Cynthia_Smoot's Blog

It's official. U.S. Fish and Wildlife just announced it is delisting gray wolves in the Nortern Rockies as of March, turning over management of wolf populations to the states. Delisting would usually be a time to celebrate (the American Eagle, for example), but this time it threatens to decimate a species that beat incredible odds to come back from the brink of extinction.  All three states:  Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have adopted management plans with the intention of reducing some 1500 wolves to fewer than 300.  Of the three, Idaho is the most hostile, with a stated intention of eradicating wolves "by any means neccessary."  Interesting to note that the current Secretary of the Interior (who decides on delisting endangered species)  was the Govenor of Idaho when that statement was made. The hatred of wolves runs deep in the West. Sadly, this is a case of emotion and politics trumping science, and one of nature's most misunderstood predators will pay with their lives.