NOT the solution and will not help build a stable population of this amazing animal."
They population isnt stable, its exponential.
"People who kill these social animals do not understand how graceful wolves are and should therefore be educated."
WTH does this even mean? What does graceful have to with anything?Are wolves graceful when they eat calves of herd animals alive? Or how about when they mow through 30 of them in one night and dont even eat them? Or eat just the udder off a living cow?
"Is this wolf management or caving under political pressure, or are they getting funded by special interests (cattle organizations). "
Wolves even being introduced back into yellowstone was by way of special interest groups and against the will of surrounding states that would be affected.
" He had his cattle grazing on a remote unprotected pasture and was well aware of wolf activity in the area. "
Whats your point? Where do you want him to keep them? I bet you wont volunteer your back yard. Thats right because disillusioned hippies like yourself care only as far as it doesnt effect them. And again, its not just about ranchers they are decimating the natural wildlife herds.
" It is not a secret that cattle organizations and some ranchers alike prefer all wolves dead for the very few calves they kill, not because it endangers their livelihood, but just because they do not want to or even try to coexist with wolves."
Your talking out of your butt again, for one wolf to survive one year they have to kill 27 full grown herd animals. Packs range from 6-30+. You can have several packs in an area. Do the math.
"Fortunately there are (endangered species?) some rangers that are trying with non lethal methods (lama's, guard dogs, electric fences, motion detecting alarms) to keep wolves away from their cattle and accept the wolf being part of the environment because they realize that we invaded their habitat."
Do you think everything is ran like your Ipad that was built by a bunch of underpaid children overseas? Hey, throw technology at it and it all goes away! Ranchers are running on razor margins as it is, they cant afford to buy all these gadgets. Also, for as majestic and amazing you think wolves are you sure do underestimate their intelligence to get to their food.
Let me summarize for you: You have no idea what your talking about, and your weed induced ramblings are a waste of your keyboard and the materials to build it. Your probably sitting in your downtown apartment somewhere living in la-la land completely naive of the world past your local Starbucks. Your completely out of touch with reality.
Wolf predation of ranch or working farm animals claims fewer animals every year than accidents, road killings, and human mischief. Wild wolves pose ZERO risk to children and families - they are afraid of us, and do not want to come near. Ranchers who are worried about livestock depredation can install simple tools like air horns and motion detecting lights which will scare off a wolf. Meanwhile, in states like mine where the wolf has been totally eliminated, deer destroy millions of dollars in corn and soybean crops every year because the natural order is completely out of whack. Apex predators like the wolf MUST be protected - nature needs them, we need them.
If you had been following the Oregon wolf story, you would know that the ranchers have done all the recommended non-lethal measures. Double fencing, fladry, rag boxes, and range riders.
Since you don't live around wolves, how do you know they won't come around humans? Try living where the wolves are and you will find out that they are easily habituated and lose their fear of people. They just had to put a habituated wolf down in Yellowstone.
I am mostly in favor of saving all wild animals from going extinct. However, i would imagine that if I were a farmer ot rancher, and wolves, or anything else were threatening my animals, or family members, I would want to take action to protect them as well. So it is a sort of catch 22 situation here.