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Week of 2.26.10

Hunting Wolves, Saving Wolves

Is the Obama Administration breaking its promise to protect endangered species?


The Weekly Q
Last year the Obama Administration removed federal protection from some of the wolves that had been restored to the northern Rockies under the Endangered Species Act. The move paved the way for controversial state-regulated wolf hunts.

Wolf advocates strongly oppose the administrations decision saying the three states in the region, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming need a cohesive management plan that allows for a much larger wolf population. "It was very disappointing when Secretary Salazar in the Obama Administration, signed off on this rushed-through Bush administration delisting package for wolves," said Doug Honnold, a lawyer with Earthjustice, who is representing conservation groups challenging the government's decision.

The return of the gray wolf to the northern Rockies is considered to be the most successful wildlife reintroduction project in the history of the 27 year old Endangered Species Act. In 1995 and 1996, 66 gray wolves we relocated from Canada to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. Today there are more than 1,600 wolves in the region.

For its part the federal government says that just 300 wolves are needed for legitimate recovery in the region. "Wolves are back and there's plenty of them in plenty of places. They're never really going anywhere," said Ed Bangs, the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

More than a dozen conversation groups have sued the Interior Department to return federal protection to the northern Rockies wolves. Some believe the result of this legal debate is a litmus test for the Obama Administration's overall approach to wildlife issues and the Endangered Species Act.

Correction: Our report incorrectly stated Wyoming will manage for a maximum of 150 wolves. The current Wyoming wolf management plan states they will manage for a least 150 wolves.

Related Links

Nature: Clash: Encounters of Bears and Wolves

Defenders of Wildlife: Wolves

Earthjustice: Wolves in Danger

Greater Yellowstone Coalition: Return of the Wolf

National Park Service: Yellowstone National Park Wolf Project

NRDC: Posts about Protecting Wolves

Save Elk: The Facts About Wolves

US Fish & Wildlife Service: Gray Wolf in Northern Rockies with State Wolf Plans

Viewer Comments

Commenter: Aaron
I thought the Idaho Hunter's comment about nature can't be in balance unless humans hunt was quite amusing seeing as though elk, deer, or whatever big game animal you are hunting was being preyed on by the wolves long before Europeans knew that there was land out west. I also would rather see wolves running free and hunters upset about less game because now-a-days how many people really are subsistence hunters? I understand the ranchers concerns but hunters I do not agree with at all they can put they're guns away and go out with a camera and shoot nature that way.

The other thing that bugs me is how hunters would want to shoot this animal. It has such great family ties and packs are very close knit and to say animals don't have feelings is just wrong. These wolf families are closer and more loving then most human families.

Commenter: vicki
Good comments, especially regarding parasites. I have always wondered how Colorado managed to dodge the wolf bullet! Seems they have an elk overpopulation problem, one which couldn't be solved by adding another hunting season (by shortening the established seasons)- in the end they only sold more licenses, and harvested less elk. Now that's managing for the people! Glad (well not really) to hear the wolf is making its way there- if Colo. had enough political savvy to keep the wolf out in the first place, maybe they can lead the way to eliminate it.

Commenter: D James
There are way too many wolves for the amount of habitat when wolves need to kill pets, dogs, and livestock
The lower 48 states have a huge population that needs to be controlled one way or another.

Commenter: Kadah
Wooley Mammoths were here before us, too. Maybe we should "reintroduce" their closest relative: the elephant. And when the elephants go on the rampage and trample cars, destroy homes, and create general chaos in cities, remember, they were here first.

We don't need wolves; the Canadian Gray Wolf introduced here is not indigenous and is not endangered.

And while all the environmentalists think this is just great, they are not willing to pay what wolves are costing the livestock industry which makes it apparent their agenda is to impose their will on everyone by putting livestock producers out of business.

When you can no longer buy meat for less than $10/lb, will you think wolves are so wonderful? When there are no ungulates left, when wolves, bear and cougar are all vying for you as their source of food, will you think they are so wonderful? When your child dies of hydatid disease, carried and spread by wolves, will you still think they are so wonderful? When they come into your town, your city, and stalk your children, will you still think they are so wonderful?

These are apex predators. They aren't the nice little doggie down the street. Wolf-lovers have a very unrealistic view of wolves. But then, wolf-lovers don't have to live with them either.

Commenter: KTA6
Wow! what a long discussion thread! There are some very valid arguments on either side of this issue, (and a lot of unnecessary name calling!), but there does seems to be a need for compromise here.
I do agree that human populations are growing and diminishing habitat for other species - and not just wolves, but all kinds of animals. Better planning for towns and villages is absolutely critical in my view. Especially as we are overpopulating our boundaries.

Of course ranchers are different than suburbanites and have different needs - they do need lots of land for their livestock.

Though, I think that the idea of raising more bison is a good one. A larger animal that can hold up to wolf populations and it could offer ranchers a new cash product. They are also a healthier food choice.

I grew up in upstate New York where there used to be a lot of hunting. Now a days, much of that land is posted by weekenders who have bought sub-divided parcels that had once supported hunting. The deer population has exploded with hardly any predators to manage their numbers and they had been starving themselves and causing auto accidents by being forced to road sides to look for grass to eat in the snowy season.

A few years back, NYS introduced coyotes. They have helped with the deer populations, but have also caused issues with some folk's pets who are left outdoors at night. Now there is a hunting season for coyotes.

I do believe that management is the solution, but management not just for the animals, but also management for development. Some of the greedy housing development in the last decade was unnecessary and poorly planned and now causes issues when human and animal populations intersect. I'm not saying that this is the case in those western states mentioned in this NOW piece, but it is something to think about.

I also don't have a problem with hunting off a species that has proven to be particularly successful and now causes overpopulation on the predator side. Again, proper management by qualified professionals - not political cronies - should offer those suggestions.

...and we' have been seeing coyotes in Central Park lately. Doesn't seem to diminish muggers much however...

Commenter: Paula aka *Lady Elk*
KILL KILL KILL, kill them all off NOW,I AM A HUNTER, my mainstay for meat is elk and deer, both of which are now in short suply due to the New 4 legged threat, the WOLF.

when man vs animal, animal always loses, I am not anti wolf... just anti wolf re-introduction as I had stated for many years, living right in they're midts, there is no co exsistanse, too many people, too many wolves!, once they get done slaughtering what elk and deer are left? I hope they move eastward,and start in on the easterners who put them here in the first place. and start (eating) them, they're pets poor little FiFi and cuddles the kitten, and then onto your livestock, oh and let's .... not forget a kiddie or 2 in the process.... it's time for action before it's all too late to get rid of them once and for all like we did a hundred years ago, I know I'm sick to death of hearing them HOWL right behind my house. I would invite Pres Obamaha to visit for a wolf hunt!!!!!!
Victor Montana (bitterroot Valley) US of A Semper Fi

Commenter: Oregon Mike
One thing is for sure - this video shows that PBS has used public money to produce yet more liberally slanted propaganda. Listen to the biologists, look at game populations (not just in Yellowstone Part). The wolf has decimated Idaho Elk and deer herds.

One more thing to think about is the fact that the wolf that has been introduced into YS Park, and surrounding areas is not the same animal that was irradiated some 50 years earlier. The "new" wolf is a larger species from Canada. Bigger animals require more food. Is this truly balancing things out?

Commenter: Pat
These wolves are killing every thing in sight and just not for food there doing it for the fun of it and leaving the rest to rot or suffer.There killing every animal i love to see in the wild and doing it at an alarming rate. We need to put the hammer down on these dam wolves before it to late if its not already.

Commenter: Linda Davis
The people in the cities want wolves but their children are not waiting in remote, wooded areas for the school bus. And wolves are not killing their farm animals. If other states want the wolves, Idaho will be happy to send all of ours. We don't want them and never did.

Commenter: Sean
This really has to be one of the most difficult issues to address with natural resource management. Reason being is both sides have very legitimate arguments to make, and both sides have difficulty compromising. Rancher concerns aren't just limited to loss of heads of cattle to predation, but also the effects of stress on the herds, which seem to lose vital poundage resulting from anxiety from wolf predation. But at the same time the science and studies performed since George Melendez Wright's in the '30's point to the need to have not just wolves but top predators in general within ecosystems. I know many hunters complain about the diminished deer and elk herds as a result of predation, but the fact of the matter is that prey species populations were greatly inflated to dangerous levels with the elimination of top predators early in this past century, and such levels damage and deplete the resources of an ecosystem and thus lead to starvation and disease within the populations themselves. Also for the record I do hunt and fish.

I guess to put my point simply, this issue will never be resolved unless both camps learn to compromise, and probably the best bet with that regards lies in somehow negating the financial blow ranchers take from wolves and other predators and eliminating the motivation to their 'hatred' of these animals.

Commenter: Claudia
We must stop taking it upon ourselves to destroy the wolves. They were here before us and deserve the right to stay here. (Maybe the wolves should decide to make the humans an extinct breed.) But on a normal note, please stop destroying this beautiful animal and learn to live in harmony with it like our Native Americans did.

Commenter: yotekillers
our rockies wolf population has way surpassed its need for Federal protection

Commenter: Gary Adams / OKC
YES for WOLVES ! I'm not a biologist ..BUT...seems they were reintroduced into an "unnatural predesposed to problems" enviornment. IT'S TOO DAMN SMALL(thank us overpopulated humans and bordering subsidized ranchers for that) AND THEIR PREY IS TOO CONSOLIDATED!CHECK ALASKA..THEY CHASE THEIR PREY 1000'S OF MILES. NOT YELLOWSTONE! THE WOLVES IN YELLOWSTONE INCREASING NUMBERS CAN WIPE OUT THEIR FOOD SUPPLY AND WILL EAT THE MOO COWS THAT 3RD GENERATION RANCHERS LEASE FROM THE FEDS FOR 1/4 OF IT'S WORTH PER ACRE.
EGO,MATERIALISM,PRISONS,GANGS,POLLUTION,LOBBYISTS, WELFARE,BANKERS,CFO's and GREED !.. and more joyful humans with selfless souls living in balance with nature and might even advanced as a species.
Check the BOOK... WE'RE TO BE "STEWARDS" ! we ain't!

Commenter: Linda Davis
If the other states want the wolves let them have them there. We don't want them. Our kids stand out by the road and wait for the school bus in isolated areas. The city folks want the wolves, the country folks don't.

Commenter: Sandy Robinson
I have been with the wolves from the start trying to get them protected keep them has no right to eliminate such a beautiful animal..what man needs to do is clean up the bad that is being done to our enviroments!!

Commenter: dave
All you people that think its the people that are over populated. Like all you liberal scum, there is always mass suicide so we can thin out the human population. So if you want you can go buy a knife at your local wal-mart and eliminate yourself which would help the population.

Commenter: Donald L Dade (LoboWolf)
anyone who hunts wolves is definetly not on my make a freind list. look out some ole wolf don't shoot your dang tail off if you shoot that poor critter who just wants to live just like you and i do.

Commenter: Bill-Arizona
The opinions here run the gamut emotionally and logically, that's for sure. Unfortunately, current methods of wildlife management will never guarantee the absolute protection of any single species. Whenever steps are taken in one direction there's always an equal and opposite reaction. As a casual livestock grower I've seen the results of wolf and mountain lion attacks. On the other hand elk are ruining the habitat for mule deer here in the West as well. It will take more intelligent observation and study but at what cost to the taxpaying public? Many questions will remain unanswered.

Commenter: Jim
Only the ignorant or foolish would want one of these dangerous predators in their area. Small pets, and children are in big danger from something that high up on the food chain.

Commenter: Beverly McCoy
We have suffered financial losses to our cattle ---
and our neighbors have lost LOTS of sheep. These predators MUST be controlled, killed or removed.

Commenter: Connie Theos
I believe that the delisting of wolves in the Rocky Mountain Region was the correct decision. Wolf managment should now be left to Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

With reference to Wyoming. The wolves who stay North in the very mountainous areas will receive big game protection status. The wolves that leave that area and move south won't stay there long, they will move into the mountainous areas of Colorado, in fact they have alreay done so.

Commenter: D. Haydon
Wolves need to be handled the same as coyotes.
Open season, year round, no limit.

They are a huge danger to our ungulate population and once the deer, elk, and moose are gone they will have to take cattle and sheep to survive. They will get braver and move closer to cities, kill pets and even take little kids.

There is a reason our forefathers shot them off to the point of extinction.

Commenter: Tamie - Idaho
Keeping the wolf population down is all about big business. Hunters buy products from places like Cabella's and in turn Cabella's supports the slaughter of wolves. Those of you who are hunters are second in line to the wolves. They were here first and you should respect that. Wolves are out there hunting for food to survive not trophies for their walls. If you don't like them stay out of the forest.

Commenter: Melissa Yeager
Wolves should not be on the endangered species list! Just like Mountain Lions shouldn't be specially protected in California!

Commenter: Willa Murphy
I live in MT and there are way too many wolves here. Let the "Defenders of Wildlife" come and trap them and take them home to their own backyards. They go on killing sprees and kill herds of animals just for fun and the meat is wasted. The farmers and ranchers never get reimbursed from the federal programs either, the reimbursement plan is a big farce! Send the wolves to the backyard of everyone who likes them. Montana will be glad to get rid of them.

Commenter: W.H.Hudson
Most of the people who are FOR wolf protection have no economic interest in what wolves kill and eat.And they have no interest in the horrific ways wolves kill elk, cattle, sheep, dogs, etc. States and only states should have the right to determine the balance of nature depending on all variables including economic impact of any given population.
A great example of over protection is white tail deer. Many municipalities around the country are having serious over population problems within city limits, golf courses,etc

Commenter: Joan Eisemann
I think if the goverment wants wolves then take them home with them to DC and to new york and see how they like them then JOan

Commenter: Doug
Retarded people are over-populated, and are we now being 'managed', as 'big game', like wolves are? No. Seriously people. I am waiting for the day that people are put on that game list, and the human population slowly starts to get closer to what the earth would allow. Or, better yet, all humans kill each other and then we are no longer in control of what happens to the animals."

Carefull what you wish for. You sound retarded...

Commenter: David Bjerke
I live in Blaine County, Idaho which has several documented wolf packs. The best compromise between those suing to relist wolves as endangered and the majority of our state's residents who oppose reintroduction is to allow state fish and wildlife agencies to manage wolf populations similar to other big game animals. Litigious environmental groups are losing much credibility as current wolf populations far exceed the reintroduction goals.

Commenter: Dr James Hill
As usual, the environmental concerns are operating on knee-jerk feel good data as opposed to scientific. The hypocrisy is beyond words. Half-truths, half-facts and unchecked power are the mantra of this well-intentioned but pathetic attempt at re-introduction of species.

Commenter: Arizona Resident
If the reintroduction of wolves sounds so good to you city folks that have no clue about what it is like to have your livelihood threatened as the ranchers have, lets reintroduce rattlesnakes to downtown Phoenix. Afterall, they were there first. As the person "Guest" stated, "Move someplace else. It's their territory, not yours!" I bet you won't feel so warm and fuzzy inside when a diamondback is staring your 2 year old in the eye.

Commenter: Bearer of Light
We have to protect these wonderful creatures! Wolves dwell freely on our territory because it is also theirs! They hunt our game because they too need to survive. Iam AGAINST wolf hunting and nothing will ever change my opinion.

Commenter: Pat
Wolves were hunted out for a reason in the old days. If the enviromental groups think that I need to keep the wolves in my back yard then maybe some of these people should have a group of them in their yard. Just because I am a land owner in a western state shouldn't automaticaly qualify me to be one of the many unfortunate ones that has to sacrifice my livelyhood just because a few people think wolves should live where my livestock, my children, and I live. Pack a gun instead of a camera and shoot every wolf you see.

Commenter: Rick Briggs
I believe Idaho has too many wolves already. I have seen the damage wolves have done to the elk populaion. Have seen how they pack up and gang up on other species and created a shortage of big gamg and have impacted the success rate of us hunters that are paying a high price to try and fill our freezers, that are now going empty, because of the impact from the introduction of wolves in Idaho.

Commenter: wq47
This is very unfortunate, wolves are my favorite animals. They should be let roam free in the wilderness, where they shan't be harmed for such silly reasons. They are merely controlling the wild animal population with their hunting. They single out the old, weak, sick, and wounded for prey. Never do they attack a healthy animal. I say they should pass a law, stating wolves cannot be hunted down.

Commenter: Gail - Plains, Montana
Look at the facts about the introduction of the Canadian Wolf (a non-indigenous HYBRID species). The most alarming of which is the FACT of these Wolves being infested with and spreading Hydatid disease. This has been very well documented and IGNORED by wolf enthusiasts and many pro reintroduction advocates for years. The spread of this disease can and will cause widespread disease if the Wolf population is not reduced by at least 85 - 95% each year (which has proven highly effective) in study after study. Our grandparents knew this and knew that the Wolf population could not go unchecked.
However, I for one DO NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM WISH FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BECOME INVOLVED. They cannot seem to manage their own sandbox much less our problems here in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming - case in point we know people in Washington, D.C. (that 10 square miles surrounded by reality) who honestly asked us "Do you still have trouble with the Indians there"? when we moved here some 17 years ago.
The bottom line in my opinion is that Wolf management should be handled on the State level by a team of individuals with the intellect to know how to properly manage the problems inherent with the Wolf population i.e. 1.) Widespread information for us as citizens on how to protect ourselves so that we can avoid contactinng Hydatid disease. (This will NOT happen by acting as though it is not a problem - A LIE IS STILL A LIE NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU TELL IT) for more thorough information about this disease please "google" it and there was an excellent article written about this with references to much of the research highlighted in the Outdoorsman Dec. 2009 magazine. 2.) Management of a proper number of wolves (not the exagerated numbers that some say we need and others say are too many) 3.) Realistically handling the problems of Wolf vs. livestock confrontations and the loss to the ranchers. This is after all our food source (unless you are a vegan). The Canadian Wolves are larger and prey on not only the ungulate population but on smaller wolves, coyotes, domestic wildlife and pets as well. How long before our children?!
Let us kick Washington, D.C. out of our backyard act like the intelligent adults that we are and start handling our own problems in our own States which is why we were given brains and told to subdue and manage the animals in the beginning!!

Commenter: Donald Armbruster
I read over and over about protecting the wolves "we must protect the wolves." What about all the other creatures on this earth? The wolf population will continue to expand untill there is no food(read deer and elk) for them to eat. In the mean time the Department of Wildlife revenues will fall as hunters decline the opportunity to hunt something that is not there. Then what? Like them or not hunters have been the part of the population that has paid for the wildlife we have. They are the conservationists.

Commenter: tryingtomakealiving
I disagree with enviromentalnuts trying to reintroduce wildlife into our region for their good cause. we are trying to make a living out here. we feed and nurture and put hard earned money into our livestock only to feed the predators. imagine someone coming into your home and robbing you daily. why not try reintroducing wildlife into central park... maybe deter a few criminals there. at one time, wolves ran in that territory too.

Commenter: Bruce Ayers
Wolves numberslike any other animal must be regualted. Man has upset the balance of nature and it can not be replaced with good intentions. We need to educate everyone on hte real effect of having wolves in our ecosystem. There may be a place for wolves but not in unrestricted numbers in a populated area. They are super efficient hunters and will soon decimate the deer/elk/moose numbers as well as livestock. Unchecked they will continue to increase until all available food sources have been used, then they to will die off. This is not a scenario that man should allow to happen.

Commenter: john koleszar
The outrage that the hunting community feels is justified. The wolf re-introduction program has gone far beyond what was necessary and the problems that we are now encountering show that left to their own devices, Environmental groups cannot be trusted to keep their word on any agreement that is reached. I personally likethe Utah theory... If they have a wolf come into their state, they will send it back in a box...JK

Commenter: Chris Jensen
After seeing the destruction they have done in Alaska first hand I am in favor of controlled wolf hunts. I am not in favor of letting these animals run and breed unhunted. Without a natural predator they dominate other wildlife that hunters use for food and recreation. I have noticed a decline in moose in our area and reports of wolf kills are up.

Commenter: Barbara Jo Belles
I live in Montana, and not only has the population of huntable game gone down significantly, but the recent disclosure of facts hidden from us by Fish and Wildlife Service and Ed Bangs on the health issue to humans is very serious. The wolves are known carriers of tapeworm cysts, and hydatid disease, and it can be transmitted to humans by handling carcasses of wolves and the game that we eat. It even can be picked up by other means, such as picking berries and other recreational activities, where wolves have left their droppings.

Commenter: Jess Carey
The autopsy completed Thursday confirmed that 32-year old Candice Berner, a school teacher, died from "multiple injuries due to an animal mauling" in Chignik Lake Alaska.

It is the first death caused by wolves that Alaska State Troopers say they've ever documented and know about.

Also, Kenton Carnegie was killed and eaten by four "habituated Wolves in Sakachawan in 2005.

There is a simple solution to the "Flawed Habituated Wolf Issue'. Habituated wolves which have killed two people and attacked adults and children alike maiming them for life.

Documented habituated wolves seek out humans and human use areas such as homes, communities, elementary schools etc.

They are bold, aggressive and lack an avoidance response towards humans. Habituated wolves are not like wild wolves in the wilderness where they flee upon sight or scent of a human.

State Legislation is the only answer. All they have to do is pass legislation to protect its citizens.

The Habituated Wolf Law;

1. There will be a 15 mile buffer zone around all
small towns,communities and homes.
2. There will be a 25 mile buffer zone around all
large cities.
3. All wolves within the buffer zone may be lethally
taken by anyone at anytime.

This is the only positive way to protect the people and stop another human from being killed and eaten by habituated wolves.

It will also keep the wolves wild and in the millions of acres of wilderness.

Commenter: Candy Noland (Montana)
Wolves need managment
When will people realize that no species can be allowed to roam without managment, this is not the wild west anymore. With human development into wildlife habitat, no species can roam wild and free without managment, and wolves have no natural predators. If left to their own devices they will overpopulate, kill all available wilife food sources and head to town, or die of starvation and diese. There is no unlimited habitat for wolves anymore and they need managment jusk like elk,deerand bear polulations have had for years. Responsible, ethical managment to benefit all species not just the wolf. Already the have done considerable damage to elk and derr numbers especially elk calve crops. If this trend continues the wolf presence will wipe out the renewability of the elk herds in the west that make is such a wonderful place.

Commenter: michael mckinney
I have over 30 hours of wolf footage gatherd so far. Wolves taking Elk and Elk stomping Wolves, close name it. The thing i want people to understand is the depredation of young animals, IT IS OUT OF CONTROL! Predators have depleted our game populations here. If you want to argue with me LETS BEGIN I have footage to back it up!

Commenter: Gary Ferree
I think that everytlime that the govt. gets its hands into anything that they screw it up. We lived in the mountains for 30 years and didn't have a bit of trouble with wolves as they they were local packs and got along with the farmers and cattlemen. They did no harm even with sheepmen. Then the govt. had to go and import the larger wolves from Canada and dump them into the middle of the territory of the local packs and all hell broke loose . The larger wolves started killing cattle and sheep and then all the local wolves got the blamle for the damage. Everytime the govt organizatilons get their finger into anything it gets all screwed up. ITs just that simple, they don't know what they are doing.reminded

Commenter: Suz
It's quite an eye-opener seeing how ignorance of a situation brings people to spout garbage about how wolves are killing all the game. Science does not support that idiotic theory and while wolves can do quite well given the opportunity, in a healthy ecosystem they have zero interest in getting anywhere near humans. We smell bad and make lots of noise and unfortunately make decisions based on fear and misinformation. So do us all a favor you cowardly humans and do some research if you can read. Perhaps then your small minds will be enlightened.

Commenter: Natalie Carlson
I'm actually quite shocked by these posts, and even more shocked by the poll results. 73% of you think that we should annihilate a species - any species - for any reason? I'm sorry, I couldn't have read that right.

You think that it's "too much" when a species that you share space with is alive, healthy, and thriving? I'm sorry, again, my eyes must be bad. I don't think you meant to write that, did you?

You want to keep them on the brink of extinction because...wait. Why, again? I don't get it. Are you people really PBS viewers? I having a hard time believing that.

Bottom line: you do not have the right to decide which creatures live and die on this planet. That's what the endangered species act is for - or was. It serves to turn the tide on the devastating effects of decisions made by people who think as you do - who only think about themselves within their, thankfully, limited lifespan on the Earth.

Shame on you. Re-calibrate your ethics, please. On behalf of actual PBS viewers, thank you.

Commenter: Stephanie Tompkins
Wolves need all the help they can get!! So many people are still miss informed about wolves and from that they have an unnecessary fear of this magnificent, beautiful creature!! Wolves as well as many other species that have come close to being wiped out by humans deserve to have protection!!

Commenter: Frank
I Vote YES Wolves need their Federal Protection Back

Commenter: Jody
Give me a Freakin Break. Wolf killing is so out of control it is just another example how our contry has gone down the toilet. Politicians are now deciding the fate of endangered animals and are not consulting with scientists and people who know the facts. It is like Sarah Palin's bloodbath in Alaska with Aerial Hunting, while she takes cash from the Sufari Club, Sportsman Intl, and other groups who wish to hunt Wolves. Wolves are a sacred Icon of this country, and it is asshole politicians like Ken Salazar, and trophy hunting cowards who are the reason that wolves are on the "Most Wanted List". Politicians.....why don't you use your resources to find Bin Ladin and terrorist's ratrher than letting everyone start gunning down Wolves. This is not Wolf Management, it is Wolf Slaughter it sucks

Commenter: Lee Tangedahl
Your coverage of wildlife issues is so biased you have completely lost your credibility. Your last wolf program went beyond bias to parroting the words of the most radical eco-terrorists. Perhaps the following quote from your own web page indicates that these groups really have little concern for conservation. From your very own web page: "More than a dozen conversation groups have sued the Interior Department to return federal protection to the northern Rockies wolves." You know - maybe you're right about that, and it's the hunters who restored elk populations and who want to continue preserve elk that are the real conservationists.

Commenter: Frank
How are you voting No for Federal Wolf Protection people? Are Wolves killing you? Wolves are a Endangered Species, which had Federal Protections for many years until Bush in a last minute move before his ass went out the door removed those protections, and states have jumped all over the bandwagon to kill an animal that has proved invaluable. Decades ago the Northern Rockies were an eco-system that was dying. Trees were no longer growing to full length as Bark was being eaten away by deer, Elk, Moose. Foiliage as well was not coming back, and streams were without fish. The introduction of the Wolf SAVED the Northern Rockies eco-system that is now thriving and has been for years. Fish in the streams, Trees growing back with full leaves and foiliage..THANKS TO THE WOLF. What a great way to pay back this icon of nature by holding "Wolf Killing Derby's" in Idaho by a lame-ass wolf killing zealot Gocvernor "Butch" Otter, who by no coincidence is best buddies with Seretary Of The Interior Ken Salazar, who refusd to reinstate those Wolf Protections. Montana and Wyoming have also been itching to kill even more Wolves. This is not preditor control it is wanton Blood Lust to kill a creature who was held in high esteem by Native American Indians. What animal do you think people who visit Yellowstone want to see the most...that's right THE WOLF, where just outside the park they are being killed much to the chagrin of tourist. Wolves are not a problem in this country, they are the spirit of nature and are a necessary ingrediant to our parks, forsets and ecosystems. If you don't really know the Politics of why Wolf Killing is so popular, and don't know anything about Wolf Populations you really should not be voting no. It;s like Wolves joined Al Queda or something in this country. ENOUGH with the Wolf Killing and Sarah Palin's legacy of Aerial Wolf Hunting. Give Wolves a break, they need our protection from the worthless Politicians who are getting greased palms. I'm OUT

Commenter: Aubrey Durenberger
I am outraged at the result of the pole that was taken. I have been fighting for the protection of these wolves for three years. I do not understand people who want these beautiful respected animals gone. Without federal protection these wolves are in danger of extinction. With hundreds of wolves already killed, the hunt for these animals have left wolf pups unprotected. What people have gotten wrong is the belief that wolves are endangering herd and elk populations. This is not true. Studies have shown that without the presence of wolves in a habitat there is an imbalance. Wolves keep the coyote population down and are detrimental to the environment. Please fight for there protection they will not be here longer if they are not.

Commenter: imissmyBetsy

Commenter: Joe Keith
It funny "guest" that when you refer to Retarded people as "we". Shows how educated you are to still use the derrogatory word for handicapped persons. I don't think someone who refers to the mentally handicapped as "retarded" should have any value put to what they think or say!!!

Commenter: Gary Stevenson
I have seen a steady decline in the number of Elk and Deer in southern Idaho since the wolves were reintroduced. I recall a televised program on the wolf where it was stated that the wplf only prey on the sick and the weak. This was part of the verbiage used to get the american public to buy into the reintroduction of the wolf. This was a bold face Lie. Any one who knows anything about the wolf knows this to be untrue. I have witnessed the wolf tear the rear leg tendons from a Pregnant deer and continue tearing at the hind quarters until the deer collapsed from loss of blood and shock. At this point the wolf tore open the belly of the deer to remove the fetus which it carried off and left the now dead doe

Commenter: Evelyn Bell
The wolves in the western states need to be de-listed and hunting needs to take place as a management means. Deer, Elk, Moose, etc. bring hundreds of millions of dollars into our economy, whereas wolves only cost us millions in tax payer monies.

Commenter: Dan Bell
I am in "favor" of hunting of wolves as a management tool. Wolves have to be mananged correctly or the ungulet (deer,elk,moose,etc.) will suffer tremendous loses.

Commenter: R Summerfield
I notice PBS has a bunch of links to fraudulent money scams called wildlife protection organizations. How about some non-biased opinions on the issue from folks who have to deal with these killing machines day in and day out. Where was the mention of Hydatid Disease? A deadly disease present in the majority of wolves now roaming the western US which is transmitted to humans and other animals. Come on PBS, at least TRY to look non-biased in your programs. By the way, I'm withholding my donations to my local PBS stations this year.

Commenter: Scott Grange
As usual, another bias, out of touch media report that does not tell the whole story. You folks are amazing.


Commenter: deadelk
Hey 'guest' and your family first!!!
We need to put an end to that gene pool!!

Commenter: Patricia Auras
Too many wolves upset the balance of other forms of wild life.

Commenter: Vonda Mitchell
If the Wolves keep taking down elk, deer, among other animals there will not be any hunting season for the people that count on this as a means of meat. Wolves are getting out of control and dangerous. They are not only killing off herds of elk, deer but they are also going into people's yards and killing their pets right out of there own yard. Also, they ones they transplanted a while back, I understand that is carrying some kind of disease that is not only lethal to other animals but can possibly be as lethal to adults or children as well. I think this was a very stupid move transplanting these Wolves knowing they had this disease and how lethal it is. When a pack of Wolves take down a full grown elk 2 miles away from where we live that is a little to darn close for comfort. If there going to kill other families pets they could come right into our yard and kill out dogs to. I will not allow that to happen. If I see a pack of wolves come into our yard and try to run down our dogs and kill them I will most definately shoot the wolves whether I have a license or not and if they want to throw me in jail over this, well, them let them. I will fight for my rights in court!

Commenter: kayt
You folks have no clue. We have them in our yard. Have to watch the dogs, the kids and other associated activities,

Bet your liberal life style, if I see one I'll shoot it. No question,Not an option. It is dead. Period.

Sorry for you. But they are gone.

Commenter: kayt
You guys are all nuttier than a fruitcake.
These animals are in my back yard for God's sake. How much of your liberal BS do I have to swallow?
I see one, I shoot it. Sorry. they are a non specie to me.

Commenter: DOC

Commenter: Tammi from Wyoming
Those of you from out of the three states where wolves were reintroduced, if you like the wolves so much and think they need a place to live, why don't we drop them in the middle of Central Park and in the middle of every major city park across the US. We have accepted the fact that they are going to be in Yellowstone. Let us manage them outside of the park how we want. Leave us alone and mind your own states business, before they decide you need some wolves in your backyard.

Commenter: Maryanne Smith
I do not live in the Western states, but I have family who does. Some of the relocated wolves in southern NM have become a problem. We must remember how much meat they need to survive. We do not want it to be our children.
Also , I understand they are more than a nightmare for ranchers up north. I think some are OK, but if their numbers get too large, they should be hunted to keep them in check, just like the deer and bear back here in PA.
We have to put the safety of the people first in this country.
Maryanne Smith
98 Ronald Street
Glen Rock, PA 17327

Commenter: Bill Shear
I can remember when there was a bounty on wolves because would kill anything that crossed their path.
These gray wolves we have now are worse than the timber wolve that used to roam here. We never totally got rid of the timber wolf, but we better get rid of the gray wolf. It's a killing machine, to bad we can't ask the school teacher in Alaska what her thoughts are.

Commenter: Tracy Stout
"Hunting Wolves Saving Wolves" depicts a warm fuzzy
benign little wolf. These are Gray Wolves, NEVER indigenous to the United States. I wish they would have shown the carnage left by these packs that sport kill elk; taking the calves from the womb and leaving the elk alive to suffer and bleed to death.Wolves are decimating those herds not only in this way, but also with disease. Humans are next. The Montana and Idaho plans are acceptable, and should proceed!

Commenter: Laura Danani
save the wolves!

Commenter: Donald Shadel
I live in the mountains of western Montana and have personally seen the large decline in game animals as the wolf packs grow. So let' s not protectone species while ignoring several others. There are wolves in the unpopulated areas of Canada and Alaska, more than enough to maintain the species. There is not room for the wolves in the U.S.

Commenter: Rick
It is truly a shame that Candice Berner was so savagely killed by wolves while jogging and wearing a headset to listen to music. I have sympathy for her family and friends and will keep them in my prayers. I feel badly for the children she taught, as they have now learned a tough life lesson. The issue is large predatory animals like bears, cougars, and even wolves will attack humans when opportunity presents itself. Humans are not exempt from reality when jogging in the wild. Not unlike a person walking urban back alleys alone during the evening while texting or listening to music with a headset. Both are knowingly placing themselves in harms way and grave danger. Coroners use to call this risk taking ignorance as "death by mis-adventure".
I use to tell pilots coming north to work in Alaska from the lower 48, to never ever jog along runways and taxiways especially at dawn and dusk. And if you must jog never ever wear headsets that prevent you from hearing the real world and the predators watching you. Always carry a firearm and "be totally aware" of your surroundings at all times.

Commenter: Frank
The wolves need to be made extinct.

Commenter: Phil O'Neill
When the Deer and Elk are gone they will start on Live Stock.

Commenter: cindy roper
The Timber wolf is the native wolf of Montana, not the much larger grey wolf. They transplanted a non-native species in and it`s upset the balance. The grey wolf isn`t even an endangered animal. They are native to Canada and that`s where they belong. We need to be able to hunt this grey wolf and try to undo this mistake before it gets any more out of control. The powers-that-be need to admit they have made a mistake and move on to finding a way of fixing it.

Commenter: Kelly Schilke
I do not belive Canadian wolves introduced in Wyoming, Montana or Idaho need federal protection or any other type of protection and should be hunted freely like any other preditor. The only result I see by the introduction of wolves to the northern rockies is the total distruction of elk heards and other big game in the region and that is completely unacceptable.

Commenter: William Kornec
Wolves are quickly wiping out the deer and elk herds around my Lincoln, Montana home. As a native to this area I have watched deer and elk numbers fluctiate normally over the last 45 years. There sometimes were declines due to bad winters and disease. The herds always recovered and even grew in numbers. Now that wolves have been introduced into our area the elk numbers are dropping off drastically. Their fat reserves are being depleted because of constant wolf harassment. Our elk calf crops have dwindled to nothing as stressed elk abort calves to save themselves! I saw 2 wolves in the period from 1966 to 2009 in the Blackfoot valley around Lincoln.. In the last 5 months I have seen 13 wolves in the same 20 mile long valley. Four of these were hunting in the rural area around my home. Montana's wildlife cannot support the number of wolves we now have. In 2 years the great Yellowstone elk herd will be nonexistant and elk from other areas will have to be transplanted in Yellowstone Park. Now my Grandchildren have lost the safety of playing in the woods around our rural home. They kept telling us that wolves would never attack a human. Tell that to the parents of the teacher that was just killed by wolves in Alaska.

Commenter: Don - Washington
How can the part dog/part wolf be reintroduced when they didn't exist until a few years ago. The people that think they are beautiful should watch those ruthless killing machines as they go thru heards of deer and elk or cows and sheep. I suspect that most wolf lovers spend their lives in shopping malls and movie houses rather out in the woods where these killing machines take their toll on all other animals large and small. Like one fellow said previously, use the computer to find out more about Wolves. I am and will continue to use it to find out the very best way to hunt and shoot as many wolves as I can legally shoot. Oh yeh, if these ruthless killers are so wonderful put them in your back yard not mine. JA, does that stand for Jack Ass)and lastly I am damn proud to be Jim Bob or Daryl

Commenter: buck idaho
kill them why let them kill us if we continue to allow the packs to grow their going to kill off all other wildlife then turn on us to servive the other thing is why should we pay the government to hunt an animal that is just a huge headache and a killing preditor. we should have the right to hunt them just like hunting a coyote with ahunting licence and a gun. no tag just a lincence.

Commenter: Duane-Washington State
Since Wolves have been reintroduced to the Northern Rocky Mountains, they have had to destroy 1250 wolves at last count. It has cost the US Fish and Wildlife over $22 million to recover this species. I would think that our tax money could have been better spent on restoring a different animal than Wolves.

Commenter: Kyle

For some strange reason, people in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho think they have a "God given" right to encroach on land that was occupied by wolves way before man stepped foot on this continent. Got a problem with co-existing with wolves? Move someplace else. It's their territory, not yours! Yes. True. Perfect.

"Commenter: Joseph
Wolves have surpassed expectations and now it's time to manage them like we manage all other big game and predators."

PEOPLE have surpassed expectations, but it seems no one else thinks it's time to to manage us like all other big game and predators.

"Commenter: Rob Robinsen
Sad they were ever reintroduced.
Even sader they are not shot on sight."

Sad you were ever born.
Even sadder you are not shot on sight.

"Wolves need to be managed like any other game or the populatuion is going to grow and there will be nothing for them to eat and are going more live stock.I live in the city but it is only logical to manage wolves like any other preditor and do we really need that many wolves, I would think we should have more elk and hunt them for meat."

People need to be managed like any other game or the population is going to grow and there will be nothing for them to eat and are going more live stock.

Seriously though. They should have a human hunting derby. I would sign up!pet

Why don't you volunteer to be the first human to give up your life to save the wolves?

Better to lead by example than to tell everyone what to do without doing it yourself. You are a HYPOCRIT!

Commenter: Mike
To the second comment named Guest, to ashamed of your own name? Your kind who values animal life above your own are the dreggs of society. You who would hunt humans, You would not have a clue if it hit you in the mouth. Go back to your burrow.

Commenter: Dennis, Frenchtown MT
Fisheries, Wildlife and Parks INTRODUCED, did not RE-introduce, wolves in MT, WY, ID. Canadian Species brought in here are non-native, never endangered in its home range. What is endangered here is our way of life, and for many, their income and family business. If you think its all about money, you are only partially correct, as the real money makers are the thieving lawyers and armchair idealistic morons who want to 'protect' wolves through lawsuits ad infinitum, milking taxpayers dollars in the process. If you care about native wildlife, limit natural predators the way we rationally limit our hunting.

Commenter: Barry
First of all they aren't an endangered species they are Canis lupus occidentalis from the Mckensie River country. Type in the above and read it on Wikepedia.
the population is over 50,000. They are not native to the U.S. Want the truth? Go to...

Commenter: Don Oster
The reintroduction of wolves in the northern Rockies id the worst disaster to befall big game populations in the past century. These alpha predators will in a short time eradicate big game populations until elk, moose, mule deer, whitetail deer, pronghorns, mountain sheep and goats will be the endangered species. Penthouse wildlife biologists have no opinion based on fact for their support for wolf populations in the US at any level. There should be only "shoot on sight" regulations for wolf hunters.

Commenter: Jim D
I lived at ground zero (Gardiner, Mt) for 10 years prior to introduction (not re-introduction as that implies the native sub-species was brought back, which it wasn`t) and 10 years after introduction and now 50 miles from there and spent as much time as any biologist roaming around the hills in and around Yellowstone. I saw with my own eyes the destruction the wolves have caused in regards to the big game populations of that area. Entire landscapes that once were home to elk, deer, moose and sheep are now devoid of any sign of these beautiful animals. The only animals to be seen now are bears and an ever decreasing population of mountain goats. Meadows that one could once watch moose, elk and deer graze peacefully in side by side are now as empty as so many abandoned warehouses. Even if you are not a hunter but simply like to hike through the wilderness to enjoy nature and clear your head of the pressures of daily life you have to admit that the experience will not be the same knowing you have no chance to see any of these graceful animals along the way. I`m not saying wolves should be exterminated again, just that their numbers have to be controlled at levels that will allow all wildlife to flourish as well, and that number is a lot lower than what we have now.

Commenter: Kenneth Walker
To guest: As for equating retarted people as fair game; fit, superior, the best examples of humanty, giving their lives for others, are now being hunted in Afganistan and Iran. I also consider their counterparts that took down the skyscrapers in New York as insane, retarded people. Thanks for sharing your point of view, Guest. lets agree to disagree and find common points of compromise. Develop a rabies vacine for wolves, administarted when captured for study? Does that interfere with survival of the fittest?

Commenter: Ron Andriolo
Wolves in the 3 state region of MT, ID and WY have far surpassed all of the original goals for reintroduction. In addition almost all of the original assumptions used in the environmental assessment have been proven to be wrong -- wolves reproduce faster than anticipated, they kill far more game than anticipated, they spread faster than anticipated, they kill more livestock than anticipated, calf survival is far less due to wolf predation than anticipated, elk herds have been reduced in numbers far more than anticipated, healthy animals are killed far more than anticipated and the general age and health of elk herds has drastically declined.

It is time to stop pretending these animal create some mythical balance in nature -- that is an absurd fanciful human idea and has no basis in reality. Wolves kill everything possible and need to be controllled by man for the good of the entire ecosystem -

Defenders of wildlife and other groups are deceiving the public while padding their bank accounts with massive funds and hiding the facts

The fact is unless wolf numbers are drastically reduced IMMEDIATELY big game herds will drop to dangerously low levels and they will not be able to sustain their population

There are numerous examples in Canada and Alaska where wolves have completely wiped out major populations of elk, moose and caribou -- we must not let that happen here!!!!

Commenter: Zach in MT
You idiots continue to try and tell us what to do with our state. You dont live here and you dont see the destruction these "wonderful creatures" cause. They are killing EVRYTHING in sight. They are NOT native to Montana and never were. We HAD Timber wolves, but these Gray wolves have killed them too!!! THEY KILL FOR SPORT!!!! It is proven. If you doubt it, go to SAVEELK.COM. Also, take a look at LOBOWATCH.COM. If you want the killers so bad, lets put them in your back yard. You dont live here, quit tellin us what to do with our state!!!!!

Commenter: Kenneth Walker
Saving the wolves from man allows them to consider man to be a snack. It also devolves the wolf, no more survival of the fittest. Femails with cubs should also be off limits until the sampling shows an excess, reports of predation reach a certain level, photos of kills and tracks would count for more to take more wolves. I will say that hunting them for sport shouldn't take so many as to put them back on the endangered species list. If wolves are smart, they will stay away from man; they wouldn't become nuisances like bears. The recent killer whale interaction is another point. Yes, he didn't eat her, like watching elephants who also kill people, wild animals should be observed in the wild. Even a feral domestic cat is dangerious. If it weighed 60-150 pounds it woud be a danger too. Domestic dogs that go feral without the skills and evolution of the wolf soon become packs preying on man!

Commenter: Wolf Kill
The "Wolf Recovery Project" has been nothing more than one great big lie after another from the start. And it all started with the releasing of several entirely different subspecies of wolves than what was native to the Northern Rockies. The native wolf that roamed this region was "Canis lupus irremotus", which topped out at about 80 pounds (adult male). What USFWS's very questionable "wildlife experts" dumped back into this wildlife rich ecosystem were two entirely different wolves "Canis lupus occidentalis" (from northern British Columbia and the Yukon), and "Canis lupus griseoalbus" (from northern Alberta and Saskatchewan). These are the true giants of North America's wolf subspecies. The adult males of either will top out at about 140 to 150 pounds. And being nearly twice as large as the native wolf that was here, these larger wolves have twice the appetite, are more aggressive, kill twice as much elk, deer, moose, other big game...and livestock. They cause twice as much damage. For USFWS to so foolishly release the "wrong wolf" into the Northern Rockies has been an actual violation of the Endangered Species Act. The wolves were not endangered - in their native habitat (with more than 50,000 roaming northern Canada). And by releasing these larger, more agressive, and invasive subspecies, the few small pockets of the native "Canis lupus irremotus" subspecies believed to have still existed have more than likely been wiped out by the more dominant larger northern Canadian subspecies. And with those transplanted Canadian wolves, we now have a new threat in the Northern Rockies...the spread of the "Echinoccocus granulosus" tapeworm, and hydatid disease. The latter results in cystic tumors in elk, deer, moose, cattle, sheep...and humans. And can be fatal. Ed Bangs, coordinator for the Western Gray Wolf Recovery Project, has stated "Wolves create far more problems than they fix." And there is a lot of truth in that statement. PBS sure pussyfooted around these fact didn't they? Actually, the program they aired was a real disgrace to real journalistic reporting. They tried their darndest to showcase the wolf reintroduction as a "Conservation Success Story", when in reality it will be remembered as the "Greatest Ecological Disasters" of our lifetimes. Shame on you PBS. You will lose more than you gain from this very one-sided report. For more of the truth about wolves, go to

Commenter: Jason
I believe the wolves should be protected. I am sick of hearing how tough it is for all the people. Especially the people who make use of the public lands. It is my land too and your just borrowing it. There are to many stinking people anyway and they are the problem. The people destroy everything and have no concept of balance in nature. Man thinks he needs to conrol everything and lives in harmony with nothing. As far as Obama is concerned, he is a wishy washy lier just like the rest of the politicians. I should also not forget the hunters. You hunt with all the technology of mankind and yet you bitch about competition from a wolf. Whine,whine,whine. The wolf hunts to survive. Maybe you should talk to the ranchers and the people who pave nature under and let em know you need more space for wild game. Maybe you should become a better hunter, hunt for something else, take up fishing or starve.

Commenter: Steve
The mountains will be the wolves shortly.When they destroy all the elk and deer then they will come out of the mountains looking for something else. Thats when we need to give the wolf lovers a tent and send them to the mountains. OUR ANCESTORS WERE NOT STUPID!

Commenter: lynn utah
the government has no right telling states they cannot get rid of the wolves,they all have their own game dept. that they won't need soon because the wolves will have killed it all.

Commenter: Elena Stewart
My thought is that the wolves need continued federal protection. Please get this message to the Obama administration.


Commenter: Fred McDonald
Wolves need to be managed by the States. Why did you not interview the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as you did DOW, GYC to be fair and balanced.

Wolves are descimating the elk heards, why did you not show how wolves taking down an elk, killing and eating it. Nature is very cruel.....

Commenter: JOHN DICKEY
Right now, wolves do not need federal protection, but rather state management. The population has continued to grow and now must be brought back into a managed environment. This process should continue until the wolf is under managed care much like the rest of wildlife; this is and can be done by hunting. Hunting is and has proven to be the best conservation tool for wildlife.

Commenter: Update
Teacher likely killed by wolves, troopers say
By James Halpin March 11, 2010
Alaska State Troopers today said a woman found dead in Chignik Lake this week was killed in an animal attack, most likely by wolves.
"Investigation has determined that Candice Berner's death was noncriminal in nature," troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said in a statement. "An autopsy conducted today confirmed Ms. Berner died from injuries sustained in an animal attack. According to the state medical examiner, the manner of death is 'accidental' and the cause of death is 'multiple injuries due to animal mauling.'
"After conferring with state biologists and the community of Chignik Lake, it has been concluded that the animals most likely responsible for the attack are wolves."
Peters said the case is closed.
Berner, a 32-year-old special education teacher based in Perryville, was found dead Monday evening by a group on snowmachines traveling along a road outside Chignik Lake.
Berner, originally from Slippery Rock, Pa., stood about 4 feet, 11 inches tall and was an athletic person, an avid runner, according to her family. Officials from the Lake and Peninsula School District said Berner, who was new to Chignik Lake, left work at the end of the day Monday to go for a run.

Commenter: Steve West
We never seem to hear the other side of the wolf issue... your article and story only reports an "anti hunting" view - go out and interview the biologists in those states who cannot manage their elk and deer populations due to heavy predation, talk to the ranchers who lose sheep and cattle to the wolves, and ask the sportsmen who PAID for those wolves to be reintroduced against their will... We have way more than enough wolves and the anti hutning community only wants more wolves so that predation eliminates the need for hunters. But they forget that hunters pay for the conservation... PBS needs to report both sides to each story.

Commenter: Dale - Washington
As a resident in a state where wolves are being brought back I am truly concerned. While I could agree with trying to allow a few wolves on the landscape, it seems the government wants to have too many all at once.

I think we would all be better off to take recovery in small steps and see how wolves fit into our modern ecosystems a few at a time in the southern 48 states. Human safety, Livestock Predation, and potential for Disease Transmission need to carefully considered.

For info about all these important considerations, please check out and you will learn a lot about what's in the news regarding wolves.

Commenter: Guest


"Commenter: Joseph


"Commenter: Rob Robinsen
Sad they were ever reintroduced.
Even sader they are not shot on sight."

Sad you were ever born.
Even sadder you are not shot on sight.




Commenter: Charlene Belnap
I wholeheartedly believe that the wolves DO NOT need protection. They are depleating big game. The elk and deer herds are disappearing around my home west of Rockford, ID. We have one large black wolf living around our area and believe this wolf is the direct cause of the extremely low elk and deer population.
As far as the animal count in other areas, I can speak for the Island Park, ID big game population. That population is down considerablly based on our hunting experience this year and talking to other hunter in the area!! Please continue to offer tags and increase the number of tags available before these wolves take any more animals, domestic and wild, and before they decide humans are on the menu! Thank you.

Commenter: JA
Comments below about wolves being "unchecked" because they are top predators are humorous at best, and certainly indicate the level of poor logic being introduced to this argument. Populations of predators such as gray wolves are, in fact, regulated by the dynamics of their prey populations, by habitat loss and fragmentation, and by myriad other direct and indirect anthropogenic effects.

Second, I'm tired of hearing about how sad it is that massive herds of elk and other ungulates can no longer be seen in areas such as Yellowstone. Sure, I get it - hunters and armchair national park tourists (the ones who never walk more than 50 feet from their RV) want to see lots of big wildlife in an open park-like environment...a nice friendly park that reminds them of their own familiar back yard, but with some big fuzzy animals in it. The reality is that one of the negative legacies of the extirpation of wolves from the West is that overall biodiversity decreased from the landscape. The elk, moose, deer have been eating up the place (much to the joy of the folks who want to shoot them without much effort) and are, more or less, sanitizing the West and are having significant negative effects on overall species richness. In fact, one of the great successes of wolf reintroductions is that (and the science clearly shows this) overall biodiversity has increased as ungulate (elk) populations have decreased from their absurdly high levels...levels that were allowed to get out of hand after wolves were extirpated decades ago. Oh, and yes, I am also a hunter, and I laugh at most of the Jim Bobs and Darryl' who call themselves 'sportsmen', even though they're too fat to walk up a short hill to glass up the surrounding area.

Last, to the people below who consider wolves as non-native introduced species...are you joking, or just ignorant and arrogant? Clearly (and unfortunately) you know how to turn on a computer. Why not use your computer to do some basic research and educate yourselves?

Commenter: Todd
So if everybody wants to return everything to the way it was originally before man came along in the United States, then maybe we will need to demolish every city and town, let the native americans move back to their origins and everyone else should go back to Britain,Ireland,China,Japan,Mexico ect ect...The Wolves,Grizzlies,Elk were all plains animals and we took their grounds and built our world in their space and survived by using them for our food source and if our great grandparents didnt do it we would not be here today. So I guess maybe anyone who does not want game management should relocate to their ancestors origins and we wont be having this conflict anymore. Get a clue people!I believe everything is on this planet for a reason, but I also believe everything needs to be managed.I am a hunter and enjoy seeing all the creatures the world has to offer and do not think that either side side should have full control,that is why management is a good idea, those who want the wolves will have them and those who want managment will also.

Commenter: Steve
I have watched the wolves desimate the elk and moose population in Idaho and Montana to the west of West Yellowstone, Montana. I hicke the country all summer and fall and the elk population has dropped by 66 % from the numbers we use to see consistantly. The wolf tags for the area in Idaho were 5. I have personally seen 4 different packs in the area, numbering between 3 and 8 wolves in the packs. 5 tags did not even make a difference to the area. By the time the fish and wildlife service and the judges from the federal district wake up to the target number, that was reached 6 years ago now. The wolves will never be in danger, and the elk which we spent years and millions of dollars restoring, will never recover to significant numbers. Maybe the forest service and wildlife people should start hiking instead of driving the roads that they closed for all of us, but not them!

Commenter: Victor Turchan
I own a restaurant in eastern Idaho. I put a sign in front of my restaurant last September when we found out for sure that Idaho was finally going to have a wolf hunting season. The sign reads "TAG A WOLF GET A FREE PIZZA AND PITCHER OF BEER". We had an overwhelmingly positive response to our sign from all our local patrons. In fact there was positive reactions from all customers that are from Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. When somebody took a picture of our sign and put it on the internet, we recieved tons of phone calls. As you may have guessed the only negative calls were from people that did not live in a state that has "introduced" wolves into their back yards and recreational areas. I believe that the federal government should not have any say in the management of wolves, because they are not an endangered species. The states that were forced to "introduce" wolves should now be in control of how to get rid of them for good. If you tag a wolf or have tagged a wolf since the season opened, please stop in for your Free Pizza and Pitcher of Beer this summer. Happy Wolf Hunting!!!

Commenter: Jim
Please research the effects of Hydatid

Commenter: Denny
When they reintroduced the wolf back into the lower 48 states the goal was 600 wolves, they are way beyond that now and need to delist them and control their populations through hunting, we are the sturd's of this planet and need to act as such, to act as if we don't belong here is ludicris.

Commenter: Rose Bush
I think the most important aspect to consider is the outragious cost of the wolf program to ALL tax payers. In this economy, we need to be cutting back on unnecessary spending. I happen to live in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico and see the direct impact the wolf has on our cattle ranchers. Wolves are like cigarette does it know to stay in the "no smoking" dosen't. I doubt the average person living in an average city has any idea how much this program costs. This needs to be exposed and the people need to know.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my feelings. My hat is off to the Obama Administration for finally causing this to be brought out.

Commenter: Rob R
I think it is funny to see people crying about God's creatures being slaughtered, probably while they are eating a steak, or a salad with grilled chicken. There is nothing in the bible that says thou shalt not kill wildlife. The belief that hunters are out there just to slaughter is asinine. There are a few select who might but the vast majority of hunters hunt to provide for their families. AND wolves do kill for sport I don't care how many biased studies you have read that are done by the defenders of wildlife. The wolves will wipe out our ecosystems. Oh yeah and these wolves are not "endangered" there are Canadian wolves everywhere, and the fact of the matter is that these canadian gray wolves WILL wipe out the indigenous timber wolves that are left, and they will become extinct. Get a clue and some education before you start believing all the lies

Commenter: Suzy Dooshbag
I think if wolves are killing 1000's of elk and deer and leaving them to rot. We should give them a big hug and teach them about yoga and crystals.

I would like to see wolves reintroduced into NYC and San Fran again too because that is their historical range. We could just bulldoze a bunch of homes in the bay area and close roads to re-create the habitat before the evil "white devil" came to Amerika to destroy them and the Indians

Support PBS!!!!

Commenter: John
One thing N.O.W. did and will always do is come at a story from a leftest point of view..
Example, the Federal Government knows more about the wolves then the people that have to live with them, Aka centralized government...

All you have to do is look at the time the Big Government advocates get and look at the time the hunters get.. I'll bet they could have found a few articulate hunters but that doesn't fit the agenda they have...

Commenter: Doug
No animal that has been regulated through hunting has ever been made extinct.Have a over population and disease and starvation eliminate the over population sounds worse then hunting to me.Hunt them keep numbers in check.Help other animal populations survive

Commenter: Charles
Most of the people that hunt told the F&G what would happen when the wolves were reintroduced. And they were right for without proper control they double in size in short periods of time. These are wild animals not like the domestic dog. They kill all of the time that is how they live. They are an animal of beauty and death. Our elk and deer livstock are their main food source. We'll see what happens when more people get killed or cornered by wolves. There only needs to a limeted amount of wolves anywhere. As the last game offical I talked with said when asked about how many there are in a certain area. He said"That the pack were all killed". Right!!! then where did the other pack come from that killed 4 more of my cattle yesterday, asked the local rancher. People that live behind desks and say this is great. I believe that most of them don't live and work out here in the west. And when a few more dogs and cats are killed they will cry the most because they do not relize that these wolves are not pets and are just killing machines. Get rid of 95 % of them now.

Commenter: Rick-Idaho
The introduction of wolves have destroyed our Moose and Elk populations. There was a reason the wolves were all removed long ago.

Commenter: VARMINT

Commenter: wolf man
I don't want my tax dollars to support wolves.

Commenter: elkslaya
what do wolves do to their competition such as the coyote? that right they kill them. man has replaced the wolf as thee apex predator and i say we should treat the wolf as the wolf treats the coyote.

Commenter: Mulehunter From Washington.
Our Taxes MONEY WASTED on Wolves. Not Nesscary to have USFWS! Let Each STATE Manage it their OWN way!
Govt Wasted 4.2 billion Settlement lawsuits over Wolves. ALL B.S.!
So what do you all EARTHJUSTICE group do with all 4.2 billion dollar worth of MONEY! GREEDY OF COURSE!!
Why cant you people from EarthJustice Help pay funds to Most of Ranchers who lost all Cattles that cant run faster than Wolves! Maybe they should pay all Rancher for better Fences to protect their livestock!


Commenter: Ms Vasumathi Krishnasami
The wolf is a highly intelligent, evolved and beautiful mammal which actually does not reproduce when food or territory is scarce. Can the same be said of greedy, cruel, selfish and concupiscent human beings who, in my opinion, are vastly inferior to wolves and several other species? It is monstrous that wolves should be hunted and hounded so, without adequate federal protection. It is high time that a developed nation such as the U.S.A. extended its full legal protection to wolves and all other species. It is the least that any country can do for its animal population!

Commenter: A.. Edwards
Wolves don't need federal protection. It's the ranchers and out door enthusiasts that need to be able to protect themselves. And this B.S. about there not being a documented wolf attack on humans is just that, B.S. Try watching one of the many animal shows such as "when animals attack", or animal planet or the the science channel, or reading "out door life".

Commenter: Theodore, Eagle, CO
The 25 minute segment was well worth the watch. Thanks PBS. However, it was obvious that the hunting element was distasteful to the narrator and therefore breeds a lack of integrity into this report because a bias of this nature makes one wonder how much effort was taken to show both sides.

I was disappointed when he talked about the 1000 wolves that died because of a few livestock deaths- this was misleading - 1600 wolves in three states are killing thousands of quadrupeds, both wild and a few domesticated, monthly so 1000 dead wolves as a consequence seems low, not high, Furthermore, your report did not mention the number of animals wounded by the wolves and died by other means in their weekend state or the vet bills paid to keep stock alive. Take a trip to Yellowstone and look and the number of wounded and stressed elk since the wolves came back.

We must manage populations of all species and some wolves will die either by government tax dollar sniper or Hunter, I prefer the fiscally responsible Hunting method of population management.

Also, the woman from Defenders of the Wild either mis-spoke, or is blatantly advertising her ignorance when she said her organization was not an anti-hunting organization. Spend 2 minutes on their web-site and you will find Defenders of the Wild is an anti-hunting, anti-trapping, fan and a fierce advocate of all non-lethal forms of coexistence of man with the natural world - Again a non-hunter reporter allowing a blatant factual error.

One more thought about the Endangered Species Act, when I read it years ago there were two major provisions, one for species in place in the natural world and another provision HABITAT for species that man and/or darwin had eliminated. The Wolf was listed under the ladder provision because they were essentially gone from USA, but there were over 60,000 non-threatened wolves world wide when they were introduced in Yellowstone! Think about this, under the habitat provision of the Endangered Species Act, in theory we could deconstruct every city in America for all the displaced animals. The Endangered Species Act is a mechanism for attorneys to rich.

Overall, the segment was pretty good for media coverage on this topic and I thank PBS for the piece. I am also a financial contributor to PBS and encourage other to do the same.

Commenter: Jeremiah Pope
I am not a hater of the wolf, but wolf numbers do need to be managed just like deer elk and antelope. TO those people who dont know anything about wildlife, do some research and see why we need management for the population. The wolves in Idaho have decimated local elk herds and started moving into towns taking dogs, what if a child is next? Will that be enough blood to prove that they need to be managed?

Commenter: Karen
For those of you that seem to think that letting the wolve should continue to multiply and kill everything they come into contact need to realize that when there are no Elk,deer and moose left. They will come after children,cats,dogs and soon adults. Common sense should tell you that everything needs some control. Your idea for continued protection in our area when you DON'T live here or Pay for our wild life is going to cause OUR Elk,Deer,Moose and our personal pets to go on the endangered list!!! IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN OUR STATE, PAY TO HELP AND MAINTAIN OUR WILDLIFE YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS ON OUR FUTURE!!!!!!!

Commenter: Larry Cross
You idiots that don't live out west where the wolves are starting to decimate the elk and deer herds to around 50% of what they were just four years ago need to take a second look at what you do gooders are actually doing. You have managed to wipe out our elk herds to the point we are going to have to start taking your first born and let the wolves start knawing on them just so you can protect these creatures of destruction.

Commenter: Scott
States should be allowed to manage wolves just as any other game species, and their management decisions should be based on good biology and science not on stupid public opinion polls like this, or with political pressure from well intending but uneducated groups such as Earthjustice.

Commenter: jim taylor
In addition to the financial threat to ranching families brought on by the pro-wolfer groups, what about the great expense to the American taxpayers who have had to shell out big bucks to support this worthless, insane program. Seems to me that a bunch of money grabbing elitists disguised as bleeding heart animal-save-the-planet activists are stuffing their pockets at our expense.

Commenter: Norm Plank
As a non-contributor of the food chain to humans, how can the wolve be more important than deer, elk, and other contributors to our food chain? The wolves have wiped out the elk populations in Northern Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming. The wolves cannot co-mingle with other species and should be eleminated or placed in National Parks where people can see them and protect them from hunters and other. They have feasted on ranchers cattle and the ranchers are not getting reimbursed for the loss of their income. Stop this nonsense!

Commenter: Gerald Martin
As a wildlife lover, hunter, conservationist and resident of Montana, I believe management of wolves belongs at the state level like other game animals. Wolve are no longer endangered, all the population goals have been met to satisfy the standards set when they were on the endangered species list. In many locations wolf numbers are actually too high and are part of the reasons that elk,deer,and other prey animals are experiencing grave declines in their numbers. Wolves should always experience some protection, but not at the expense of other species.

Commenter: Richard
I live in Idaho and have seen the impact the wolf has made on the wildlife in my state. Our forfathers eradicated them for a reason and the lower 48 don't need them.....

They lied to us when they brought them here 12 years ago and they are still lieing to us now..

Commenter: Ethel S
This has been the most expensive venture for the people, especially for ranchers. Wolves kill for pleasure too, not just to eat. They are growing in population very rapidly. They are now in the Big Horn mountains. They have been for about 8 years. I saw and heard them!!!. I do not feel safe anymore going fishing in my favorite lakes or streams. I will need to carry a gun to feel safe. This is absolutely terrible. My anscestors were here when the wolves were and they use to tells stories about the Godaful.... things the wolves did. Why do you think they were shot!

Commenter: Bob
And to think I was worried that PBS wasn't going to get funding to be able to continue airing the programs it does. Try something that shows both sides of a story in a fair and accurate manner, then maybe your station will be worth saving.

Commenter: Hal
Save the money being spent trying to perpetuate predators and feed some needy people! jhh

Commenter: lunatic mama
Noone knows what the wolves are like unless they live with them...eating your animals, hanging around your house, walking down your street without fear. There's a reason that the wolves are endangered. I don't want to drive them to extinction but I don't want to push having them thriving in my back yard. It seems that the people pushing for them don't have to live with them and risk their children to them.

Commenter: James Porter
The environmental groups are way out of line.
Unmanaged wolves are like allowing terrorist free run of our cities.
How about reintroducing poisonous snakes into cities flower beds? After all weren't they once native there?

Commenter: Jeff Robertson
The people that want the wolves protected really don't have a clue as to what they have done to the Elk herds of MT. The Grey Wolf is not a native of MT. the timber wolf is. The idiots that want these here should come hike and camp in the woods here without protection and hopefully they will have a close encounter with these animals that do nothing but kill, and not always to eat, just to kill.
The wolf supporters don't have to live amoung them with the wolves very very close to town and within one mile from a middle school.
I think that they should pass a law that states that the parties responsible for the wolf invasion are responsible for any damages caused by these worthless animals. At least the game animals bring money to the states by means of liscenseing fees. The wolves do nothing but cost the taxpayers money for something very few want. There was a reason we wiped them out years ago. Myself and many I know will shoot on sight. My Motto: SMOKE A PACK A DAY.

Commenter: Patricia
Using the Endangered Species Act to protect a species, including wolves, must be solely a decision made by qualified scientists. The decision to list or delist a species must be made by the recovery team and should never be influenced by political policy and or public pressure.

The questions that have always been so perplexing to me are why do some people want to protect life and living systems while others do not? Why would any intelligent creature want to threaten the life support system that protects them? These questions have crossed my mind many times.

The answers to these questions give great insight into who we are as individuals and as a species. We offer hope, opportunity and potential to do better through education and outreach by raising levels of awareness.

As a species we have the discretionary capability to choose our path in life. Our choice can be supportive of nature or not.

Many view life from an anthropocentric perspective. It is all about us as individuals and as a species. We tend not to incorporate other living things, the land and oceans as part of the equation. We look at the "other" in a utilitarian sense. The question that always arises directly or implied is how will the "other" benefit mankind?

This removes respect, identity, compassion and empathy from the mix. We look at life as a resource to be utilized. This equates to tonnage at the dock, board feet at the saw mill and pork bellies on the commodities market. Greed, corruption, ignorance and apathy lead to overharvesting, brutal treatment, bullets, traps, poisons, chain saws, long lines, harpoons and gill nets. In the extreme, results bring endangerment and ecological collapse. We manage the resource base in our own best interest. We are part of a society where this is the norm. Yet as we evolve, we move beyond the negative by incorporating an expanded sense of being into daily life.

What do other species mean for the human soul and why does our management of them matter to the human race? The Wolf is certainly emblematic of this statement.

We need to move forward to the next frontier, the frontier of how we think and relate to one another, to other species and the planet. If we are to do more than survive it is critical we understand our own patterns of behavior.

We have become a force of nature. We are capable of protecting, restoring and enhancing life and living systems.

Perception changes as awareness and consciousness change. Our relationship with other people, other species, the land and the planet are a product of integrative neurophysiology.

You cannot do harm to another human. Not if you are connected. You cannot do harm to another species. Not if you are connected. You cannot do harm to the land or the planet. Not if you are connected.

The way we treat other species, and the earth is an indicator of the way we treat ourselves.

We can raise our level of awareness, our level of consciousness, the messages we send across our world. We can integrate with humanity, other species, the land and the planet. We can become a positive intentional force in the process of evolutionary biology.

Commenter: Tyler Woods
I guess im kind of missing it here, I dont know why some of you folks are so worried about there not being enough wolves for you to look at. There are so many in some areas that you cant go anywhere without seeing, hearing, tracks, wasted kills, etc.... Hell, i would say that they are a huge success way to go guys. But for you to see that you need to get off the computers and put the National Geographics down and lace the boots up and get out and see the "Success Story" in progress. We who have to live with them are affected by them to the point where people are having to change their livelyhoods based around the wolves, is that right?

Commenter: Pat Sullivan
I find it somewhat interesting that while nearly 70% of the vote is 'no need for federal protection', the VAST majority of the comments are from the 30% side. Are we now picking and choosing only those comments to post that support pro-wolf interests? Why not just fudge the numbers as well to support your side. Your show as well as your tactics in posting comments are extremist and liberal in nature.

I have a very difficult time listening to anyone who would mention god in the same sentence while discussing sound wildlife management. The professed belief in god from so many posters here while turning their head blindly to the multitudes of dinosaur fossils carbon dating back millions of years old, yet still insistent that the earth is but a few thousand years old (creation) is enough to tell me that you are only speaking with emotions. Repeatedly bringing god into a discussion of game management only restates your ignorance and reinforces my belief that you should not be taken as credible.

Liberals should try moderation sometime. It's always - 'live as I live' or we will take you to court and make you! Perhaps all of the organizations protecting the wolf should be paying the depredation costs to ranchers and pet owners rather than coming from taxpayers. It is interesting that in 2009 in Wisconsin over 40 wolves (out of an estimated 600-700) were euthanized due to pet/livestock depredation and 'agressive behaviors' with humans. Depredation payouts increased 5 times during the past two years as well while the population went from 450 to 670ish.

Wolf activists' blindness will be the ultimate undoing of the wolf! It will take complete exhaustion of game herds, a few children killed etc and then it will be gloves off (back to what our grandfathers learned so many years ago). I seriously recommend that everyone and everything co-exist under managed populations. Mother nature is very cruel and populations do not simply maintain themselves in a fairytale world. One population grows at the expense of another until it exhausts its resources and then starves....and the cycle repeats. Responsible game management ensures a gentle ebb without the massive starvations and populations swings.

While I am a hunter and do not believe that a destructive animal like the wolf has any place in our ecosystem, I am willing compromise and discuss manageable populations. The hundreds of liberals posting on this thread can see only one thing - their way. When do the lives of so many hundreds of thousands of whitetail deer, elk, and moose that are killed by the wolves count for something.? They are, after all, God's creatures too ;-)

Commenter: A
Because of the hot totally crazed wolf conservation groups I will not use my full name. Those who are so fond of the wolves are not the ranchers and wild life enthusiasts. We in Wyoming have seen the reduction of Elk, Mountain Sheep, Moose numbers due to the destruction of the wolf packs. The ranchers are dealing with wolves on daily basis with losses of their cow, calves, sheep. Those wolf howl enthusiasts can be real happy now. Personally I was quite happy listening to the coyote and fox.

Commenter: C Gillespie
They are NOT endangered. Quit breeding them in my backyard.

Commenter: Rusty
You might investigate this story more for the facts. The facts are that the groups involved in introducing (not re-introducing) these animals agreed to a much lower number than are presently roaming the three states. It is dishonest to say they are endangered, they have increased by 30 to 40% every year since release 15 years ago. The feds don't want to pay for managment, the enviros want an unlimited number. They are much like the grizzley in that they have filled all suitable niches in the states and are being pushed into conflict with other wolves and people all across the area.

Commenter: Suzanne Gillispie
These wolves are getting much to brave and stalk People, soon I am afraid they will kill a child. You are worried about the wolf dying out, what about the ranchers?

Commenter: Buzz Gertsen
This is the stupidest thing our fish and wildlife people have ever done..
I think all wolves should be exterminated.
We were doing fine without them.
Remember. Lewis and Clark couldn't find any game to shoot and eat but there were wolves..
The lie that they eat what they kill is ridiculous.
You have seen them kill a hundred sheep. I have seen them kill several elk and eat the ass out of only one.
Quit lying about these scavengers you idiots.

Commenter: casey middleton
wolves should be removed from the ESA
they are a experimental species and never belonged there in the first place.

Commenter: bob cook
Wolves have clearly met and surpassed the quota established to determine the success of the program.Any further waste of money,time and other resourses would be just like Washington: what about this " CHANGE " we were promised?

Commenter: Jerry Messing
Wolves are found naturally in NW Mt. They are now "as thick as flies"! I have 60 deer in My yard in Thompson Falls,afraid to go up on the Mountain North of here!!
A horseback ride verifies that the majority of wildlife on the mountain is Wolves. Now a medium size pack just arrived naturally from Canada. They combined packs are killing a dozen animals a day.
We had photos in the paper taken just east of town of 2 wolves returning to livestock kills just yards from the main hiway! And at 11 AM !!
Our "wolves" may not be pure wild wolves. Unscrupulus people from all over the US who favor wolves here,have been crossing 2 or 3 times with DOGS and then illegally releasing them in the wild.
These animals appear as wolves,except have little concern about dogs and people! Thei profile is like a wolf with slightly shorter legs and a more narrow track(as a young wolf would have).
The population is out of control here and in Idaho,and our doe season has just been cancelled.
iF THIS IS HAPPENING HERE NEAR POPULATION, WHAT IS HAPPENING FURTHER INTO THE MOUNTAINS. A kill can only last 1 day,as Many have observed;mainly due to the great no's of birds of prey mostly Eagles and Ravens. Road kills are fewer,and are totally cleaned up by dusk.

Commenter: anonymous
The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) claims it is slaughtering the Yellowstone bison because they carry brucellosis. This claim rings hollow in light of a few facts: There has never been a documented transmission of brucellosis from wild bison to livestock. Even if buffalo were capable of spreading the disease, there are no cattle on these lands from mid-October to mid-June, making brucellosis transmission impossible.

All bison captured and slaughtered this winter have been bulls, which are incapable of transmitting the disease. The ten bull bison slaughtered this week tested positive for brucellosis antibodies, not infection. Because bison are known to build natural resistance to brucellosis, these animals may actually be the strongest, healthiest animals of the herd. The overwhelming majority of bison slaughtered according to these test results don't actually carry the disease.

Commenter: DDS Arizona
What we really need to put a stop to is THE GRAVEY TRAIN that the enviros have locked onto. They and their lawers are cleaning our monies up and keep right on feeding at our expense, we the taxpayer!
What a way to destroy our economy, screw us at both ends at the same time.

Commenter: Tom--Denver Colorado
Last time i checked history, they(wolves of all species), were here a long time before the non native species(cattle/sheep). Maybe the non native species should have been kept in check as to not over populate into the native species territories? Kinda hard to blame the wolves just because they were here first, and we couldnt find how to deal wth them except to kill them out of the way of "progress"??!!

Commenter: Bob
The wolf issue is just another source of tension between rural & urban citizens. I believe urban citizens meddle in land use planning of rural areas because of a sense of guilt for how poorly they have managed their own communities. That's a big problem in the west because so much of it is federal land. A recent Utah wilderness designation was proposed by New York Congressman. He persisted despite the unanimous objection of Utah's Congressional delegation. Local and state governments should have a say in the management of federal public lands. They represent the folks most affected by it's management. New Yorkers want wolves, fine. Put them in Central Park.

Commenter: jack cook
leave it totally to state conservation agency
how can you discredit the job they have done with all other spicies, you can not~!!! we have no choice we must bal. nature creatures. we have taken to much of there habitad,an there is no control of that,

Commenter: Sally, CA
People are more important then the wolf. The wolf needs to be controlled from over population. Why do we need them to be out there killing everything in site? How safe are your children when they start coming into populated areas looking for food? Think about it !!!

Commenter: JIM BOYLE

Commenter: Sherry Blake
The government has also brought wolves into NM. Our farmers and ranchers are losing livestock because of the wolves.The wolves are not afraid of people. We are not allowed to protect the livestock or domesticated animals. I vote no.

Commenter: Dave S.
The wolf population in all three states exeeded the recovery goals years ago and is growing at an alarming rate. It's well past the time when they should be placed under the management of the state game agencies and managed like any other large predator or game animal. The ESA only suceeds when species are recovered and removed from the list. It is not intended as an instrument to provide blanket protection in perpetuity as many so-called conservation groups seem to believe. True conservation involves responsible management for all the species, not just the ones you think are particularly cool or interesting.

Commenter: Alta J. LeDoux
The wolves are such a detriment to the elk hunting industry that has always been a Montana industry. Also to our ranching industry. How can people think they are a good thing?? We need to get rid of the wolves period. God did not make this world for certain things to last forever. He knows best.

Commenter: Steve Lange
Wolves are great, they serve a purpose in nature. However too many of any species is a bad thing. Deer, elk, antelope ,sheep, mountain lions and bears all have to be kept in a reasonable population to support a healthier group of animals. If there is not enough resources to support the population worse things than hunters taking a few animals will happen. Why do you think bears get into trash cans and break into cabins when times are tough? Wolves are no different. Ask anyone who has livestock around a wolf pack that does not have enough natural food to sustain there pack. Disease and hunting are about the only predators a wolf has. If the numbers exceed the quota set for a region then hunting these animals is the best solution. I believe in conservation, and that includes population control, which like it or not hunting provides.

Commenter: Craig
My opinion is to kill'em all! Our forefathers got rid of them once for a reason and with all they kill in the way of Elk, Deer as well as cattle and other farm animals, again, "kill'em all!

Commenter: Vito Bloodfoot
Introducing wolves into the Yellowstone area was about the one of the most stupid thing the Gov , let the environmentalist talk them into, these are not native wolves of the original species and all they have done is destroy , esp the ranchers farm animals. . Good example of how stupid these Tree huggers are.

Commenter: Rog
Wow. I would first like to start out by commenting on the numerous people citing the 'Killing of God's Creatures';

To you I reply - Your ignorance of sound game management is only surpassed by your belief in the Boogey Man, the easter bunny, god etc. You say creation, I can prove evolution.
More HUMANS have died due to religion and false beliefs than all other tragedies combined. Please stop using god to justify your complete lack of understanding of a balanced ecosystem.

Make no mistake, the wolves are eating/killing themselves out of house and home and expanding range at an alarming rate. One can only define wolves killing success as far more successful than any hundreds of thousands of humans with rifles as 'proved' by the sharp declines in game populations. Could humans have done the same thing to the Lolo elk populations...of course we COULD have, but we chose to manage ourselves through lottery and limited quota systems which allow for sustainable harvests of the prey. Unfortunately the wolves do not read nor follow responsible game management guidelines therefore someone will eventually have to do this for them.

By the jaw of the wolf and in the name god MORE killing has ever taken place and will continue to take place. Yes, we hunters do harvest animals as well but we are respectful of the game and eat what we harvest. Are we to believe that a predator such as the wolf that may not even number 0.05% of any state's typical human hunting populace is actually eating all of the animals they are killing? Do the math - they would be consuming several hundred pounds of flesh per day per animal to keep up with the killing rate.

IN THE END WE WILL ALL APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP THE WOLF LISTED. Yes, that's right - because only through complete exhaustion of our resources and far increased attacks on livestock, pets, children and adults will we remember why our forefathers exterminated this animal from greater than 95% of its range. Then we will win and the gloves will come off once again. It will be poison, traps, meat-baited hooks hanging from trees on wire leaders, and open season year-round on the wolf.

Or, you could remove the elitist, extremist grin off of your face and realize your best course of action 'FOR THE WOLF' is a managed and balanced population. Conservationists would be fine with a healthy, viable, MANAGED population of wolves everywhere. The problem with liberals is that you believe everyone else must be forced to live the way YOU choose to live (even if you don't really even live in the affected areas). I wonder how your tone would change if several wolves had to be shot for stalking your children to the corner bus stop? It's always all or nothing with you people. Try moderation on for size - you are not the only person here on earth.

Commenter: Robert L. Casados
If we don't put a stop to the wovles now what will happen to our cattle producer and the rest of wild life in the area. If they want to release them, that is fine but don't put any restriction on them and quit wasteing tax dollars on them. How many more school bus stops will ww have to put cages up to protect our kids. Like what is happening in Southwest New Mexico

Commenter: Wes
Eric S,

I think you should do your part to control the human population right now.. it all start with you pal.

Commenter: LANE
I wasn't aware that the definition of "MANAGE" had changed to KILL OFF. Obviously you PRO-WOLF people don't have a clue, or a dictionary for that matter. Ranchers!!! There not the only ones having problems with the wolves. Facts facts facts, are not something you have. Shooting from planes, helicopters! Yep all of us hunters have helicopters. Facts are in ID, its ILLEGAL to hunt from a aircraft. Your not even aloud to hunt for twenty four hours after flying over a hunting area. Now i am not saying it hasn't been done, but where do you get your facts? You believe every thing you read in the papers? YOU make it sound like we fly around all day shooting wolves. You try to make people believe something that is not true, because you have an opinion of this animal you don't know anything about. Let me brake it down for you PRO-WOLF people. Regardless: wolves on or off the endangered list, they will be killed by man. Except at a greater risk of extinction,because you don't understand the definition of MANAGE. You PRO-WOLF people don't get it, your in a lose lose situation. This matter here will just fuel the illegal wolf hunter to kill as much as they possibly can. I the hunter don't want to see them all die, but strongly believe in a management program. I recommend you get all the facts. I put just as much time and money in on helping the wildlife as i do hunting the wildlife. It's my job as a responsible conservationist. How about you? Do you invest in the wildlife other then your so called FACTS? Is this all you got? If so i would find something else to do if I were you. Leave this subject matter to people who really care about the wildlife, and KNOW that the state is better off handling the wolves than the feds.

Commenter: David
There's nothing wrong with managing a wildlife population whatever the species. If wolves are left to continue to increase numbers this will erode the notion that this was the "most successful" program into just another example for the heap of blunders performed by an overbearing government.

Conservation means "wise use" and implies management. The "non use" preference for some of these groups suing local governments to block science-based management of the many species related to this issue do not merit the noble title of conservation.

Commenter: Wilma m. Eck
I Think President Obama has lied to us all AGAIN. He is NOT protecting the endangered species as Promised.

Commenter: Frank Schmitz
The reintroduction of wolves has been more than a complete joke but instead a complete night-mare. It is unfortunite that man thinks he is the most intelligent being on earth but is completely incapable of learning anything from our history. That means the old saying of history repeats itself is always so true, except when it repeats itself it becomes more brutal and hopefully more obviouse as mother nature (and God for the few who still believe this universe is bigger than our small and semi-retarded minds) corrects our mis-management. Bringing back wolves to an area that has been devoleped outside of the timbered mountanious areas is the same as bringing grizzly bears back to every place west of the mississippi river were they had existed. Things change everyday and yesterday is gone. It can not be recreated. When wolves dominated the west no game existed in the mountians as Lewis and Clark documented. Elk, Deer, and even big horn sheep were discovered out on the open praires that now are fenced for domestic livestock. Then wolves had forced the animals into the open country were they could see the preditors and run from them. As humans came with livestock and high fur prices they killed preditors so they could survive. They properly would have and nearly did exterminate all the wildlife, but poisioning the preditors allowed the deer, elk, mt. goats, big horn sheep, moose, and others to retreat back into the mountains.
Then let some time pass as we enjoy the sucessfull rebound of these species and we decide to reintroduce wolves, but we forgot why these species that we now regard as mountain animals were forced there by us. The wolves start to desimate animals and they respond by leaving the mountains into what is now farm land and find themselfs unwelcome there.
If you still don't get the picture we need to re-introduce wolves to your city parks were they might really do some good!

Commenter: wyodale
Wow, the predophiles are out in force leaving comments against wolves right to exist. I suppose you know this qualifies you as honorary LBPC members? Little Bitty Peter Club, you know, the club you all belong to with your "this is mine" mentality...kill anything that takes something you consider yours away so you can't kill it. YOUR elk? The wildlife of this country belongs to ALL Americans, not just those that want to kill them. Wolf watching has brought millions of dollars to the Yellowstone area. The Cattle industry is a very small percentage of Wyoming, thus they should not be in charge via their leader, Salazar. Shame on Obama for appointing a special interests person to oversee OUR natural resources.

Commenter: Barnie
Oh sure! Either way, it is going to cost us taxpayers because the egocentrics keep on using taxpayer monies to pay their legal fees. They don't tell you that, do they "sparkie?" This is a facade they use to keep sucking off the system. These agencies and their expensive law firms have a great meal ticket by sueing the gov't entities (and ultimately us, the taxpayer). They are awarded monies for these lawsuits. Check it out for yourself. I am fed up with the so-called gov't for allowing frivolous lawsuits from these do-gooders and fed up with "so-called," overeducated, lacking common sense, humans(?)(using the term loosely) thinking they know more than everyone else because they have letters following their name and shoving their ideals up and down every orifice of our body, whether we want it or not. I, for one, am for erradicating your ideals and your dang icons you use as an excuse for self gratification, TOTALLY once and for all.

Commenter: cindy
Awww, are the big manly men of Idaho skeered of the wolves? Are ya gonna go kill 'em before they come fer yer cheeldrin? You have to be a certain kind of human to hunt down a wolf with a high-powered scope, rifle and snowmobile. What kind of human I won't say. Perhaps wolves enrage all of you manly men so much because they are so much like you, eh? Oh wait. Wolves don't take the best of the best and hang the head on the wall and brag about it for the rest of their lives over a cube of brewskies with the boys.

Commenter: Cecil Waldrip
we need the wolf like we need small pox. Be it the gray wolf or mex wolf. those that promote protecting them need to observe their habits.

Commenter: Dr. Nelson
We have created a system of management that has worked for a century. You are re-introducing a species that will now compete with the resources of man. Once the depredation on the surrounding resources wipes them out they will travel to follow the food sources or prey upon whats available. At a 20% growth rate per year it will be a matter of time before the large packs wipe out the deer, elk and moose in this state. It will then set the stage for predation on what left, prized livestock and families lively hoods. A very bad thing has been re-introduced into our resources. Unfortunately this is not the 1800's and competition will be fierce. Without proper management kids, pets and livestock will live in fear.

Commenter: Reed Bailey

Commenter: William Robinson
Grey wolves aren't native to the region. The timber wolf is what belongs in that part of the country and it is a much better fit for the ecosystem. The larger grey wolves are going to devastate the population of other wildlife in their home range, namely elk and both species of deer. Introducing them was a horrible decision as they are not endangered at all.

Commenter: Matt S.
It's interesting to hear the constant emotional "arguments" from both extremes. Wolves are not some devil in fur, nor are they the iconic, endearing, God created puppy that some believe. They are a predator, and animal. Nothing more, nothing less. Having seen them tear an animal apart while it was still alive certainly put everything into perspective. They hunt, they kill, they try to survive. It ain't pretty, but it's real.

As someone with a biological and conservation background (and profession), I have studied and worked with both large predators and ungulates. To say that wolves aren't having a negative impact on certain ungulate populations is purely ignorant. Just as ignorant is the belief that they will wipe out all big game animals. For the sake of the wolves, the balance of wildlife populations, and human interactions (because they do matter), the wolf must be managed similar to the mountain lion and black bear.

Living outside of Yellowstone, I see the negative and positive impacts wolves have had on the landscape. Our local moose population is in alarming decline, and the wolf is one major component of that.

Also, the fact that the "pro-wolf" so-called conservationists from Defenders of Wildlife are using the wolf as a fundraising pawn to the detriment of all escapes most emotional urban and suburban people.

Here is a simple fact. ALL parties agreed to 300 wolves as a recovered population. Now that we have 1,600 some say it's not enough. Trust me, proper management will be beneficial to all. Let wildlife biology rule the management and not emotional propaganda...FROM EITHER EXTREME.

Commenter: Ed Schaub

You folks do a mighty poor job of presenting the entire of picture, you show only what sells your point of view.

Early in this program you state '.... wolf watchers bring in money.'. I guess the hunter, rancher, or resident has not contributed anything to maintain fiscal solvency in the Yellowstone area of the West. What about the wolf controversy in NM, AZ, CO. and other western states? Other facts you seem blind to are - cost - $330K per wolf (by the USF&WS's own admission), here in the Gila Wilderness (this nations first wilderness). Is that kind of expenditure - truly what this nations' taxpayers want to spend their hard earned monies on? You asked an attorney for one of the 'conservation' groups - 'Why are you suing?'. You forgot to have him say that they are charging back to the taxpayer at the rate of $450 per hour here in NM for their 'dedication' to help the wolf. His answer should have been 'I sue (for any cause), because it is the way I make a good living.' Surely you as an 'un-biased' source are aware the federal government is paying these environmental group to sue the federal government. You said Doug Hunnold received his law degree from Berkley and could have made more money else where implying that he is doing this for the wolf. What in fact does that have to do with anything? Westerners are against all this nonsensical money and power grabbing because they love their homes and the country they resides in. They are not back East (or 'elsewhere'), making more money than they certainly are in the West, but what bearing does any of that have on this wolf issue?
Doug Hunnold of Earth Justice states '... wolf recovery is not quite at the legitimate recovery level' These same 'conservation groups' said the very same thing about the Peregrine Falcon until science and sound judgment prevailed. Hunnold also makes the comment '.... conceivably 1200 wolfs could face the gun.', yes and conceivably their numbers may also be reduced by exposure to decimating disease like rabies, or even highway deaths; but that does not raise the hair on your viewers neck like Hunnolds' comment 'facing the gun.' At that point in the program, I disliked your reinforcing pictorial touch of showing a bloody field research effort using a drugged wolf while you continued talking about hunting. It is very biased but quite effective presenting your side of this issue. Some of Hunnolds' group say it is necessary to have many more wolfs to '.... mingle with adjoining packs and areas.' Just exactly what do they say about the population explosion of wolfs from their 'endangered handful' just few years ago - to today's vastly over recovery plan target numbers?
I knew when I first started listening to your program and to these 'conservation' lawyers that the subject of global warming would spew forth. Why don't you report that attorney fees awards to environmental groups to continue to sue the federal government is BIG BUSINESS and is likely to get bigger with these environmental groups fervor to use procedural errors by federal agencies to push the global warming agenda? That is the truth why not report it?
One other comment regarding these 'personally dedicated lawyers' in the 'environmental conservation' arena, has to do with your reported comment that the Defenders Of Wildlife have "..... helped bring back the wolf in the Northern Rockies". Would you just for once report honestly and tell your viewers EXACTLY what the Defenders of Wildlife have actually done for the 'bringing back' effort? List some of their accomplishments, you know some facts that you profess to dig up. Look at these groups of lawyers and you know that all they have done is line their own pockets with taxpayer monies and scammed sympathy, with your help, from people who don't take the time to know both sides of these issues. I had to winch in sadness at the falsehood of Suzanne Stone from the Defenders of Wildlife saying 'We are not an anti-hunting organization' - and the even more sad truth that you at PBS report such lies in the name of honest public programs.

Ed Schaub
Buckhorn, NM

P.S. How many times did you second handedly need to slur (by inference), President Bush and his administration?

Commenter: B.A.SmithD.V.M.
Wolves are in large enough populations already.Hunting helps to regulate the population.

Commenter: James Barnes
I am a resident of Wyoming and have lived here my whole life. I spend as much time, or more time in the mountains than anyone. I have seen firsthand what is really happening and anyone who thinks there hasn't been too many wolves for a long time needs a serious wake-up call and really should get out more. There are wolves everywhere. The problem is, there is so many that they have left all the places that they were originally introduced (not re-introduced, that's all a big lie to begin with) because no wildlife is left and they have moved to greener pastures - which puts them on top of humans everywhere. Elk, Deer and Moose won't leave residential areas because that's the only place the wolves won't go near. The people that are supposed to monitor the wolves mislead the public and other officials to believe that the wolves are still struggling and that the drastic decreasing numbers of wildlife is due to drought. Just another lie. There are some people that need reality checks and need to quit lieing and start doing what's in the best interest of Wyoming and surrounding states - this would mean that wolves need to be managed somehow. Whether by Game and Fish eliminating them from a helicopter or offering people money to hunt them down.

Commenter: Darrus - wildlife biologist
Looks like you have stopped posting responses. Could it be because your poll is showing 64% or more Americans are opposed to federal protection of wolves? If you were to take a poll in just the western states where the wolf has wreaked havic on wildlife and the people who live there you would see a number more like 100% opposed.

And you wonder why PBS is losing funding? Maybe it has something to do with the liberal and radical bias protrayed in your wolf article.

Commenter: tammie
i am a hunter. i hunt for food to put on my table this last year i paid the higher prices for the tags and the fuel to go hunting. sitting around the campfire late at night you could here the wolves. was it a good hunt NO. was i able to put food on my table no. i beleive that the wolves are taking out the elk and deer. i for one would not eat wolf, but i do plan to shoot one if it crossed my path. our for fathers were right in getting rid of them.

Commenter: Dave
The wildly sucessful return of wolves in Idaho has now tipped the scale so far as to eliminate public hunting,and very well may have been the plan all along.The feds have virtually taken a road and policy of circumventing the will of the citizens of any state.Is that setting legal precidence?The wolves do have a place but only when everyone concerned has a voice in the decisions that affect us here in Idaho.Here comes wolves to your state,without your consent and with a plan that has no clear objectives!We are putting wolves above all else at what cost?Wake up.Please!

Commenter: Dave
Yet another grossly biased effort by PBS. I'm not surprised. PBS clearly attempted to slant the story in favor of the anti-conservation groups like DOW, NRDC, et al while ignoring sound science and the vital needs of these western states.
These anti-hunt groups aren't "conservationists." They are environmentalists, the scourge of common sense.
Wolves have clearly reached "recovered" status and should be managed as any other big game animal is managed.

Commenter: seth
Here in Colorado we are just stuck with coyotes. I can only imagine the problems the whole state would have if we had wolves. That being said I do think a lot of the wildlife advocates realize what wolves do to an eco system. Keep em out of Colorado!

Commenter: Denny
It is very obvious the pro wolf people have not put much boot leather on the ground. I am born and raised in Montana and live on a ranch in the mountains. I was also in yellowstone when CNN was filming the wolves moving into the park in horsetrailers right outside of Gardiner. I thought it might be nice to hear a wolf howl in the high country now and then. I didn't have a clue what was going to happen in a few years. As an avid elk hunter, which most Montanans are, we have seen our elk herds being wiped out. Now remember, elk and deer licences have paid the millions in wolf reintroduction. Who will pay for the millions of dollars in wolf control and livestock slaughter? More ridiculous government spending? With the ungulants demise, wolves are literally putting ranchers and outfitters out of business.We are starting to see many generation family ranches being sub divided and sold as a result. A lot of pro wolfers are harshing on ranchers, but enjoy a beef steak as well. Ranchers also love the wildlife, but can see the future is not bright. Both you and I deserve to make a living, why can't they? Why bitch about them? Wouldn't you be concerned if 65% of all your calves are being torn apart? What would you say if the wolves were killing your cattle? It seems the wolf advocates are just preaching about the endangered species act and the poititians. Why is there no talk about the elk being ripped apart and their calves being torn out of the cow while she is alive? Or the 125 3rd generation rams (sheep) being sport killed or left to suffer and die by 2 wolves in one afternoon by Dillon? The hunters don't hate wildlife. Even though they may not realize it, they are tree huggers as well. They like heavy timber to hunt and clean streams to fish. Wildlife lovers, you had better enjoy it now, because this elk slaughter is just getting started. There are WAY more wolves that the bioligists think. Ask the people that live and put down leather in the wilds. This is the biggest wildlife disaster since white man wiped out the buffalo. I have often said the coyote will be the last mammel alive because they are so elusive. We have been shooting them as predators for generations and they proliferate. There are still too many of them. That won't last now because the wolves are slautering them too. There is no way hunting will control wolves. As many as we can shoot, they will still increase in numbers. There was a reason our forefathers wiped them out. They used poison, trapping, government hunters and shoot on site and it still took 20 years. Now, the liberals seem to know more than they did. The long and the short of it is, it's over boys. Get used to it. We had our heads in the sand when this unbelievable decision to introduce them was made. And, it's just getting started!

Commenter: Dennis H
North America is a huge place with a population that is spread from the northern tier states to the artic there are over 70,000 wolves, Wolves are far from extintion and need population control,.. wolves are currently well out of balance in the southern 48 for the amount of habitat and range

Commenter: CRAIG T.
I am a lifetime hunter of big game but do not have a desire to hunt wolfs and think they are a magnificent animal that are caught in the middle of an ugly situation that is not there fault. Whoever thought that they could be introduced to there former range without following there natural instincts to spread out and form packs, did not think through the process very well. This is 2010 not the 1800's! like it or not land has been developed and people have moved in. Managed wildlife species like Elk and Deer are dwindling in wolf inhabited areas and as this happens the wolfs will spread out there range even further taking livestock and what ever they can find. It is only a matter of time before we have an incident where some child losses there life to one of these naturally instinctive hunters as they search for prey. I love and appreciate all wildlife, but in our modern age it needs to be controlled for the good of the animals. The best way to accomplish this and keep everyone happy, who knows at this point. It should have never been started to start with, because ultimatly the wolfs will suffer!

Commenter: Roger Tilkemeier
Your bias in favor of environmental organizations, including the radical notions of some is obvious. One of the things that was said that caught my attention was that wolves were present in great numbers years ago and now we want them back in unlimited numbers.. This discounts the fact that the conditions and human populations are now are far different than then. Furthermore the politics of today reflect the huge numbers of people including environmental organizations that have no first hand knowledge of the problems that rural people face as the result of some of those urban popular decisions.

We don't have the votes nor the money to protect ourselves and therefore must rely on the good judgement and fair dealings of qualified officials to do the right thing, regardless of political pressure. In many cases that will is lacking. Lawsuits don't solve problems, they just cost taxpayers hundreds of million dollars to defend against environmentalists whom are funded with tax deductible donations.

Commenter: Ken S.
One of the saddest days ever was the day when the announced they were bringing wolves back in to the northern Rockies. 100 years ago the wolves couldn't get along with humans, what on Gods green earth were they thinking when they brought the wolves back. The wolf has shown a remarkable lack of adaptability. They are basically dead enders in the evolution process and don't belong in populated areas, where they inevitably clash with humans. The wolf advocates sit in their east and west coast homes and smugly shove this project down the throats of people in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Shame on all of you for doing this horrible injustice

Commenter: wolfquill
This poll and the comments are being heavily skewed by Hunt Wolves and Predator Masters Forums to name a couple. Politics as usual.

Gray wolves returning to a significant portion of their range would be a true recovery as per the Endangered Species Act, as it was originally intended to do. We have not yet seen this. Not even close.

Until people stop acting on irrational fear and hatred, and cease to skew the facts to promote their agenda, wolves will continue to be in dire need of that protection.

Commenter: gline
"Save Elk" is an irrational, fear mongering group only concerned with themselves. If they truly cared for Elk, they would educate themselves on the biology of wolves and how Elk actually need their predators to stay strong and healthy. You only care for the Elk so that you can shoot them. BS that that is your only food for the winter. Got a snowmobile in the garage too? Make room for wolves, and not TOKEN populations of them.

Commenter: KnownasTD
This is yet another classic example of how the granola crowd has used their ill-understood agenda, replete with unscientific facts and data, along with their their biased reporting, including their discriminate attacks on sound wildlife management policies.

We can't effectively manage "any" species of wildlife, especially the apex-predator wolf. And more-so, when the only wildlife management tool in your toolbox is your "warm & fuzzy heart". I digress...

Commenter: Tom
Government Sponsored Terrorism! Nothing more, nothing less.

It is amazing how the "wolf" instills so much passion in the people of the US.

Just read all of the drivel posted below. It is amazing how so many are out of touch with reality and how this nation was settled and prospered. Wolves were eliminated for a reason in the Western US and have never been endangered world wide as they do have a function in controlling excessive wildlife in a few remote spots in the world. The only thing endangered is the western resource user and the communities that are an integral part of the West.

Leave Ken Salazar alone. He is the only bright spot in the Obama cabinet.

Commenter: Rick Ellison
Maybe those who think wolves are still endangered need to come and live among them like we do here in the West.
Populations have far, far exceeded the numbers promised in the beginning to establish them and now their numbers are spiraling out of control. Even with controlled hunting Wolves are now destroying all of their prey, livestock, neighborhood dogs, and soon elk, deer, and sheep will have to go on the endangered species act.
Wolves have NO known predator unless we control them.

Commenter: Todd Black
Was this supposed to be an unbiased report? If so you did a very poor job, your opinion and side on the matter shown through in true colors.

I consider myself a conservationist and a hunter but too me it was pretty one sided.

Todd A. Black
CBC EXT Specialists
Jack H. Berryman Institute
Dept. WILD
5230 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-5230
cell 435-770-9302
fax 435-797-3796

Commenter: scott
i own livestock as do many others and when that livestock is threatend by anything you need to do something about it. Wolves, coyotes etc. i believe need to be regulated and hunted. Like anything else when it gets out of hand something needs to be done. i am an avid bow hunter and outdoorsman that supports conservation efforts not by all but ones that make sense to me. i am a life member of the NRA and i do see the need for hunting and sport shooting. As far as you all that are upset for the way Obama is handling things in office, you voted for him, all of this was laid out on the table and in black and white in his policies that you obviously failed to read. You wanted him, you got him now stop your whining and you try and figure out a solution that makes sense and do something about it.

Commenter: Andy Bailey
It is interesting that the video does not show the graphic violence of a pack wolves chasing, attacking, and eating alive any animals. It only shows cute cuddly wolves romping in the wild. I would love to show a PETA person a graphic video of the truly violent nature of these animals. Too bad.

Commenter: Reid Hill
Seems like a good boycott of these company's and corporations would be good enough, but it's probably going to take a lot more to convence them differently. I've been trying for several years to get authorities to either send or let me come and rescue wolves and/or cubs before destroying them, but this has been to no avail.

Reid Hill
Cheyenne & Co. Wolf Sanctuary
Rutherfordton, NC 28139

Commenter: Dennis O'Brien
Relocate the wolves to Berkely or San Francisco.
Happiness is an image of a wolf in the cross hairs! Let the ranchers manage the packs, they are funding them with the loss of their livestock. Just say'n!!

Commenter: Danny A
I think the wolf should be protected but being from the area and knowing many ranchers negatively affected by these huge packs running around, and they are huge I have seen them. Ranchers should have the right to shoot them on their property. If someone shoots them out and about and doesn't own any land there, they should be punished, but not the ranchers trying to provide for their families.

Commenter: Marie
We didn't need them when they brought them back and we dont need them now. Ranchers are the ones paying the price for man's stupity. I live in MONTANA!

Commenter: Joseph Keith
There is no logical reason for the wolves to be here in New Mexico and Arizona. The elk and deer population aren't exceeding their limits so there is no reason for predators to be brought in to keep the numbers down. The ranches in this area are suffering immensely, and for what. It's a waste of money that could be put to something more worthwhile.

Commenter: N Sanders
The wolves have had too much success in my opinion. For those who say that they will feed on the weak! Wrong, they feed on whatever they can! Try looking at the baby calves they have slaughtered! Better yet, the mommas that are giving birth and don't have their normal defense! It is gross! There is a reason that people wanted them gone a long time ago. You should see the cages that are along the highways to protect their children at the bus stops!

Commenter: psyops
Delist them, I can't wait to hunt'em.

Commenter: Jay
Cutting off the comments didn't help your effort much did it?

Commenter: Elden Hulsey
With the state of our economy, I don't think that wolves are what we need to be concerned about. And also, maybe there is a reason the Government contributed to there extermination years ago.

Commenter: Kevin Frost
I do not accept that the Bush, and now the Obama adminstrations are anti-environmental. Delisting is the right thing to do. It is these enviornmental groups such as Earth Justice and Defenders of Wildlife that are nuts!

Commenter: Joan Richards
I like wolves very much. I approve of their family life - the way all members of a pack help raise the cubs. Also they very rarely, if at all, hurt humans. They need to be able to roam over a very large area in order to maintain genetic diversity. Hence I strongly support the continuance of their status of an endangered species.

Commenter: Scott Leach
State rights and the people that live in that state need to be making the laws on whats hunted and what is protected. If you want wolves in Washington DC than you can have them, but dont tell people in Wy what we need and want!

Commenter: Debbie L.
We were never given a chance to object to the wolves being turned loose on us. Sure, USF&WS held public meetings over the deal, had a comment period, but the decision to turn them loose here had already been made long before we got to give our input.
There are so many good folks being put out of business because of the problem, and it's a shame. Concerned citizens have erected cages at school bus stops, so that the kids have a place to stay while waiting for the bus, in case of wandering wolves.
A neighbor kid was literally surrounded by wolves a couple of years ago not far from here; it's a good thing he had parents who taught him what to do and not do, or he might not have survived the incident. It's only a matter of time before someone is fatally attacked by some of those who were hand-raised by humans, because there is no natural fear there. They will come right up on your front porch and steal your pets. Bad thing is that there's nothing you can do about that.

Commenter: C. Dude
I have hunted where there are fair numbers of wolves in Idaho. Not only are the deer and elk numbers drasticly down if not devestated in these areas. The populations of lions and even the black bear numbers are suffering. A wolf not only kills for food, but also for fun. I was glad to see Idaho open a season and have wolf numbers regulated. If the decision to take manegement away from individual state governments is taken away and the wolf is to be federaly delisted again. You can bet that every wolf I see will be shot on site. They are Killers. I'm the top predator in the woods. A wolf cant make management decisions. And if a regulated season is taken away. Then the sportsmans will regulate it them selves. We see whats happening out there. Not the tree huggers.

Commenter: Jack B.
Sorry PBS, but your little spill on the plight of the wolf was extremely biased, slanted, untrue, and really pathetic. The proliferation of unmanaged wolves in the west has reversed hundreds of years of successful wildlife management. Wild animals should be managed by sound biology and science rather than radical agendas pushed by out-of-touch groups like Earth Justice, Defenders of Wildlife, GYC, etc.

Commenter: cred
It's not an "either or" situation with wolves. Here in Mexican wolf country, pro-wolf people act as if humans don't have any rights. Environmental groups use tax-payer money (they get grants, plus they're non-profits and don't pay taxes)to sue the government (that's us, the tax-payers) as if somehow these groups actually represented the opinion of the tax-payers. I didn't vote for them to represent me! No one did! Some of the more litigious enviro groups are quite open about wanting to confine humans to cities and leave the rest of the country to the wild animals - as if humans didn't evolve here, too.

Humans and human rights have to be part of any environmental planning, that's common sense. I'd say the very best thing that could be done to protect the wolves would be to forbid environmental groups from having a say in wolf management.

By the way, the pre-European population in the Mexican wolf "reintroduction area"was much higher than the the current human population, so let's not pretend that the failure for the Mexican wolf to thrive is caused by anti-wolf locals.

And by the way - this, too, is an area that is being "repopulated" with wolves that are non-native. I just got a reprint of a 1935 article out of the Journal of Mammology assessing the wolf species in North America - sorry, there weren't any Mexican wolves here, it was Mogollon wolves. So the environmental protection act doesn't even apply to Mexican wolves!

Commenter: Susan Alvord Boise, Idaho
How would you like these monsters in your back yard...???

They have killed the elk and dear...what's next...our dogs and our CHILDREN...???

They breed like rabbits...and "KILL" for fun...!!!

They are not the indeginous Timber Wolf...they are from the Canadian forest...

Susan Alvord
Boise, Idaho


Commenter: John E. Willman
The wolf has been successfully reintroduced and has expanded well beyond what was first believed. Now in many areas elk populations have been reduced very quickly. If the wolves continue to expand at this rate and the elk populations drop as much in the next 5 years both elk and wolves are going to have problem.

Like all game populations and predator populations we must manange them. Many of these rural towns and ranching communities rely on hunting for income and a fresh supply of meat. If we want our Western ranching heritage to continue we must slow the expanse of the wolf. We do not need to eliminate the wolf, but we need to control its expansion.

We must watch our elks herds carefully and remember once they are gone the wolves will prey on other game, pets, and livestock, just like the Canadians warned us when we reintroduced this invasive species. Yes, that is right, invasive species. Our elk, deer, moose and bison evoled aroung the Timber wolf, not the Canadian wolf, which is a bigger animal and more prone to hunt in packs. Beause of this our Western ungulate population does not know how to evade this type of predatory tactic. To prove this theory the wolves are successfully killing not the weak, young and old, but big bull elk in their prime. Go to Yellowstone and see the majestic bulls that are being killed in their prime.

3. the Canadian wolf. This is a bigger animal and more prone to hunt in packs, which many or most of our ungilate populations does not know how to evade!

Commenter: Denean
Ok. First off they were not exotic species introduced into the different states. They were reintroduced because people felt it ok to remove a KEYSTONE species from the landscape to benefit their wants and desires. Then they realized "oh crap" they actually did have a purpose here. Second you have to understand genetics to know how many individuals are needed to maintain a viable population and keep genetic diversity to avoid inbreeding, mutations, and other problems that could affect a population. If you underestimate that number required it can lead to a huge problem in the future where just one incident be it disease or a catastrophic event could wipe out a population very quickly. Third one has to realize these animals had been in this landscape for centuries before any human being was. Its their natural habitat that is being encroached upon not the other way around. Unlike us they lack the ability to voice their opinion and defend themselves from unfair practices. We have to learn that everything has a place and reason why it exists and that reason doesn't necessarily involve us. Fourth leaving management up to the individual states creates too many conflicting ways to manage a population. Half the time a state lacks the financial resources to implement their policies, and left on their own they would have to fund much of the implementation on their own. Having a federally mandated program is better because it allows for funding and doesn't leave it up entirely to the state (which again has enough problems gathering funding as it is for most the programs it has).
Now if you get rid of the wolves its just going to lead to another predator trickling down and affecting ranching and other human uses of the land. Then it will be suggested to hunt that species that is creating problems, until you get rid of all the predatory species in the area. Then your grazing animals, such as elk, will compete for rangeland. Then it will be suggested to hunt those more. Until you have altered the landscape so much the system that nature has established to maintain a ecosystem fails and the land becomes unusable. So eradicating and hunting are not a good fix to these problems. Its meerly like slapping some ducktape on a sinking ship and continuing to sail around the ocean without getting a better fix to the problem. We have to realize in many of these areas we are altering the land to suit our needs and wants, and these alterations create problems for the ecosystem that has evolved under many billions of years to work how it does now. The land supports us not the other way around, and if we continue to shape it to suit our needs, it will not be able to adapt to these changes quickly enough, and we will find ourselves on an endangered species list. Basically up a creek without a paddle.
In conclusion I am not saying that animals and nature are more important than a human life. At the same time I am not saying that humans are more important than animals and nature. I am saying that everything has a balance and we have to really research and seek what that balance is and we can't just jump and react, it has to be sound. Also we can't always believe that the government is right, thats why you need to look at the scientific data, which is unbiased. Results are results.
Also last note, I promise, the population had to be repopulated by an outside source because the once indigenous species was hunted to eradication.

Commenter: George
As I have continued to read comment to this subject it appears many have got caught up with emotion. I find it quite relaxing to view wildlife. On a trip to Yellowstone Park. I was blessed to observe wolves in the Lamar valley. A herd of Buffalo were below them. The calves were playing enjoying the cool fall air. The wolves worked the outer edges attempting to seperate a calf from it mother. The combined efforts of the mothers saved the calves. The wolves refocused on a small elk herd that came into view. For 2 hours they worked this herd in circles until a cow elk broke the herd and was soon taken down by 5 wolves. It occured to me that the balance of ecosystem is not equal at all. Elk,Deer,Moose,and Bison have a average of 1 offspring per year. Most predator species have 2 to 5 on average offspring. The predator/prey ratio is out of balance at birth. I know Montain lions in my area have increased to the point that we have had sightings in our city, at the university campus. Investigation of tracks has proven to be accurate. Many residents in the cummunity have seen thier family pets being eaten on there patio, decks, and front porch. We had one case of a cougar that decided to reside under a house. It gained access under the front porch steps. I for one do not blame the animals wanting to survive. It is a natural instinked in all living things. When survival becomes a natural migration to populated area's and run the dangerous risk of human lives being threatened I am moved to preventative concern.
The wolves have population based increased themselves to the point of spreading out. They travel exstreme distances. As a Northern Idaho collared wolf was recently hit by a car in eastern Colorado it is apparent the territorial exspantion is on the rise. Soon all areas will feel the impact of wolves. I enjoy snakes but I do recognise the problem in florida nonresidential snake population has spread to the everglades.Boas are threating the alligator population. I need to stay out of that fray and let the local experts handle it.So should those well intended experts in the sciences and justice for all advocates.Let the local experts in wolf states handle the balance of life for all. They really have the concernes for all sides at heart. Many talk about Teddy Roseveltt times.The killing of wolves and buffalo. Teddy had forsight. He pushed for putting lands aside for our generation to fully observe and take advantage of. If it was not for him it could have easily been Yellowstone mining or Yosimine lumber company. Let the experts handle the wolves. I want Yellowstone to have more game than wolves and bear.

Commenter: Katherine M.
I don't believe restoring the wolf population will benefit mankind. I believe my tax dollars should be spent on helping mankind not the wolf. How sad we have our children at-risk and we are more worried about a hybrid, domesticated wolf than our childrens' needs (food, education, healthcare).

The wolf recovery programs are just an avenue for environmental groups to take away land from private land owners and turn it over to the government by making it impossible for a private landowner to do business on their property without disturbing the wolf.

Commenter: Tom
This is an example of a government that is out of control just like the wolves they put on top of us. Both need to be ________. Let your own imagination work on this solution.

Commenter: Rock
Just last year, in the heat of the "de-listing debate" we were told we were crazy, and we didn't know a damned thing about wolves. Those of us who live, work and recreate in Idaho did know, and now the numbers are rolling in. This is a emergency situation. Our elk, deer, and moose are on a crash course to total extinction of our big game herds. The non Native Canadian Grey Wolf need's to be removed. If those of you in New York want this killer in your State, then you take them. I am sick and tired of the Wolf Cult, and I am fed up with these lunatics allowing the complete inhalation of our wild animals. We the people of Idaho do not want them. If you think we are a bunch of rednecks, think again. We have learned from your tactics, and now we are kicking your butt on the wolf debate.Come see for yourself, the devastation of the wildlife, and human toll.

Commenter: Mike
What about Minnesota. We have over 3000 wolves, mostly located in the northern 1/3 of the state. This population is high enough according to the story for the state to regulate, yet if Federally protected, we can do nothing... so are the western states more important than MN??

Also in response to M. Kitchen's comment where he/she says:
"These two camps are diametrically opposed and can never reconcile. The basic concept of 'God good, devil bad', dictates that Christians decide which side they are on.
At the end of the day, and regardless of what was allowed after the flood, if you follow God, you're going to be a vegetarian. There is no need for cattle."

Your argument is flawed. John Chapter 21. Jesus (GOD) not only helps the disciples catch 153 fish, but he cooks fish and bread for them all to eat. So, I can be a Christian, and not be a vegetarian.

Commenter: Tom
Sorry about that, I'm from central Idaho.

Commenter: Dudley Verbeck
No the wolves do not need protection

Commenter: Tom
I wish all commenters would list your home of residence.I suspect that the majority of the posts favoring the reintroduction and the relisting of wolves don't live any where near an area where wolves
are located. If you did wou would recognize the problems they are causing.

Commenter: George
I feel that we need to protect every wolf currently in the forest. It is apparent with the decline of Elk,Deer,Moose,Bison,and other game animals the wolf suffers from threat of starvation. It should be mandatory we round the wolf up (everyone of them.) and deliver them to the compationate enviromentalists. They can observe them in their private secluded back yards.(Reduced stress) Saveing gas they normally would use championing their cause. Greenhouse emitions lowered, and reduceing the trespass on nature itself. Most important they can assist the challenged wolf to sustain life and exspand in a more relaxing atmosphere. Enviromentalist should lead by example by opening up there homes and hearts. Who's 1st in line?

Commenter: smart one
I hope all you pro wolf people one day get eatten by one of your beloved wolf, till then maybe we should hunt both of you. You can share the same faith dumbasses.

Commenter: David Baker
The wolf were killed out of the U.S. during settlers days. This was done for a reason to protect lifestock and humans. We have not needed them to balance the eco system for the past 80 years so leave them in canadia. In New Mexico they have interduced the wolf and it has only caused problem for communties. The conversation groups dont care about the damage these wolf do cause were they put them they live faraway. The people need to take a stand and tell the conversation groups to live with them animals, if they love them so much let the wolf eat thier friend, and pets.

Commenter: Tim Lawrence
Wolves are not like some of the other cute and cudlys. They are very prolific and very dangerous. Management needs to start now on a proactive basis and not a reactive basis after they become a problem. Now that we're stuck with them, its the only responsible thing to do. The people responsible for reintroducing the wolves, still need their heads examined.

Commenter: Martin
I am an Idaho resident. Wolves have DECIMATED elk and moose populations in the states where they have been re-intorduced (Idaho, Wyoming, Montana), costing the economies of those states MILLIONS every year. Elk and moose populations in other western states where wolves are not present (Utah, Colorado, Oregon) are on the rise. They have a place in our wilderness but they need to be controlled and managed like every other big game animal. Just like cougar hunting, wolf hunting can be a valuable and effective tool in moderating wolf populations in areas where they have grown too numerous and are damaging ungulate populations.

Commenter: Lisa Thomaschek
I thought recovery meant they were recovered in ALL areas - not just a select few.

Why bring something back when you turn around and start killing them?

Commenter: bart george
More than any other species, wolves evoke unusual emotions in Americans. Several Western states have fully recovered wolf populations. The US Fish and Wildlife Service basis for delisting has been reached far and away. Without some management (hunting) wolves wolf population will continue to grow and lead to significant lost wildlife resources and further livestock losses. The current population is too high, let's allow hunting to get the population in check and maintain a balance with game animals, hunters, ranchers, and wolves.

Commenter: Rich Baker
The general public has no place in this. To say "do you believe wolves should be protected? in a poll shows how bias this is. Science shows that there needs to be a balance, This applies to all wildlife. Deer ,elk,bears, cougar,and wolves. The general public should not have a say in management of these species. Thats what we have biologists for and we should never limit there options to control populations of predator or prey animals.

Commenter: bone
I think some of you should watch one of Gods creatures tear apart and eat another one of God's creatures while it is still alive. And...the whole thought that they only kill the old and infirm is a JOKE. Some of you really do need to get off your couch and quit watching Disney films.

Commenter: Bone
Nature and politics don't mix. I would bet 99.9% of politicians know nothing of the outdoors or understand the impact of wolves. They should leave management up to those that understand the issue. Typical of the problem, folks and lobbyists are pushing their agenda on other folks that actually have to live with the decision. How would someone in Washington DC be able to understand the impact of what the impact of one game species might have on another. Anti hunters have thier agenda and so do avid outdoorsman. Until all of you pull your heads out, and work together, this crisis is going to just get bigger and BIGGER.

Commenter: Ross. MONTANA
This is a Canadian wolf, not even and endangered species...What the hell are you doing. Next you will try to stop hunting all together, to save the Deer, Elk, etc. Go be god some were else... Send them back to Canada...

Commenter: Wayne
Wolves are awesome animals. Humans are overpopulated. Wolves kill livestock and elk. Wolves need to start killing more livestock and put more welfare farmers out of business.

Commenter: Wayne
Humans need managing, Hunters, would you be so kind to jump off a bridge. You worthless white trash.

Commenter: Mike
The hunters who voted no in this poll are nothing more than cowards with guns who have no regard for animal life. The wolves kill other animals to survive and hunters don't understand the nature and the reality of the wolf. I am glad that wolves kill livestock and kill elk. I hope they wipe all of the elk herds out and than go after hunters and eat them because they are worthless white trash.

Commenter: Janice42
this has gone on long enough. Now the so called wildlife advocates are just milking it for the courtroom federal reimbursement for suing. It is disgusting and they are damaging other wildlife and hurting families at this point all in the name of the all mighty dollar.

Commenter: Crayfin
Management should be left up to the individual states that wolves reside in...they are the ones that get to cleanup the mess and deal with the issues that arise. D.C. can manage them when they have breeding pairs in their neck of the woods!!

Commenter: Arnie
IMO, keep as many as you want in the national parks, anything off the park can be shot on site any time of day or night. Then oonce all the people going to the parks dont get a chance to see a wolf and the elk and bison numbers are down, they will stop going all together. This is not one of the mostt successful reintroductions - that would be the story of wild turkey. This is one of the biggest mistakes, bringing in the canadian wolves to an area that was not even native to them... well educated dumba$$es we have to thank for that.

Commenter: Rudy
Wolves are an apex predator. There is no species that preys on them, therefore their populations will go unchecked. It's been mentioned by some that when their food sources run low, they will stop multiplying. That is incorrect. As the food sources diminish, the wolves will spread to new areas, and/or seek new food sources - namely the livestock.

Those who are in support of letting the wolves overpopulate are also supporting higher agricultural costs in terms of livestock protection and loss of stock. Are they prepared to pay even higher grocery bills in support of these voracious predators?

We have no wolves in this area, but have an overabundance of coyotes. Being the apex predators in this area, their numbers also go unchecked. As food sources dwindle, and coyote populations increase, they pack together and become very brazen. This species which will often turn and run at the sight of a human, will become very brave and bold when hungry, and in larger numbers. I know this firsthand, having experienced an attack a few years ago.

In this area, we have had coyotes come up onto porches to snatch up puppies, seen them attack small children, and pack together to take down livestock. And these are only coyotes - the wolves' smaller and more timid cousin.

When man decides to "play God", and tamper with nature by introducing new species to an area, he must also take responsibility for the effect that species has on that particular ecosystem.

I'm not in support of hunting any species into extinction, mind you, but I do believe that populations must be controlled for the sake of the indigenous species of the area.

Commenter: Steve
State wildlife agencys need to be put back in control
of the wolf and they need to be managed by whatever means. and not just in the northern rockys. wolves are becoming a problem here in the southwest as well. The people that live,work and make a liveing in the regions of the contry that have wolves need to decide how the need to be managed not a bunch of polaticans,politacal appontees and specail intrest groups.

Commenter: Rob
LOts of links supporting protection of wolves-- but nothing about the other side of the story... glad to see you are "objective" in your views. BTW-- do any of you live in the Rockies-- not in the city-- but actually live up here where we deal with this all the time? Pretty easy to have an opinion when it doesn't hit you in the face every day

Commenter: idaho spud
I think that all you that think the problem is toomany humans, or too many humans in general volunteer to be the first ones to be subtracted from the population. put your passion ahead of YOUR self interst. and that will free up the rest of us to rectify the mess you have fostered on our environments. that should make us all happy. it is incredible that most of you granolas couldnt survive alone on a sunny day in the wild with out your modern equipment/water bottles, yet you want to tell me how I should live. such ignorance, such arrogance. just to be clear, my horse, dog and grandchildren are too valuable to become wolf bait. they will lose if it comes that.

Commenter: TBOregon
What fool would place a wild apex predator in their backyard? No one is that foolish thats why people from the cities put them in someone elses back yard so they can think they did something right for the world. News update, you put them in my childrens backyard.....Thanks a lot. Shoot them all, or relocate them to Downtown NY NY, LA, Portland and the rest of the places you live.

Commenter: Bob S
The irony and hypocrisy of many of these comments is staggering.

To the "Mother Earth" and "all God's Creatures" crowd I'd ask if you are completely consistent in your principles. Do you place the same heartfelt energies into protecting ALL God's creatures? Do you champion the cause of rats, cock-roaches, termites, flies etc? For they are also God's creatures. If you can honestly say yes, then I completely respect your opinions here.

For those that claim some conspiracy or wrong doing, the reintroduction objectives were met, times 5 .... period. The current issue is not taking the wolf back to extinction but managing their numbers. Humans are a part of that equation and that's not going to change. If your emotions tell you that the human part of the equation is all the problem then by all means, please don't breed and add to that. Frankly you're here, so clearly you are also the problem. What do you intend to do to resolve that?It's time to objectively move on and manage the issue in that reality.

For those that rail against the evil hunters, who do you think paid for Yellowstone, nearly all wildlife management costs, all the research, all the habitat improvement, and even the wolf reintroduction? Hunters did. And they did it voluntarily. And that money is for the benefit of both gane and non-game species and all wild places. That is undisputable fact. I challange you to show me one non-hunting based organization that spends a mere fraction of the money, if any, towards wildlife management. Actual on-the-ground beneifit dollars, not money towards lawyers to enforce a biased agenda in the courts. If you can show me that you give equally, I believe you have an equal voice.

And for those that don't believe the people who live with the wolves should be the ones with the majority say in how they are managed. I challange you to show me the petition you've started, the persoanl money you've spent to support having them introduced into your backyard, whether it be New Jersey, Conneticut, New York wherever you reside. Show me that and I say you are honorable and have a legitimate voice in the debate.

Commenter: Mtetm
wolf re-introduction is a great long as the wolves are introduced in Central Park and/or other Parks close to, or surrounded by, the population centers that feel they need wolves and want to be able to view them in the "wild". Then, those that introduced them can live with the "natural" impacts the wolves provide and deal with the wolves with any means they feel is appropriate when the wolves disregard the boundaries set by those that introduced them...

Until that time come...Wolves should be hunted and private landowners with wolves on their property should have the ability to shoot wolves at will at any time of the year...

Commenter: Brandon Gaudelli
What about the recovery of the elk, muledeer,whitetail deer ,antelope,and several species of wild turkey.I would say they have come back pretty strong,now making million`s of dollars for each state! and thousands of jobs.If you put a endangered cockroach in a full box of cereal what do you think is going to happen.Before to long you have a real problem,and so do your neighbor`s,and that endangered species is`nt so endangered.Now it endanger`s humans!There must have been a good reason the wolf`s were shot out in the first place,maybe because there DONGEROUS.What economical value do the wolfs bring in.ZERO ALL THEY DO IS TAKE AWAY.

Commenter: Audrey McQueen
These wolves that have been put here in New Mexico are ruining the cattle and hunting industry. They are eating baby calves and all kinds of wildlife every day. These wolves need to be removed permenatly.

Commenter: Irma Nance
All wild life should be left alone and protected as we are suppposed to do. QWhat wedo to the animals is apaulling. what is it in humans that make them natural born killers.

Commenter: Ron Rains
The Government should live up to the original promises and goals! CONTROL THE WOLF POPULATION!! The inviro's know that the way to play the game is to manipulate the "management" of the wolves by filing lawsuits (that us taxpayers pay for, but that's another story). The Mexican Grey wolf project in the Southwest is a complete mess with nothing but dollars down the drain, lies, and broken promises to show for it. The true financial and emotional impact on local residents has never been addressed and never will be as long as these programs are being manipulated in favor of the wolf over us humans.

Commenter: Marilyn Snyder
It just seems defeating to me to go through all the work to bring this animal back from the brink of extinction, just to kill them again!!!

Commenter: Gale Moore
Wolf reintroduction in Eastern Arizona/Southwestern New Mexico has impacted rural residents' safety, peace of mind, and livelihoods. Mexican wolves are native to the desert regions, not the mountains.
Wolves that have been released are habituated to humans and have no fear of them. They have killed cattle and horses, and it's only a matter of time before they attack a human.
People who are in support of this reintroduction program are not impacted by it --- how convenient. It must be so satisfying for them to sit in their urban dwellings and weep for the fate of the poor wolves. Give me a break: these are wild animals, not Disney characters. I propose that wolves be released into urban areas and see how quickly the wolf proponents change their sentimental minds.

Commenter: Doug-Idaho
The introduction of these non-native animals into our State has been devastating and it should never have happened.

The federal government needs to stop making desicions for the State's widlife resources, as they have shown that they are only interested in pleasing the radical wolf fanatics rather than using common sense and sound biology.

The damage that the exploding wolf populations have caused is quickly dismissed by those who don't live here, but the consequences of such a short-sighted, political decision have been devastating.

Commenter: Ben
The federal government telling individual states how they can or can't manage wildlife that is affecting big game, livestock and personal property is plain wrong. The state biologists should be the ones working on this problem, not a politician or special interest lobbyist in Washington. I have seen and heard of way too many slaughtered hounds and big game killed for sport by these packs of wolves. And the numbers are being way under reported as to the real population.

Commenter: Mike
A population of 1600 when 300 is the appropriate number? Sounds like they need to be taken off the endangered list to me.

Commenter: Ken
The wolf was removed from the western states for a reason. Anyone wanting to protect or otherwise safeguard them has never seen their stock in trade.
Turn one loose in the posh neighborhoods of Denver and see how long it takes to get "removed".

Commenter: Nathan Helm
It is absolutely disingenuous to represent Idaho's hunters as you chose to do so in this video. Idaho Sportsmen finance and fund wildlife management that is productive and diverse. There are many folks who can talk intelligently about the weaknesses in the wolf advocates suit. You could have spoken with our attorney as interveners in the case - too bad, because it demonstrates your presentation was imbalanced.

Nate Helm, President
Idaho Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife

Commenter: Leloo Cly
The reintroduction of wolves in the western USA has become the train wreck that it was doomed to become. The lower 48 is no longer a suitable habitat for the wolf. Pack and total wolf numbers have far exceeded the agreed upon numbers, and the propents want more. It is well past time to actively manage these predators as big game animals. They are decimating game populations, and impacting domestic live stock as well. The truth is they have NO PLACE in the west. The once abundant elk numbers in Yellowstone is easy evidence of the destruction that wolves put upon wildlife. Where you once could view and enjoy hundreds of elk, you now may be lucky to see any. It is past time to act and bring these animals back to the agreed upon levels in all areas of the western United States.

Commenter: Dennis Neill
It might be a good thought for you all to post some fair-minded outfits, to at least offer some countering to the anti-hunting, anti-rationality, extremist organizations such as Earthjustice, Greater Yellowstong Coalition, and NRDC, to name a few that seem to being promoted here. Having worked in their vicinity and watched their actions first-handed -- I can assure you that they are quite biased and are not in favor of actual wildlife management put on by wildlife professionals.

Wolves, like all the rest in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, need to be managed, and managed by the States.

Commenter: Jerry Collins
States do a much better job of managing game than the Feds

Commenter: GrinzatoMaria
Killing of any animal is a CRIME.As a Human being we have to make the difference.

Commenter: Dan Grasser
What I'd like to know is what have these Canadian Wolves done to the smaller native Timber Wolves that existed along the North Fork of the Clearwater river. I remember seeing pictures and reading about the sightings in the Clearwater Tribune back in the mid 80's. I believe they were seen in the Kelly Creek area. As territorial as wolves are, doesn't it make sense that the larger species will wipe out the smaller one? It seems to me that the very people who say they are trying to protect the wolves are more than likely responsible for the decimation of the more endagered species.

Commenter: TJ
We absolutly Don't need wolves in this ecosystem, Absolute BS using the indangered species act to bring in a species that IS NOT ENDANGERED!!!!!!!!

Commenter: Joseph

Commenter: DJ Huntsman
Managing wolves should be left to the individual States. The "Introduction" of these non-native wolves to States that did not want them to begin with was illegal, unethical, and has caused severe and tragic consequences. It is a blatant example of "poor" wildlife management practices done to merely please radical special interest groups.

Commenter: Frank Alessio
The Wolves tranplanted in Yellowstone were not even indiginous to that area. ranchers have spent generations balancing the area only to have it poluted again with predators that are not controlled properly through hunting... What a stupid move... These same people would scream like hell if the government came to there homes and reintroduced Crab grass...

Commenter: adam from Wisconsin
Wolves in the upper midwest and wolves in the upper rockies should both be hunted without regulation at least until numbers are reduced in a big way.

Commenter: Roger
The only people who want wolves to be protected are the ones who don't know any better.

Commenter: Wyatt Johnson
You should only consider the opinions of those who live in the areas being ravaged by the wolves. If you live in NYC then you don't have a clue. Wolves are indiscriminate killers and need man to control them. I think they ought to release them in Central Park since they once inhabited there also. Let the states that are losing there wildlife and livestock decide since they are the ones being affected. Last I checked the states have biologists on staff.

Commenter: Wil
Wow. I really can't believe how many people here are so out of touch with reality. "People are the problem" even one out of touch fella said to move everyone in large cities. Are you kidding me? Look the wolves are known as a keystone species, however their numbers do need to be put in check. with over 5 times the amount that was decided to be a recovery, obviously the whole ecosystem cant support itself. Sounds to me we need to shoot, poison, trap about 1300. That would benefit ALL the wildlife that you granolas take cute pictures of.

Commenter: Tom
Wolves are having a huge affect on our Elk, Deer, Moose and Bison. They need to be managed and managed now. The following is a one recent report just released.


Date: February 26, 2010 Contact: Ed Mitchell (208) 334-3700

idaho fish and game completes lolo zone elk survey

Recently completed aerial surveys show a marked decline in elk numbers in game management units 10 and 12, which comprise the Lolo Elk Management Zone.

Survey results indicate the elk population in the Lolo Zone has declined from 5,110 to 2,178, a 57-percent reduction since 2006. The greatest declines were observed in numbers of elk cows, calves and spike bulls. Overall, bull numbers were down zone-wide, with a shift in bulls to older animals.

"This survey, combined with ongoing research showing wolves are the primary cause of elk mortality today, is further scientific evidence of the impact wolves are having," Fish and Game Director Cal Groen said. "The rate of this decline in just four short years should help people understand there is an urgency to manage for a balance in this area."

Appropriate management options in response to this latest survey data are being explored.

Wolf predation is the major source of mortality on this elk herd and is affecting population size because too few calves are surviving to replace the adults that die each year. Predation is preventing recovery from a decline that began in the late 1980s and a steep decline following the severe winter of 1996-97.

This survey information corroborates ongoing research being conducted in the Lolo Zone that shows survival of radio-collared adult elk and six-month-old calves has been poor. Modeling efforts based on research survival data estimate declines of 11 to 15 percent annually.

Idaho Fish and Game's aerial surveys of most elk zones are conducted on a three- to five-year rotation. Surveys provide estimates of the size of the population as well as demographic data, such as numbers of elk cows, calves and bulls.

We are so very close to losing this herd completely. Fish & Game has performed prescribed burns in this area, has allowed for double bear tags, and has spent alot of time trying to help this herd get back on its feet. For those that don't know, this is the herd that F&G wanted to help out by thinning the wolf population in the area, but the feds told them they couldn't...............

Please join me and purchase your wolf tag today they are a cunning game animal whose pelt makes a great trophy.

Commenter: Alan Two Bear
I am truly amazed at how clueless the general population of this country is. The vast majority on responses make silly emotional arguments to a biological problem. First, wolves do kill for sport as a matter of routine, and it is well documented all over the rocky mountains. Last year in Dillion, MT wolves killed 120 sheep and left them to rot in the hot midday sun. Wolves do not belong in Montana anymore then they belong in Central Park. We live here, we see them, we live in the mountains. We Montanans don't need a bunch of liberal bleeding heart tree huggers telling us how to manage our wildlife. We don't need some fellow sitting on his couch in Manhatten telling us here on the mountain what is best for us. We have watched the wolf decimate moose/elk/deer populations here, and we are sick of it.

Commenter: Heritage
The reality is that the Canadian Grey Wolf is not endangered and never was. These animals in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho have exploded in range and population just as the wildlife "professionals" knew they would. The evidence is becoming overwhelming that this uncontroled predator growth is having big negative consequences for game populations. Deer and elk populations in many wolf populated parts of Montana are now way below objective. I dont think the wildlife agencies have a clue about what is happening to the moose populations. Good luck seeing a moose on your next trip to Montana!

Most people in Montana value the oportunity to hunt and stock their freezers with big game over the opportunity to see a wolf. This hunter opportunity is becoming rapidly diminished because of expading wolf populations. So the user group that pays for 99% of all wildlife management is taking it in the shorts. Montana is about the people that live here to, not just the nations predator preserve. I believe these animals should never have been allowed to expand out of the Park.

Commenter: Gina W.
The wolves have been the most persecuted animals in our nations history. It is obvious that through ignorance and upbringing this magnificent creature has been regarded as a pest for centuries. Wolves are apex predators important to the ecosystem. They have been part of the natural balance for thousands of years. Our government should be ashamed. How can the wolves have a fair chance at survival with a CATTLE RANCHER in charge of their fate. What a joke people!!! I hope the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, is fired for his incompetence to support Federal Law (Endangered Species Act) and his apparent bias with regards to the wolves. In my opinion, he is directly responsible for the murder of innocent and endangered animals. Ken Salazar should be ashamed of hisself!!!

Commenter: Eric S.
Humans need population control. This is the source of the problem. At what point will we begin to limit our own expansion. China does it now through the government. When wolf populations exceed the available prey source their numbers will naturally decline. The human population will likely follow suit. We will exceed our ability to feed our populations and our numbers will decline. While we attempt to control our environment by protecting or killing wolves we fail to recognize the paralell between us. Let the wolves live their lives as we chose to live ours.

Commenter: las
Wolves are the most prolific of all large predators- they certainly don't need "protection" - other than good game management- in Alaska, Canada, and in the Rocky Mt West, where they have re-established/been re-introduced. They are no where near "endangered" in any of these areas, so don't deserve the rating. State/Provincial governments are fully capable of managing wolf densities - or hell - just put Ed Bangs in charge. He's a sensible, balanced biologist. And a good guy to drink with, or hunt with, wolf hat on or off.

Dr. Stringham and I have somewhat differing views on what constitutes good "wolf/prey management", but then he's smarter than I am... and his opinions/critiques are well worth listening to, and possibly implementing, at least in some situations.

One size does not fit all throughout the wolf's habitat/range...

Commenter: Ted Gorsline
Reintroduce wolves to their original range but once they are etablished hunt them at a level sufficient to keep them afraid of people. Otherwise you are going to have problems with them.

In Algonquin Park in Ontario they used to hunt wolves and had no problem with them. Now they protect them and encourage passive interaction with people and there have been five attacks on children.

The Algonquin wolves are little wolves, not big ones such as have been re-introduced into the USA.

Commenter: Jess Carey
It is apparent there are many times the numbers of wolves, breeding pairs, and packs to de-list these Canadian wolves long ago according to recovery plans.

If there was an accurate account on wolves in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming they would probably number well over 6,000.

If wolves numbers go unchecked, there is a massive decline in wildlife and a major loss to family ranchers. Common sense would dictate a low impact managed population, not an unchecked, uncontrolled number.

In many places the elk cow/calve ratio in so low that the elk herds cannot sustain herd viability.
Check out:

"The principal reason for the crashing elk populations is undoubtedly the introduction of wolves in 1995, and the subsequent explosion of the wolf population'.

This wolf program has little to do with science, it is steered by pro-wolf lawsuits.

If the wolves bred to 100,000, spreading into every state in the U.S., the pro-wolf people would still want to protect it even if it devastated all wildlife.

What will happen when the Canadian wolf disperses into New Mexico and cross-breeds into the Mexican Gray Wolf? A claimed genetically separate and distinct wolf subspecies? Would this crossbreeding not destroy the genetics of such a claimed rare animal? Would this mean the Mexican wolf would be no more or just a Canadian wolf hybrid?

In New Mexico;

Wolves kill by consumption, they eat their prey alive. This has been documented many many times. Some livestock get up and travel a long distance after Mexican wolves have fed upon them. Some have maggots in the eaten out area, rectum and female opening of the rear end. They have lived 4 to 6 days before being found alive.

Mexican Wolves do not stay in the wilderness, in over 300 investigation half were on private property. Mexican wolves are extremely habituated to humans and humans use areas and seek out such.

You have no idea of the devastation wolves do until you see it for yourself.

I'm sure it makes no matter to a lot of you, and the more damage wolves do to family ranchers and children the more you like it.

Jess Carey
Catron County Wolf Interaction Investigator

Commenter: J.Senol
To "de-list" a specific population, the population is supposed to be monitored for at least 5 years, according to the Endangered Species Act. Removing timber wolf populations from federal protection has almost proven, in less than 5 years, that certain states cannot cooperate and handle the responsibility of monitoring populations without immediately declaring "open season".
Sadly, it comes down to whoever throws the most money to the state, wins. Wolves, bears, bison and elk lose. FYI: nature extends beyond the borders of Yellowstone National Park. Don't tell me that citizens of these states didn't expect the animals to leave the boundaries of the National Park and wander into their property. Re-Evaluate, Re-Think and retract de-listing until these states can get their act together.

Commenter: Chris
Hey Mike Schumacher! Why don't all you country boy learn how to spell. Spend more time on the Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, and poking your cows.

Commenter: Chris

Commenter: Rob Robinsen
Sad they were ever reintroduced.
Even sader they are not shot on sight.

Commenter: Elks
this should not be an issue at all. the wolves are running amuck. they are killing dogs, livestock, and even been seen watching/stalking children at bus stops, etc. They should have never been brought back to the lower 48. it was a stupid idea and a gross violation of states rights. Now they have exceeded the population goals, they are growing less cautious of man and will only be a matter of time until we end up killing more than we have saved. It is time the federal government reverse the gross injustice it has done to the citizens of the states now infected with these killing machines.

For those that think it is just nature, it is not. They will eat themselves out of house and home. The northern rockies are too over populated now, winter ranges barely provide prey animals with the food needed. As other have mentioned let em loose in your back yard, live with the results. Stop making us live with your poor choices.

Commenter: joe
it is amazing to live in wild country (wyoming)
that still is wild enough to support the wildlife
folks from all over the world come to see and enjoy.
amny of these folks and alot that ahve posted here when it comes to the real nature and how fragile that balance is.
fact#1 hunting is a management tool
in the fragmented ecosystems of today all wildlife number have to be managed,regardless of the emotion surrounding.without management all wildlife is in danger over population and massive dieoffs.
there is not enough habitat to suport unmanaged populations.
fact#2 the exploding wolf populations are having a
serious negitive effect on wildlife populations
there is much evidence that the uncontrolled numbers of wolves are causing the colaspe of prey animals
and the result if fewer wolves,as the prey animals decline the wolf packs are venturing farther into each other packs homerange and territories
causing wolf on wolf mortality.
these animals will fight to the death to protect their homeranges
and evidence in YNP support this,in 2008 there were 69 wolf on wolf kills and at the same time the prey base had shrunk to all time lows in the history of YNP.
to the folks here that call for the protection of the wolf
you are not doing the wolf or any of the other species represented here in the west any favors and this attitude will cause much harm to the wildlife we both love.
all wildlife require management and to do less will cause the extinction of many of these wonderful creatures.
it is a delicate and fragile balance and to disrupt the management of wildlife by protecting a said species over the value of another borders on criminal
wildlife cannot be managed with the heart it HAS to be managed using real science.
in 1995 there were a counted 19,500 elk in the northern region of YNP
this yr the winter count is 2236
this is a small window of the big picture.
the hunting of the wolf to control the impact it has and will have in these island ecosystems is the only responsible thing to do.
we were responsible enough to reintroduce them into histric ranges, now we have manage their numbers to control the impact.
it will not be the "rabid pro" nor the "rabid anti"
that gets this done,it will be all of us in the middle that can understand "sound science" as the only tool for the job.

Commenter: John Brown
The wolf restoration in the Rocky Mountains was a poorly concieved project from the beginning. The Bush administration was correct in returning authority to individual states in deciding what management practices would be best. The emotional outcry of uneducated people demanding that the wolf be protected at all costs is just another chapter in the book of animal rights advocates illogical concepts. The devastation upon the deer and elk herds, not to mention livestock, due to the reintroduction of the wolf will take years to overcome if it can be done at all.
We have enough Federal government envolved in our lives as it is. We don't want or need anymore!

Commenter: Diego
I see a lot of you talking about balance and I am surprised that you say the wolf will thin the deer heard but who will control the wolf packs? We so called ignorant hunters don't want them hunted to extinction just to control the population which is why there are set quotas in states that took then off the endangered list. ANd those quotas were set by wildlife people and biologists who agree on keeping the packs in check.

Commenter: Predator Hunter
"Commenter: Maria Martin
Is hunting a "sport"??? God! We must learn to respect what was given to us as a gift. Killing for killing is not sport, it's barbarism. Not even animals do it. They kill for food, to feed themself."

Here's a perfect example of someone who thinks are dogs and can cuddle up to you on the couch.

Yep, they just kill for food. Some people just don't have a clue.

Commenter: Rachelle
WHO IS THE OBAMA or Salizar or whatever his name is to say that only 300 wolves are all we need?? That they are not really going to go anywere? I think by any means necessary is cruel..I don't even want to think what some mean, ignorant person will do! Shame on you!!!

Commenter: Paul
I promise to help all wolves exactly 175 grains at a time..

Commenter: jim lee
This is what you get for voting for Obama he lied about everything so do you think he would stop here.I didn't drink the cool-aid when it came to the big vote to elect him and President Pelosi.

Commenter: mike tylor

Commenter: mike trautman
I think they should have controled hunts to manage the parks for elk and the wolves.I think it is a bad idea to have wolves in any ranching area and let hunters manage the elk population.

Commenter: cale
The "Canadian Grey Wolf" is not even native to the lower 48 states. Timber wolves are. Its great that they reintroduced a moose and caribou predator. I'm sure the deer love it and the elk have got to be so happy as well. They aren't just in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming anymore either. They are moving to Oregon, Washington and I'm sure they will go anywhere else they can kill. They dont just kill to feed the pack, they will kill for sport. They will kill bucks and bulls, they dont just target the sick or weak. I wish we could release them in your cities and watch you change your minds in a hurry. Kill em all, save the other species they are decimateing.

Commenter: Julia Bertapelle
Quite frankly, Obama is an idiot. He's in several people's pocket and anyone with any sense knows it. He's crooked, stupid and not good for our country or our wildlife. I wish he had never been elected and I pray that the people have learned what he really iss and won't vote for him again in the next election.

Commenter: Mary ANn Bonic
Hunters should only be able to hunt wolves with no electronic equipment, no high powered weapons, no helicopters, airplanes, no group sponsorship.

Commenter: Ginger & Fritz Bachem
We firmly support federal protection of wolves until they reach the 2000 to 3000 population levels to insure genetic viability.

The delisting was based upon ranching and hunting politics, not science. The reduction of grazing animals, both domestic and wild, would benefit our stream banks and the natural balance between animals and plants. A reduction in meat consumption would also benefit human health by reducing cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and our epidemic of obesity.

We are the sickest developed country in the world and so is our environment due to our rejection of scientific knowledge. The wolf delisting is just another example.

Commenter: tammie
Everyone has an opinion. Wolves are necessary, wolves are harmful.
The worst thing that has happened to our planet is humans.
Nature can take care of itself if people will butt out. Nature has a perfect balance whih people have managed to ruin possibly beyond repair.
Shame on us.

Commenter: Kevin Watson
Please Stop this Non-Native invasive species....They are Going to kill someone. Hopefully Not a child. If they do kill a human, you can bet we will use YOUR Names published here to charge YOU people that introduced this species, and support their cause of Eco-Terrorism, with MURDER.

We are done with the Politics Game Here. We are moving to pass laws to protect our local citizens affected by the incompetence of People involved in this Scam of the American Public. Murder may sound like a tough Word Now, Wait till YOUR name is Called upon to have these charges brought up on YOU.

God forbid it may be a child that is killed first, but it is apparent that most of you don't care about our children anyway. Believe that this is a real threat to our children. Don't believe me? just Google .

Commenter: richard stoike
very good shows about the environment and nature.
we must do more to preserve it.

lets do a report about the japanese killing all the sharks, called finning about 85 million a year to make
shark fin soup!!!

also a story about the killing of cats and dogs in china!!!

Commenter: Liz Harrison
Thanks for covering this important subject to the northern Rockies and America

Commenter: Kevin Watson
Please Save our Elk and Deer from this Non-Native invasive species...

When all the Prey species are gone, what is left but Humans. Don't be fooled by the Wolf Advocates. Our Children's lives are soon to be in danger.

Here is an article showing these wolves are running out of a natural prey base....

Here is an article showing the wolf is becoming Human-Habituated ...

Please America, Read the Truth about these wolves, Not the propaganda presented by Wolf Advocates.

Commenter: Deborah Simpson

Commenter: Chris
You pro-wolf people make me want to puke. You talk about this like you have a clue. Go back to your city and mind your own business.

Commenter: Sharon Hambley
Secretary Salazar owns ranch property in Colorado. He, therefore, has a massive CONFLICT OF INTEREST while he continues to hold his office.

It is amazing to me that he is allowed to continue to hold his office in the Department of the Interior.

He continues to allow Bush administration policies on Endangered Species--he has little or no concern for our precious wildlife. By continuing to support these Bush policies, I believe that he is committing malfeasance of office.

I believe that Secretary Salazar should resign rather than continue to hold an office in which he advocates destruction of our animals from our National Parks and Forests. We, the people, should continue to enjoy the wild animals in our National Parks and National Forests.

Commenter: brett rolfson
Why stop at Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for wolf re-introduction. Wouldn't it be O.K. to re-introduce the wolves to Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, etc.??? That used to be their range as well as the western states. I'd be willing to support that!

Commenter: brett rolfson

Commenter: jay sharpe
The only problem with wolves is 'ranchers' they have a right to live I wounder how some of these ignorant people would feel if it was decided that there were too many of then and had a hunt to reduce there population. As for the Governor of Idaho, personally i think they should declare a session on politions I would defenitly sine up for that one!
I also do not think there should be 'trophy' hunting
and any hunting should be limited to bows, and spears, give the game a chance, when some beer drinking yahoo wants to prove his 'manhood' let him go after the bear, or what ever with a regular compound boe or a spear, and will see who hangs on whose 'wall'.

Commenter: George
First of all it is not Rocky Mountain National Park. It's called Yellowstone National Park and you should visit it before you comment about "us" needing to save the wolves. You don't even know what "us" is. And the problem is not just in Yellowstone. The wolves need to be kept in check before they destroy the wildlife population. You used to be able to see many wildlife forms in Yellowstone, but since the wolves have been re-introduced that number has decreased drastically. What will the wolves eat when the elk are gone? What will they eat when the Moose are gone? The raccoons will even be gone and the wolves will be left with no choice but to move into the areas where people are. Yes animals were here first but does that mean wolves have the right to come into your city now? They will be there once all the elk are gone and regulation is stopped. Set your children out on the steps cuz' they will be hungry after they finish off all the raccoons. Who fights for the rights of Elk while everyone is fighting for the rights of wolves? What happens when the last of the Moose species are old and dying? Is that when someone fights for "Survival of the Moose?" It shouldn't have to get to that point.

Commenter: Rick
I was shocked to read mis-information below that Brucellosis doesn't exist in wild bison and the Yellowstone bison herds. WRONG... Brucellosis is actually a very dangerous abortive disease to wildlife, livestock, and humans. While working an outbreak in Oregon 20 years ago one of our veterinary technicians contracted and blood tested positive for the disease. The insidious part of Brucellosis pathology is that it can skip a generation before becoming virulent again. Know the facts and please don't spread rubbish.

The Canadian Veterinary: A survey of brucellosis and tuberculosis in bison in and around Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada:
ABSTRACT: "Examinations of complete or partial remains of 72 bison found dead in and around Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, revealed evidence of brucellosis in 18 (25%) and tuberculosis in 15 (21%), with a combined prevalence of 42%. Urease-positive and ureasenegative strains of Brucella abortus biovar 1, and strains of biovar 2, were isolated from tissues of bison, including synovium and exudate from severe arthritic lesions. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from a range of granulomatous lesions that were similar to those reported in tuberculous cattle. Diseased bison had a broad geographical distribution, and were found outside the park on at least three natural corridors. The diseases have a deleterious effect on this population of bison, and pose a health risk to other bison herds and livestock."

Journal of Wildlife Diseases: Pathology of Brucellosis in Bison from Yellowstone National Park; ABSTRACT: "Between February 1995 and June 1999, specimens from seven aborted bison (Bison bison) fetuses or stillborn calves and their placentas, two additional placentas, three dead neonates, one 2-wk-old calf, and 35 juvenile and adult female bison from Yellowstone National Park (USA) were submitted for bacteriologic and histopathologic examination. One adult animal with a retained placenta had recently aborted. Serum samples from the 35 juvenile and adult bison were tested for Brucella spp. antibodies. Twenty-six bison, including the cow with the retained placenta, were seropositive, one was suspect, and eight were seronegative. Brucella abortus biovar 1 was isolated from three aborted fetuses and associated placentas, an additional placenta, the 2-wk-old calf, and 11 of the seropositive female bison including the animal that had recently aborted. Brucella abortus biovar 2 was isolated from one additional seropositive adult female bison. Brucella abortus was recovered from numerous tissue sites from the aborted fetuses, placentas and 2-wk-old calf. In the juvenile and adult bison, the organism was more frequently isolated from supramammary (83%), retropharyngeal (67%), and iliac (58%) lymph nodes than from other tissues cultured."

Commenter: Brian Lord
U really shouldn't just jump to one side or the other without considering the pro's and con's of both sides of this issue or any serious one. It's just to bad we have so many people that try to brain wash each other and alot of people who can't think for themselves. On issues about what's good as a whole for wildlife and us and such.
I say listein to this scientists in general let the data speak for itself if there is plently which it sounds like there is. To back up the wolves need to be left alone until a proper managment system can be put in place.

Commenter: karen lyons kalmenson
i am a wolf by karen lyons kalmenson
i am a wolf and before you came
i ran safe and free
now all that's changed
my land is gone
my numbers stunted
by so many people
who too much hunted
down my packs
for trophy and sport
or because this was
their way to cavort
this was my land before you came
now things can never be the same

Commenter: Pete
Excellent basic information that top predators like wolves create healthy ecosystems. But that is Bio-101 stuff every first year wildlife biologist knows. And anyone awake in HS science class remembers. My concern is an increase in educated idiots out there, with an "all or none" ideology. Our ecosystem is always 'dynamic' and sometimes cyclic. Nature hates stagnation, and will not tolerate it long. "Picture postcard" ecosystems don't really exist, except in someone's mind. Functioning ecosystems are really messy and sometimes very nasty places with beautiful sunrises and bloody dog-eat-dog afternoons.

So what do you do when a wolf grabs and drags an eight year old into the forest? Happened just north of my place. What do you do when there is a cougar on your driveway and the kid needs to walk to the school bus stop? I'm at work early one day and my phone rings. My son can't leave the house because there is a bear is in our carport. We had two wolf attacks in our town. One killed the pet dog inside it's doghouse, a block away another pet dog was killed inside it's owners garage. Yes, reality is there someplace and it isn't a picture postcard of pristine ecosystems. That mental image is a farce.

Answer in support of NOW wolf-human ecosystem viewpoint is to always remember "humans are the top predator". BUT, our status as top predator comes with responsibility to control and manage our effect on our ecosystem, not to ignore or have zero influence on our ecosystem. Balance must include human 'dog-eat-dog' impacts too or the wolf-human ecosystem will loose in the end. We must manage human ecosystem interaction, not ban it.

Commenter: s. Bell
I am ashamed of what was done to the American Bison.
Please, I ask, don't let similar happen to our wolves and our natural wilderness.
EXAMPLE excerpt below:
Some U.S. government officials even promoted the destruction of the bison herds as a way to defeat their Native American enemies, who were resisting the takeover of their lands by white settlers. One Congressman, James Throckmorton of Texas, believed that "it would be a great step forward in the civilization of the Indians and the preservation of peace on the border if there was not a buffalo in existence." Soon, military commanders were ordering their troops to kill buffalo -- not for food, but to deny Native Americans their own source of food. One general believed that buffalo hunters "did more to defeat the Indian nations in a few years than soldiers did in 50." By 1880, the slaughter was almost over. Where millions of buffalo once roamed, only a few thousand animals remained. Soon, their numbers dwindled, with the largest wild herd -- just a few hundred animals -- sheltered in the isolated valleys of the newly created Yellowstone National Park. As American Buffalo shows, it is from this tattered remnant that people are today trying to rebuild the once mighty buffalo nation.

Commenter: Vicky Randall
Its nice to have wolves, but, there needs to be a population control. There should be only 150 wolves to be allowed to roam the forests of Wisconsin. There are 636 wolves in our forests of WI at this time. This is way to many wolves. And as with any other animal that is out of control, as when the bear, deer etc., a hunting season to reduce the numbers is put in place. There is no need to tax the people of WI to have scientists determine the need to reduce the population of wolves, common sense dictates the need. Bear, deer and other smaller animals are hunted for meat to eat, their meat is better than going to a store to buy domesticated animals to eat. To each their preference of meat. I do agree with the fact that the wolves should be taken off of the endangered species list, there are far too many of them, not just in my state but in other states as well.

Commenter: Ellen Stein
My only comment is that I am so disappointed and disgusted with the new president and sooooo sorry that I worked for him and helped get him elected. He has done nothing to help our endangered wildlife, will not help stop the wolf killings, he will not help the endangered polar bears and NOW he's planning to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. I guess Shell Oil gave him a lot of money to sway his thinking. I cannot believe he is a democrat. He's going right down the republican party line.

Commenter: Ed Wilson
I am the grandson of New Mexico homesteaders and no amount of theory about how beautiful wolves are in their natural habitat can match the fear and dread that a pack of these predators can stab into your heart when alone walking home in a darkened wood.

Human beings come first, period. ...Ed Wilson

Commenter: dk bell
We need to go to the Obama website and launch massive petitions, protests, and requests, and let President Obama know we are for saving our wildlife and the wolves of the Northern Rockies.

Commenter: Patty LaCava
-Stop supporting the beef industry. Bison ranchers are more accepting of the wolves.
We need to support farming animals that can co-exist with the wolves. Boycott Beef! Eat more Bison!
-Also the use of guarding dogs with sheep interupts the wolves stalking pattern and saves the sheep. (Reference: Dogs by Raymond and Lorna Coppenger)
Educate the ranchers in methods to co-exist.
-The Rabies vaccanation for wolves and wolf-dog mixes is also a issue. Although the research has been done the Farm Bureau fights a FDA ok. Resolving this issue would help. Wolves could be vaccanated as are the coyotes along the Mexican border therefor elimanating another excuse to kill wolves.
-See the other side. How would you feel if your dog or cat was killed by a wolf?

Commenter: Colleen Caldwell
I object to your blaming Obama for removing the wolves from the endangered species list. It was President Bush who screwed it up with the help of the US Fish and Wildlife service.

This maybe considered an "error" when it comes to the blame of President Obama but it makes me wonder how many other lies are being told.

Commenter: Rev. Dr. Karla Potter
Man has to quit killing off the wild animals for personal gain. God created them and had a purpose in mind when doing so. We are killing the plant, so they should be able to enjoy what we have not yet destroyed before they too are killed off by our own arrogance. If we do not stop soon our own children will never have the joy of seeing them other then in picture books. Hold it that too is going away,. I mean on the internet. All living creatures have a right to remain here as long as there is still a world to live on.

Commenter: Ben
Why is it the "Bush" plan under the Bush administration but the "Salazar" plan under the Obama administration. Shouldn't it be called the "Obama" plan? People can't give the new administration a free pass just because they like the president or voted for him. Ultimately it's Obama not Salazar who is in charge.

Commenter: kareng
I live in a city - can drive 45 min to see cows, horses and sheep... had to drive 12 hours to another country to see a wolf in the wild. Ranchers unable to live with all nature has to offer should hang it up and leave our public land. Boycott beef!

Commenter: Hunt
They are not talking about making wolves extinct. Its called population control. For those tree huggers that dont understand everything in the world needs to be balanced and thats what this whole situation is about. Speaking of population control I think we should just kill the old people that are living on an air supply and costing the U.S. money. Really would you want to live that way. We should have a human and wildlife.. Not allow people to have more than 2 children. If your sick or unable to use a limb properly, you should be put down.

Commenter: Lili
Wolves should continue to be protected. I think it's barbaric to kill for sport. We should protect wildlife and their habitat. If we don't do what we can to protect these species who will, how are they going to survive.

Commenter: Aaron
The State's DWR's have done a great job managing wildlife populations without federal intervention. The wolf would have a better chance with the help of hunters dollars to maintain open spaces. It seams like ant-hunting groups need to practice what they preach by giving back with donations to there local DWR's. Here in Utah I see the hypocrisy first hand with bird watchers outnumbering bird hunters 500 to 1 enjoying the use of the bird refuges that hunter dollars have paid for.

Commenter: Anna Wells
Wolves propose no threat to people. If people would stop hunting elk and other prey, the wolves would be able to thrive peacefully. Humans are meddling with the populations and need to back out before they completely destroy the natural cycle of things.

Commenter: M. Kitchen
The Creationists' belief system clearly implies that mankind is to protect and steward the environment. In God's creation there is to be no death.

The Evolutionists' belief system clearly indicates that it doesn't matter what any species does, since it is just the natural order of things.

These two camps are diametrically opposed and can never reconcile. The basic concept of "God good, devil bad", dictates that Christians decide which side they are on.


If you are on the other side, silly laws won't stop your desire to kill. It is natural and part of nature. If we exterminate everything and ourselves as well, that's just the way it is. So why hold back? Why take the joy and fun and self-fulfillment out of life?

The idea that there are all sorts of combinations of these two camps are not really true, and that idea is simply adding to the confusion. There are only two legitimate sides. So make up your minds already! You can't have it both ways. Until conservationists decide which side they are on, they are adding to the confusion.

Commenter: wolf lover
my name is wolf lover and I need me eight wolf
loving soldiers.

we're gonna be doing one thing and one thing only
killing anyone who hates wolfs and anyone who
kills them.

these wolf killers kill them by poisoining their
food killing them for sport killing the babies
and by airel hunting and thats excatly what we're
gonna do to them.

we will be cruel to these stupid wolf killers and
through our cruelty they will know who we are
and when these wolf killers go to sleep at night
and they're tortured by their subconicous by the
evil they have done it will be with thoughts of us
they are tortured with.

these wolf poachers will be sickened by us these
wolf poachers will talk about us and these wolf
poachers will fear us.

these stupid sick wolf poachers aint got no
humanity they're the footsoldiers of the stupid
coldhearted sarah pailin and they need to be

each and every man under my command owes me one
hundred wolf poachers scalps.

and I want my scalps!

sound good?


Commenter: Paul J Conroy Sr
I do believe that the numbers in the Yellowstone Area are Far from safe from extinction. And that this is more bad polices,then it is given to scienctific fact.For these animals once roamed the entire Northern American Hemishpere. Yes can they and do they attack cattle,and other domesticated animals i do not doubt that fact nor contest it. For cattle are no more then domesticated bison which also once roamed better then 35% of the country. Which brings me to the point ever since we came to this land mass we have decided we are better then those who were here first and have taken over like a plague. WHY cant we as supposedly the head of the food chain and logical creatures let work as stewards of this land as our fore farthers did with in these lands. For we took no more then the land could give,worked in balance with it,respected it,and gave praise to it.Now it seems like and has been since the early 1800s that we have a right to walk over it and give nothing back and to not keep it in good health.That goes for the ENTIRE ENVIROMENT the land,water and animals on it.For nature has a way to balance it self out and does so but we keep changing the rules on what it tries to govern it self by.Does there need to be a balance and control yes but does it need to be done by politicians and self centered groups that see the wolves as a demon and not part of natures natrual check and balances in it I say NO.
And yes I do hunt,fish,totally enjoy the outdoors.But also I take resposibllity for my actions out there.Like the Native Americans and the Boyscouts both which are part of my bloodlines and how i was raised I try to leave no foots prints on where i am at. And I take care of the woods I am at;I give time and work out in the areas I hunt and fish with a gentle hand,scientific knowledge, giving back to the land for the sake of giving.For the bounty,pleasure and gifts That the Lady Mother Earth has given us. And i feel people have forgotten it is cause of her that we live and survive on Her and not the other way around.
We as a culture,society,and as a race the human race need to realize this and till we do the downward spiral we are on is not going to change.Politics,Greed,Fear,and Blindness in this matter is not going to help anyone in this or in other issues that need to be addressed.And i feel that this is just a first step on the wrong path that we are headed down.

Commenter: LoriProPhoto
Unfortunately President Obama's elected official Ken Salazar (or Sala Czar as we like to call him) is an abysmal failure as the leader of the Department of the Interior. If you think that it is just the wolves that are affected by his total disregard for nature, try looking into his shenanigans where the Wild Mustangs are concerned. Unfortunately the politicians of today are too consumed with self preservation (hiding their dirty little secrets), their mistresses and extra marital affairs and lining their already bulging pockets to care about our endangered animals or any other wild creature for that matter!!!

Commenter: ray
wolves was killed because they were killing livestock and PEOPLE and they will again but that won't make any differnce to the wolf lover's because they won't be there.

Commenter: Margrit
I live in Denver, Colorado and coyotes are everywhere around here, absconding with cats and small dogs all the time. My sister lives on Cape Cod and tells me the same thing is true there. Somehow coyotes seem to get more protection than the stately and endangered wolf and I don't understand why. The wolf is getting a bad deal and I can't believe that anyone would think that 100 of them per state is a "safe" level for recovery. (PS - I don't like that I have to keep my cat inside, but I don't believe in killing coyotes either.)

Commenter: E. Christianson
Protection of wolves as an endangered specias must continue. Managing the wolf population, where and when it may sometimes become necessary, has to be left to professional wildlife personnel. Are there occasional problem individual wolves which cannot be safely and effectively captured and relocated to a safer location? Yes. Are trophy hunters and closed-minded wolf-haters appropriate people to be turned loose to kill indiscriminately, slaughtering probably the healthiest and best individuals needed for survival in the wolf populations? Absolutely not! Provide sufficient funding to hire and support knowledgeable and dedicated honest biologists and wildlife managers and leave the management of the packs to them.

Commenter: daisy
This was excellent. I am sharing this everywhere.
Thank you. I am very concerned that this show will end because of excellent work like this. We will regress if we don't have information like this.

Commenter: audrey
We need a more forward-thinking candidate to replace the current Sec. Ken Salazar.

Commenter: Dusty Domino aka-Gary Simmons
They were early man's first: Man's best friend, just as their cousins still are today. Our government, turned them into pests in the early 1900's. Paid people for their skins. Shot them from planes (thats not any kind of hunting,-thats cowardice) and are doing the same now. Killing them and using poison gas on the pups in the den - using choppers - more effective than planes. So this is what we let be done, in OUR name. If you ever had a good Dog, you know he would have died for you! - is this how we should payback all that love & loyalty?...Wait..I forgot, this is America 2010. That's why what their doing doesn't suprise me. I expected better out of Obama.

Commenter: jan eaker
I believe that President Obama is failing wildlife in this country. Wolves are an essential part of a healthy wild ecosystem. I believe that this administration is allowing special interest lobbies, particularly the ranching industry, to dictate many of his policies regarding wild life. Species such as wolves, bison, mountain lions and wild horses are being sacrificed to make more room for cattle. Ranchers want predators and other grazing animals eliminated from ranges out west and that seems to be what is happening.

Commenter: Anonymous Because...
I feel that rampant building in what used to be wild areas...needs to be controlled...not the wildlife. The wildlife was here before us. The rampant building...the cities that are just grabbing land...filling in marsh areas that Canada Geese used to use...along the shores on East Coast...they are filling in land that used to be bay and salt water marshes...that created a barrier against storms at sea. Now there are so many homes...that the barrier is no longer there. This same scenario is presenting itself in the NW. The ranchers are picking on the wildlife because they are being invaded with displaced wildlife....shoved aside to make way for Man. Why is there no study about the land that is being developed? Where is the wildlife to go...they are losing their open range. This is happening everywhere...the bird population is down...natural habitat is being destroyed. We need to solve the destruction of habitat also...we need to stop the ranchers that are selling out to developers...thus; decreasing what open area that the wildlife used to be able to share. The ranchers that are fighting for their ranches and the future of their ranches...are also being displaced by the ranchers that are selling out to developers and the people that want to move out of the the country...but they do not want to "rough it" to live the life that beckoned them to move in the first place. Now they move...and want the benefits of the City to be included...paved streets...night did they move out to the Country in the first place? Who is studying this? The developer that builds homes next to a diary farmer...knowing that the smell of manure has been in this area for the homes go up..."they" pass laws...and the next thing the dairy farmer is put out of business. Not fair. What needs to be controlled...are the People. The almighty dollar of greedy developers is at the base of this problem. People cannot survive if we destroy the delicate balance of nature...between civilization and nature. Science before culture...people are not even aware of the difficulties presented to wildlife in a perpetual struggle to the ever-expanding growth of civilization. Teach conservation in schools. Instead the schools are taking away courses like Geography...heavens...this is wrong. Education of the people. Teaching peaceful coexistence...between humans and wildlife. We have a duty to leave a legacy to our grandchildren and their grandchildren. What this country needs to close its borders to more people...let the animals be FREE. Set a precedent..if the wolves are allowed to be hunted and destroyed...the grizzlies, and all wildlife...then the strong arm of the Govt will impose an unfair ruling in all states. The ranchers lived with the wolves for is the developers and their uncontrolled building and snatching land that is driving wildlife into areas that used to be open...and are no longer open to them. People are the problem...not the wildlife. We must learn to live in harmony with Nature...not destroy it. What would happen if we decided to cull the sick and worthless humans just as quickly as they want to destroy the wildlife that was here long before MAN ever entered these areas? Nobody ever suggests they? Thank you for your fighting to save the wildlife. Keep up the good fight. The weather is changing and putting an added burden on and water are being lost...for both man and nature. There have to be some of us...the people that are 100% for the wildlife...because for each one of us for the wildlife there are 1000s of people against the wildlife. I support and hope that those of us that are for the preservation of wildlife can find a balance between the negative and the positive...and it is a shame...that the government can waive their mighty arm of power...and zap....the termination of so much wildlife will be destroyed. Before helicopters and snowmobiles...the animals had a what chance to they have? Just as criminals take the lives of humans...I do not see the government making rules and killing men that kill others...but the wolves...they are being considered such terible animals...I think man is the horrible animal...and the government needs to stop throwing stones at glass windows...and clean up their act before they attack an animal that has no protection to protect itself. Keep up the good work...and I hope that you win...and keep all the animals on the Endangered Species List. Tell the government to protect our borders from all the illegal immigrants that are pouring into the country daily...and stop allowing people to reproduce and get on welfare rolls. Why is wildlife so viciously attacked...simple...they cannot protect themselves. Well stop the people...the wild animals should have a Bill of Rights also. Who is to say that a wolf does not have the same rights as a human...God created us all equal...the animals too. I am sick of the Mexicans that come here...and we do nothing. But we attack the wild animals...does the government not have some of its priorities very much misplaced????? Tell the government to control the illegals coming into this country...then the animals would have enough room to roam.
I had a registered wildlife habitat...that 100 men and 40 fire trucks...allowed to burn...malicious negligence. We had a 15,000 gallon swimming pool...and a huge pond...they said they could not "suck"...and they could not "spray". Had they not entered our land...we would have saved it all ourselves. The firemen and the "govt" killed the baby pheasants, mallards, quail, and fox and destroyed the fish, frogs, and turtles and snakes...we tried our best to protect. Your taxes pay for firemen and the police for "protection"...Ha! Wake up America...and fight back. These men did nothing...and we had it saved...they destroyed us. Do NOT allow the government to get away with this...we the people have lost so many freedoms...this is just the start...fight not allow this to happen...the government is out of control...and if the ranchers lost everything to the government...their attitude may change also. So please stand up for the rights of the wildlife...we were just a single family and were outnumbered. If we all stand together as a united front...perhaps we will have a chance of winning. Complacency will not work...everyone must fight...for what is right. I was up against a billionaire developer and the City with my wildlife habitat...I lost and was harassed also. This was an unfair battle...such as this... for keeping animals on Endangered List. If you allow this...they...the government will not be stopped. The foreign ships...Korea, China, Russia,etc...are raping our oceans...and the Coast Guard has no rights to keep them out of US waters. Now the government wants to attack defenseless creatures...Leave The Wolves Alone...and go get the People! Thank you.

Commenter: Nandia Black
Wolves serve a vital role in the balance of wildlife and deserve federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Without such protection their very survival is severely jeopardized. What a shame it would be to loose such beautiful animals whose very essence captures the American spirit. We can do better.

Commenter: Laurie
We rescued a wolf while living in California and had her for 12 years. I agree with most readers that wolves have a right to live in their habitat and be protected, just as much as anything else. Can more be relocated to another State?

I do feel bad for the ranchers. They have a living to make, also, but I believe we really need to think our options through before we start exterminating them again.

They are so loyal to their packs and take care fo their own.

Commenter: John Phillips

Apparently, Brucellosis IS capable of being transferred to cattle from bison and further, is communicable to humans in the form of undulant fever which can persist for years, post-infection.

Also, it is the GYA bison (and elk) that have the highest infection rate(s) and last I heard they are not hunted in the park.

There has been a tremendous outpouring of mis-guided emotion and a lack of pragmatic common sense exhibited by many (apparent urbanites) respondents.

Remember, Walt Disney created cartoons...he didn't create anything remotely resembling reality.

Commenter: Mike
Leave the Wolves alone, only thing most humans think of is them selfs.

Commenter: Biff Shank
I to truly think that all gods animals of the forest and lands of the world should live in peace and harmony.They have to be managed in order for that to work, period.If humans were not managed (by law)there would be wars and uncontrolable dieseas the world would not be a safe place to be;imagine it for a moment.My point:if wolves(canadian grey) are not managed thats what will happen to all gods animals of the forest;in time they will all vanish from this eating machine. wolves kill in waves,wether hungrey or not.The flight instinct from the opposing animal triggers the wolves instinct as a pack animal to kill hungry or not.This is fact people, the 6,000 or so wolves that inhabit ore,wa,Idh,mont,wy,are eating there way south,they have killed hundreds of thousands of gods creatures for pleasure,its being documented as we speek. This year it will be put in film format for all the world to see;it will not be for the faint of heart.When they reach the big cities,and they will,it will be be termination regardless.THis Canaidian wolve realy belongs back in the vast far north canada,alaska were it can be managed properly.There are the living and there are the dead,the living can be educated.The Dead well:GOD BLESS THEM!there is some hope that our for fathers of this great country might have taught some folks some real good common sense,apearently not.Political motivation drives the wolve not common sense,if they cant be managed like all other gods creatures they should be removed.Common sense FOLKS,remember native wolves,are timber wolves, not candian grey wolves. By the way who is responsible for all the packs of timber wolves that the non-indig canadian wolves have slaughterd. HUM:SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF STUPID MONEY OUT THERE, and humans.Im being called by the wild;she says theres wolf on the barbie,claims it tastes like chicken wow!!!!! I LOVE CHICKEN i better get some before the wolves get them all.GOD BLESS!!! be open minded.SARA PALIN WILL BE HERE SOON!!!!she will get it working,i here she is a pretty gooooood shot! BAM im out! GET YOUR CCW SOON.>>>>>-O

Commenter: sharryn clark
My family came to Idaho from Wisconsin in 1863. I was raised there. The attitude of the general population is total elimination of wolves, they had the "problem" taken care with govnerment help in the 1920's and 30's. As we now know the wolves are an important part of nature for the health of all species.

Commenter: sarah
It is up to us humans to fight for these endangered animals! Come on people, what's the problem? Help them live! They are a part of nature as we are. Let them live! We must NOT let anyone keep on going with this terrible evil. Make it STOP!

Commenter: cindy gates
lets all protect all wildlife before its no longer here

Commenter: John Burke
I do believe that, like coyotes, the wolf should be managed in one form or another. They are very intelligent and resourceful, therefore the extermination of the animal would not occur. Also the federal government has enough problems and issues to deal with and should leave the states handle their internal affairs as they see fit. I'm from Pa and our main predatory animal is the coyote. Although they are hunted vigorously throughout the year by many sportsmen, their presence is expanding throughout the state. I believe that the wolf species would respond in the same manner.

Commenter: Shirley
Wolves are a part of the circle of life... we can not continue the indiscriminate killing of apex predators (wolves, mountain lions, etc) without adversely impacting the balance of nature.

Wolves in The U.S. were actively exterminated for decades, and we decimated their population. They need, and deserve, our protection... before its too late, and they are all gone...

Commenter: Mary Robets
I, too, am distressed by the desire to kill wolves. In Wyoming, the attitude is "shoot, shovel and shut up". The outfitters want them gone because they think that they are taking too much of the game that they guide hunters to kill. They want them to be one of the "game animals". The ranchers want to keep them away from their livestock, and want to kill them on sight. Wyoming cannot come up with state plan that will please everyone and be fair to the wolf population. And now, to top it all off, Cabela's and others in the business of outfitting hunters, have organized "wolf hunting derbies" in Idaho, granting points to each wolf killed to those who participate.

If you cannot give money to your favorite environmental group that is endeavoring to help wolves, sign the petition that is now being publicized at Defenders of, which will be presented to Cabela's and other businesses as an appeal to stop these derbies! Check it out and be a participant.... I have started by cancelling all of the catalogs that they send to my mailbox and ceasing to purchase anything at all from them until this support of wolf killing stops permanently.
February 26, 2010

Commenter: Mrs Josephine Wright
These annimals'the Wolves'have as much right to live on this planet as The Human race have!I believe with all my heart they have the right to have 100% protection for ever!Let them live and roam this earth in complet freedom,and peace!Man does to much meddling with nature,It is man who needs controling!! Long Live The Wolf!!<3

Commenter: Stephen Stringham, PhD (Wildlife Biologist)
As recently as the 1800's, wolves and their prey south of Canada had huge areas of habitat. So excessive predation by wolves, leading to local decimation of prey, and they by crash in wolf numbers, could be compensated by later re-immigration by prey species and eventually by wolves. In the modern era, that natural cycling may no longer occur. Wolves may increase so much that they decimate populations of elk, deer, and other prey. So in some situations, wolf control may be necessary. Unfortunately, wolf control programs in general are not well-designed to meet the needs of wolves and of prey species so much as the desires of human hunters -- as one sees so clearly in Alaska. We await well designed management plans.

Commenter: Melinda
I cannot believe that they would even think of taking wolves off of the endangered species list, does America ever learn? I don't think its fair that we go into animal territory and take their land and food but we get mad and kill any of them that take livestock. What about them? How would people like it if something came in and decided there's too many of us and had open game day with us? That is cruel and wrong. Wolves deserve better! It's their land, too! If they take them off they would be hunted to extinction again and our kids and grandkids would never even know about the beautiful creatures that enhabit this country. THEY NEED PROTECTION!

Commenter: deborah
I am a political conservative who is absolutely sickened by the attack on wolves and other wildlife. These are necessary and beautiful creatures who should NOT be subject to wholesale extermination in this most brutal fashion. Why isn't more exposure about this problem being made on all the national media outlets? More people need to know what's going on.

Commenter: John Moore
If you are a wolf fan...we suggest you have a couple in your back yard as we do. It won't take long for you to wake up and "get real." We haven't seen any moose in our country for years since the wolves have arrived. Wish you could observe in real life the wolf impact. In our opinion it is one more example of "eminent domain." Government once again taking away our freedoms....This documentary is obviously so biased and it gives me a stomach ache. Shame on you.

Commenter: Carmen Jordan
This is such propaganda and a slanted documentary. Wake up people! Wolves are the biggest carrier of deadly parasites and spread them to your food sources and your pets. They neglect to tell you the expensive and detrimental consequences. Follow the money trail. We work and live with the wolves and the people who are financed to promote wolves. As most environmental groups they are able to support their lifestyle by appealing to people's niavety and softness toward animals and they are not providing you with the whole picture. They are not held responsible for any of their heavy-handed actions.

Commenter: Betsyoh
I see with interest the comments about wolf reproduction and claims that wolves reproduce well, as if that means they repopulate well. Recently a pack in Yellowstone produced 15 pups in one season; however, every last one of the pups died. In the wild, animals are subject to far more stressors than humans are in civilization. Pups do not equal population!

Commenter: Betsyoh
Your show, while mentioning that "ranchers fear" that cattle exposed to bison could become infected by brucellosis, failed to mention that there has NEVER been a documented case of the disease in bison. There have been many cases of it in elk, yet the ranchers do not call for mass killings of elk like they do for bison. That was very poor of you not to discuss. Ranchers use the brucellosis scare tactic because they want public land without competition for their cattle. Second, your show like so much of the media takes for granted that ranchers are entitled to let their cattle roam and range all over BML and other public lands and that they have a "legitimate" claim to drive predatory species such as the wolf to extinction in order to protect their cattle. BML and other public lands belong to the PUBLIC, not to ranchers, and we in the US have subsidized the ranching industry far too long to the detriment of our environment, our ecosystems, even our health. Many studies show the unsustainability of our practices. Shame on you for not exploring any of the negative impact of our public subsidies of cattle ranching in the US. Ranchers should have to roam and range their cattle on their own land, not public land.

Commenter: Brian Vanlandingham
It is NOT the wildlife that is the problem,IT is PEOPLE!!! WE need to SAVE ALL wildlife!!! Even if it meams the PEOPLE have to move to A big city!!! THE wildlife was here FIRST!!!!

Commenter: John Shea
There are pressures enough on the populations of wolves from shrinking habitat and climate change. The last thing we need is sport hunting of wolves. If, though an unlikely event, wolf populations in the three states should require culling, that grim task should not be done by hunters. Rather, it should be done only by trained wildlife officers who can identify old and infirm animals (at least initially). This should be done from aircraft with weapons that are certain to kill immediately.

There are plenty of passive (no-kill) methods of protecting domestic animals and people from these wild animals. Killing them should be a last resort and any culling should be undertaken only after a lengthy period of study to determine the stability of the various packs and the overall population in the region.

Sport hunting (which excludes subsistence hunting), is the killing of a living creature just for the fun of it. It is perverse and obscene. A civilized society shouldn't condone it.

Thanks to NOW for covering this issue. I hope your program stimulates viewers to share their opposition to the current Administration's lack of change with respect to this and many other environmental issues.

Commenter: John M. Britton
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep NOW on the air. this is one of the best investigative reporting shows I have ever seen. We need this kind of reporting, especially when it comes to revealing corruption in government and industry. There needs to be more of these kind of shows not fewer.

Commenter: Anne M Ianniciello
I have been a supporter of all endangered animals, but wolves have always been on the top of my list to save them from those who are so ignorant about the truth of the importance of all animals to the ecology.
I have lived in a rural farming and cattle breeding area, and have never understood how some people, most with a high IQ regarding running their farms and ranching, can make so many stupid ideas sound reasonable. I have sat in my bar (owned in 1993-1995) sitting there and laughing about the fun running the coyotes down with their snowmobiles. I refused to sit and listen and told them there were other places to sit and show their ignorance. Then in the spring the same farmers complained about the rabbits overtaking their crops! (i wonder what could have caused that?.)

Commenter: Katherine Lindgren
Left alone by people there is a balance of nature
and this needs to be allowed to happen in regard to
the situation with the wolves in Rocky Mountain
National Park and the surrounding areas.

Commenter: Sharon
They wonder why the deer population is increasing and causing accidents. If the human form would let Mother Nature alone and quite being "helpful"??? then the problem could be solved. Leave the wolves alone.

Commenter: Mike Schumacher
To all you city people who think the ranchers should move. Why don't you help save the wolf and leson your carbon foot print at the same time by killing yourself.

Commenter: Marina Salazar
Actions speak louder than words. Obama can SAY he is concerned about the environment, but what he DID was delist wolves, an important apex predator that is critical to a balanced ecosystem. He can SAY he was for change, but what he DID was endorse a BUSH administration policy to erode federal protections for our environment. He will NOT get my vote again if he does not reinstate the wolves' status as an endangered species. Obama has been a HUGE disappointment because of his callous disregard for this important environmental issue.

Commenter: DASR
I pray that one day, the American people, if not all people will evolve enough to realize that we need to adjust to accomodate the wild animals on this planet and not expect them to accomodate us!...We need to EVOLVE and stop eradicating animals when it suits our needs; using and abuseing, neglecting and torturing animals for entertainment, financial gain and food.

Commenter: emmymaie
why do creatures have to be threatened with extinction before they're protected? are not all creatures, in their own ways, sacred, and deserving of life?

Commenter: Albert Lopez

Commenter: Linda Martin
The Obama administration is behaving in a way that is disappointing to environmentalists in Oregon as well. I could write a book on what is happening here with private energy speculators and how the Obama administration is enabling the policies of Bush/Cheney. I've never been so disappointed in all my life. I voted for Obama; knocked on doors; raised money; spent hundreds of dollars in money we could ill afford to get him elected. He sent representatives to Oregon to meet with our groups and promised he would never allow the things to happen that he is allowing here. I know that McCain would have been worse, but I feel as if I've lost faith in politicians. Now, instead of donating to politicians, I shall give money to environmental groups and EarthJustice.

Commenter: Jeanette Strauch
I agree with ariel;I believe that they should try anything to protect the wolves, because before you know it the wolves are going to be endangered or even extinct. If it was me i would do everything in my power to save those wolves and try to make obama stick to his promise and make those wolves safe. If he wont listen then nobody will it only takes one person to realize whats really happening before everybody starts saying something and then obama will have no choice but to help the wolves with all of the power he has to make it illegal to kill any wolves in any state, or country!Jeanette Strauch,Germany

Commenter: Annie Moran
I saw this very thing on TV tonight and it made me sick. Wolves are susch beautiful creatures and have a right to be protected. As people care less about each other they feel why should animals be cared about. The Fish and Game people should not be able to kill the Wolves to thin out the packs. obama has lied again about protecting the environment which includes wildlife. Something needs to be done and very quickly.

Commenter: Mini Richards
To kill wolves is wrong....they are part of our heritage! The wolves are pack animals and are essential to a healthy eco system! These animals are important to our wilderness and we have a right to enjoy these animals and listen to their howl as it was when our ancestors came to this country. We do not want these animals to become extinct! We want to enjoy these magnificent creatures! We should NOT allow states to hunt these animals that we have worked so hard to reintroduce!! The type of people that want to hunt wolves are out for a trophy head and not meat...that is not sportsmanship! Hunters that kill wolves with pups of their own are cruel! Wolves cause very little problems! The people who are against them are very uninformed and trigger happy...all animals deserve to live..God made them for a very important reason! They must live just as any other animal lives in it's natural habitat! Haven't we caused enough distruction to our planet without listening to unscientific propaganda from hate groups!

Commenter: PD TRIEM
Secretary Salazar is a clone of Secretary Kempthorne who was a clone of Secretary Babbitt. They all share a Western ranchers' bias.

Commenter: Katharina
First we killed all the wolves. Then we re-introduced them into the wilderness. Now we are eliminating them again. An insane circle. The ranchers protect their cattle, because we cannot stop eating beef. I have suggested that the major animal-protection groups join forces with their lawyers to challenge the government's laws. President Obama would do well to take a moment from his healthcare problems and think of our precious wildlife instead. It would raise his poll numbers if he could show success in this area. Many, many Americans would love him for it. - Thank you, PBS, David Broncaccio and NOW, for bringing us this excellent program. We have to do more!

Commenter: gina jones
I so enjoyed all the information and as I am already ambassador of wild and hybred wolves I certainly do thank you so much !

Commenter: John OBrien
The wolf population is now healthy, too healthy to require federal protections at this time. We no longer live in a frontier society. Wolves are not good next door neighbors. If you don't believe me, introduce your household pet to a wolf; or rather, allow wolves to move in next to you, and they will take care of the introductions themselves. You will not be happy with the arrangement. Wolves are still welcome to live within designated domains, but they should not be permitted to establish dens randomly.

Commenter: Mike McCoy
The unreasonable hatred for wolves is primarily born out of competition between humans and apex predators and the livestock industry. Livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet. The livestock industry presents massive problems when dealing with land degradation, climate change, air pollution, water shortage, water pollution and loss of biodiversity (including wolves and other apex predators). Bison also bear the brunt of this industry because they carry brucellosis which they orininally acquired from European cattle. As tax payers we should not have to pay for so called "animal damage control services" protecting private livestock grazing on public lands. Livestock's contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and a solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency. Over 80 percent of corn and over 95 percent of oats produced in the United States are for feeding livestock. The world's cattle alone consume a quantity of food equivalent to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people, more than the entire human population on earth.

Commenter: Mary M
How many thousands of years has the beautiful Wolf been on our "Mother Earth.? But man has always had his hand in Nature and can't leave well enough alone, including our Aquatic life.

Stop hunting these wild animals "for crying out loud." Man can buy mass produced meat in any grocery store. Let "Mother Nature" run its own course and man should not except to protect it.

If we had an over abundance of Eagles, would man then have to "kill them"?

And for once, Government should do what they say they will rather than just talk about it.

Mary M

Commenter: jeff williams...
I believe it's now time to take it up another notch...We desperately need to stop this now!...

Commenter: S. S. Sweet
Thank you to Now for airing this very timely piece on the wolves & the Endangered Species Act. The more publicity and awareness that is created, the more 'voices' will be be raised. We need to educate the public to stop the slaughter of our beautiful, wild animals. It DOES feel like history is repeating itself with these Derbies (Cabela's), aerial slaughters (Thank you Mrs. Pallin, & Gov. Sean Parnell), and the delisting of the Endangered Species Act (Sec. Ken Salazar). I think it's time we bombard the Office of the Interior, Sec. Ken Salazar with letters, phone calls, txt messages what-have-you. We need to create further awareness of these cruel anti-wolf, anti-animal practices. They have no voice, we are their voice. It's not OK to hunt for sport, it's not OK to torture animals, it's not OK to provide protection & them strip it away! I am writing my letters to Obama & Salazar immediately!

Commenter: Maria Martin
Hello! What I do not understand is the following thing:
The animals are hunted (wolves, bisons and gray bear) consumed by the North Americans? Or are they only hunted by sport?
I find it very hard to believe that Defenders of Wildlife promise the sportsman of America as soon as the wolf recovered they would support hunting.
Humans are taking over their habitat and have no where else to go! So, please, leave the animals alone!
Let's love all life on this planet, every living being on it.
Why is so hard to love? It's hard to love?
May God enlighten the Obama Administration.

Commenter: Mary M
How many thousands of years has this beautiful animal been on the face of our "Mother Earth,"
how about man? Well, man has always had to have his hand in Nature and thinks he is making such great progress with all of our Technology and Machines.

For once, why can't man just leave well enough alone? He can buy mass produced meat in any grocery store. Stop hunting these wild animals including those of aquatic nature for "crying out loud."

And why won't Government just do what they say instead of just talking about it?

"I'd love to change the world."


Mary M

Commenter: Thomas R Detman
We have a huge and increasing surplus of humans on the planet, but places that are wild, beautiful, and remote mostly shrink and disappear. We need these places, now more than ever, to escape the crush of humanity, to find find solitude, and to refresh our spirits. I think "We the people" should begin buying land adjacent to Yellowstone, when it becomes available, to expand Yellowstone so that it includes the ranges into which bison, elk and wolves migrate during the Winter. Cattle and ranching are in no way threatened; our little bit of remaining wild places and wild life have the greater need for that land.

Commenter: Robbie Sue Main
Wolves will need government support for their survival due to the economic impact on ranchers who lose money due to cattle loss. Many ranchers see no need for their survival and would shoot wolves anytime anywhere due to the death of their animals on their ranches. I don't know if the government allows tax deduction on their income taxes due to the loss of livestock. To me that sounds fair because ranching is a business. Ranchers would have to produce evidence of the death of the cattle to prevent fraud. I like the idea of a state plan submitted to the federal government for the number of wolves to be killed. With the change of weather becoming warmer the habits of wildlife will change with many of them moving north to stay in the climate they prefer.

Commenter: Jene'
I think the one thing most don't realize is that Secretary Salazar was a rancher. Ranchers tend to want to kill anything that is in competition with them. Unless we give them compensation for the kills, they will continue to hunt the wolf. What concerns me is that not all of the kills are made by wolves. Their own dogs kill their animals.
I hope that Mr. Hollond can make the repeal happen and keep these great creatures on the list. All animals deserve a life on this planet. They were here before us to pave the way. Without them our planet would not have been suitable for us. We answer by detroying them and our habitat?! Shame on us.

Commenter: Ben Schwehr
It is very simple. If the wolf population is uncontrolled, they will eat all of the other wildlife and then even the wolves will die. That would be a terrible loss. Wildlife management must be based on knowledge, not emotions. At the same time, we know that wildlife management is an economical issue. Without hunting expenses, there would be insufficient funds to manage wildlife. So if we let the wolves kill the game animals, then there will be insufficient funds to manage the wildlife. There should be so few wolves that it should be a challenge to even find one; they should not be so populous that they are seen everywhere. Wolves should also respect man and domestic livestock. I love all game animals. If the wolf becomes a game animal, I will love them also.

Commenter: Dr. Hubertus G.J. de Klerk
Wolves need protection period. If it's federal, environmental protection it doesn't matter. Restoring the wolf population in every possible way in every state that wolves once roamed helps getting a back the balance in nature. The Yellowstone reintroduction of wolves proves it and in area's like Alaska or Canada wolves have been a successful part of the landscape. There are many ways livestock can be protected, killing wolves is not one of them.

Commenter: WOLFMAN M

Commenter: Ryan
Coyotes in Idaho have been hunted year round for years without a bag limit. To my knowledge this has yet made an impact on the coyote population. Coyotes like the wolves, can have litters of five or more pups. I believe with or without a bag limit in ID,MT,or WY the wolf population wouldn't decline to numbers of no return, at least not in this day and age. Many years ago trapping and hunting the wolves and other fur bearing animals, was a way of making a living. Today hunting the wolves would just be a way of keeping the balance. Over the last twenty years i have seen evidence of the wolves killing elk to kill, leaving the meat for other scavengers or to rot. I understand why some people feel they should be killed off. Why should we leave it to the federal government to protect the predator?

Commenter: James G. Deane
In "Hunting Wolves, Saving Wolves" NOW did an excellent report on this important wildlife conservation issue. I am greatly disappointed by the Obama administration's apparent lack of interest in following through on the success of federal agencies and conservation organizations in restoring the wolf to a visible presence in and around Yellowstone and maintaining appropriate Northern Rockies wolf protection under the Endangered Species Act. I hope the conservationist lawsuit succeeds.

Commenter: Frances Evans
I have always thought the wolves and the wild horses to be the most majestic of all God's animals and put here to be enjoyed, not murdered. Yet, this country's political atmosphere has not changed enough since this country was founded to know these animals are a treasure and should be protected at all costs. Give the voters a list of the names of politicans who sponsor and vote for the killing and let us get them OUT OF OFFICE where they can do no harm.

Commenter: Ronnie Chittim
Wolves are native to the land...cattle and sheep are introduced by ranchers and the land is poorer for it. Elk and deer are kept in balance by wolves and the hunter with his expensive high powered rifle wants to do that job for bragging rights and photo op. Examine Ken Salazars record on environmental issues and it is no surprise his department is falling in line with commercial interests.

Commenter: Karin
This is not what Obama promised the people of this country before he got elected.Wolves have long been
vilified by fanatics who want to eleminate all wolves.The Interior Depatment abandon the wolves to those that will destroy them,,speeding up the extinction of America's beautiful wolves.Approximately half of all wolves die before reaching one year of age.This heavy toll is taken by
predators,such as grizzlies,factors such as inexperience,hunting accidents and disease.We hardly
need much wolf management for nature takes care of itself.Research shows that when wolves are removed from an erea,the remaing big game often suffers starvation and desease.We all have the responsibility
to protect our wildlife and wild lands,for every creature on this earth there is a reson for it to exist,everything in nature is connected,only man takes more than he needs,only to fulfil greed.Save the wolves.

Commenter: Robert
I hope your sister is o.k. I took care of her in Tucson. "Robert"

Commenter: Sarah Thorsteinson
Thank you so much for this program!! I am republican, but I believe strongly in protecting the earths natural species, so that our children and grandchildren may enjoy them as well.
Humans are a cancer on this planet. Why are we spending so much time "mananging" the environment and wildlife, and not doing anything to control our own overgrowth our our small planet? It seems extreme to manage ourselves and our own proliferation. So why would we manage everything else?

Commenter: Robert
I find it amazing that a population of 1600 wolves is considered 'too many'. Less than 5,000 cattle and sheep killed since re-introduction into Yellowstone seems an tiny loss. The reactions on television of people who hate wolves seems to have more to do with 'you're not the boss of me' than with any rational plan. Sad.

Commenter: Deb T
I'm disgusted by people/organizations that think that containing the wolf/bear/bison population to
"zoo" levels, as was suggested by one of the anti protection organizations, is how we should control predatory animal populations. I appreciate the work that reputable zoos, like the Minnesota Zoo, do to protect endangered species, but when I go I'm sadden to think that for many animals,this is it, the final destination for their species. When I see a giraffe in a pen no larger than my front yard, which is the case at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, I grieve, not just for the animal but for humans. We have so little regard for what came before us, we don't learn from our past mistakes and I think it will ultimately contribute to our downfall as a "species" .

Commenter: Tammy
There are no words to describe how it feels to get to watch a wolf pack for the past 10 years. I have been to Yellowstone almost every year since 2000 and have got the pleasure to be able to watch the Druid Pack. Now the pack is almost obselete. I think everyone that is against wolves needs to experience this once with their kids and then take a hard second look on what they are feeling about this matter. Please save the wolves and protect all wildlife. We are all here only once and remember the life span of a wolf is not very long. I also want to say please remember the DRUIDS and thank you for making the trails that are still visible today and hope that your brothers can follow in your paw prints.

Commenter: Dennis Donath
I am extremely disappointed that the U.S. Dept. of Interior is seemingly continuing any Bush administration environmental policies. I know Bush and his cronies knew little about the environment. I guess we have to rely on organizations like Earth Justice and the court system to sort out the mess.

Commenter: John Phillips
Nature has an intrinsic sense of balance and will superimpose that balance over time regardless of who/what causes a temporary change in the norm.

If humans are considered a part of nature as we so are in the NA sense, our actions while sometimes apparently detrimental will eventually fade into the ecosystem tapestry.

It is therefore incumbent that simple logical reasoning be employed at every turn in decisions regarding our world.

In one part of your piece, it appears said logic has almost entirely vanished from the scene at hand.

Why would anyone even entertain the notion that allowing a bison herd with 40-60% infection rate of Brucellosis to intermingle with commercial cattle, a FDA regulated food product and intregal part of this nation's food supply?

Especially, when cattle (and other livestock) have previously been slaughtered in the tens of thousands for simply being in the vicinity of another animal infected with Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy?

Have they gone "soft" in the head?

Commenter: Barb3000
These so-called hunters act like a blood thirsty mob.
I have a good idea that these people killed wolves where ever they spotted them in the wild. Laws don't mean anything to low-life creeps like these. I read a good article a while ago that said that when the apex predator such as the wolf is gone that smaller predators such as coyotes move in and do a lot more damage to sheep herds than the wolf ever did.

Commenter: Mike Schumacher
Hey can anybody reading this tell me what happend to the T rex did Fred and Barnne Kill them off!

Commenter: S. Urton
As mentioned in the program, the Obama administration is raising questions regarding their environmental views and policies. Along with the wolf issue is the wild horse and burro issue. Again public land is the site of the removal of large numbers of wild horses in the midst of winter for what reason? The BLM is saying that there are too many horses and since the ROAM Act was ammended during the Bush Administration, they feel they may now remove the wild horses and burros from these lands. They apparently want the land for the use of cattlemen and pipe line construction. These animals, much like the wolves, are being inhumanly treated during these roundups. A number have been killed and injured. The horses are being held at the public's expense in corrals. Now the BLM intends to purchase other land in other areas of the country to hold these horses. That means public money will be used to haul them to these new sites. No one knows how long these animals will be held, before they are probably sent to slaughter. Again, public money is being spent when these horses were doing well on public land without the interference of the BLM. Is this how our government intends to manage our heritage and wildlife? When they are through will there be anything left to manage?

Commenter: Joe Heinrichs
When the other animals start to diminish and the Wolves are hungry you will see the livestock pay the price,or maybe school zones maybe backyards are you willing to take that chance.Like anything else if they are not controled they will be a problem.I can only hope and pray that some innocent person doesnt pay the ultimate price due to oh my god the poor wolves.Thank You President Obama

Commenter: Cynthia Test
How sad. I have never felt so moved to comment on an issue as I feel on this one. I have a wolf that lives with me day in and day out. He is the wisest soul I have ever encountered. I do not promote humans "owning" wolves and I never forget that he is at heart a wild animal! I just happened to come upon one that had been hit by a car and picked him up and brought him to my vet for treatment. It was then that I discovered he was not a furry puppy but a furry wolf pup. That was 8 years ago and he has been my constant friend. Loyal, kind, loving and so very intelligent. I fear for their future. How can humans be so cruel?

Commenter: pat mangino
A wonderful book worth reading is The Ninemile Wolves by Rick Bass. (Any book by Rick Bass is highly recommended by the way)

Commenter: Jack
I'm sorry if this busts your world view, but wolves are not always regal. Sometimes wolves are revolting killing machines. Look for web sites displaying wolf kills. It will turn your stomach. People who live with wolves are near a breaking point. I live in Idaho and I sense that relisted wolves will be viewed as an attack against residents. I don't have a crystal ball, but I would not be surprised if the wolves go by-by.

Commenter: Ron Kyllonen
The wolves are at the top of the food chain and are necessary to keep the ecosystem in balance.

Commenter: M. Kitchen
I was interested in hearing the one rancher who was stating that the humans were the top predator, and suggesting that humans had to control the population of the wolves. What he didn't address were the two questions: What exactly do ranchers mean by "control", and who is going to "control" the population of humans?

Please let me know if I can help in the human "control" effort. Someone has got to step in and control the population of ranchers who have done nothing but damage the Creator's land by introducing non-native species, by polluting the water and air, by killing off the superior native fauna, and by causing huge amounts of soil erosion. Since their selfish natural tendencies are also responsible for promoting the rape of other natural resources, exactly what are they good for and why should anyone listen to what they want?

Commenter: Julie Morrell
I think humans should stop breeding so much before we destroy the entire planet.

Commenter: Tricia
I feel that these Wolves in the surrounding states and areas as well as Yellowstone. Also would like to mention Colorado,Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan as well as Wisconsin should all be protected under Federal Protection or we will be back to square one with the hunters killing wolves until they become extinct!

Commenter: Agnes Fleming
My decision is unshakeable and unequivocal that wolves should be protected, as should all wildlife, from the greed of the most obnoxious predator of all, men and women with rifles who do not kill off the weakest in the herds, packs, or flocks but rather, the strongest. I supported Obama during the campaign, but I am increasingly disappointed that he is turning into a typical politician, the job at any cost, not the responsibilities that go with it, and I know they are huge. But that's why he ran in the first place, wasn't it - he could handle it? No pussyfooting now, protect our wildlife, period! Whether we are naturalists, evolutionists, creationionists is not the question, Someone placed these animals on our plant along with us, or they evolved alongside us; kill them off and soon these idiots will turn upon the rest of us because we failed to act on time.

Commenter: Tsula Lea RedSheild (100% Native American)
They need to save those wolves! It took years to recover them into the US and we need to keep them. If you think of it, when we reintrudeced wolves into the United States we made a commitment to help protect and care for them. If we just go out and start shooting them, then we just waisted years of work and tons of money. Wolves have been here before us. This is there home. WE are the invaders of this land. NOT THEM!! We need to do all that we can to protect them.

Here is a website that you can join. It's trying to save wolves and bring them back.

Join H.O.W.L

Poem written by me

A flash of fangs

A howl of pride

Teeth and claws making the law

Burnished silver in the moonlight shine

A glimpse of flashing eyes

Fierce and powerful

Strong and swift

We are wolf

The hunter

The lover




Commenter: Laura T
The management of the wolf and its long-term survival as a species depends on a citizenry with a broader understanding of natural history and wildlife ecology than is the norm in America. It is disheartening to see employees in federal agencies charged with wildlife management who do not understand the importance of adequate numbers and genetic richness to species health and longevity. I hope the wolves win -

Commenter: Suzie
The Obama administration's delisting of wolves and allowance of the three states to control the future of America's wolves is incredibly disappointing. There is no justification for killing these animals. They belong to all of us, not just the ranchers or hunters in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Commenter: Nichole
I agree wolves should be managed, however they should be managed when they are actually at a viable population. Wolves are hated by ranchers which i think is a hate pointed in the wrong direction, it is proven wolves kill less livestock then coyotes, illness, and weather do combined. Wolves shoulod be protected and they should all be protected no matter what the state. I live in wyoming and went into a local out doors facility where they sold hunting equiptment and without hesitation they said if you see a wolf shoot it on the spot. And that my friends and fellow americans is wrong.

Commenter: clayton l
were in trouble when groups tell us when we need to take wolves or not . i think the conservation department probably knows better than some group setting in an office. but they are the ones that want to eliminate hunting altogether. stupid fools are not intelligent enough to no that hunters pay for the management and the comeback of the wolf. stupid.

Commenter: Barbara Crane
I oppose the slaughtering of wolves. They have as much a right to live as human beings.

Commenter: Sharon DuBois
With regard to wolves, if a population is too large, how about using the trap/neuter/return (TNR) method ? It is a humane way to control a population of any type of animal, without reverting to the barbaric practice of killing something if someone decides they don't like it. I am not an expert on wolves, but, having visited (1x) a local wolf sanctuary in Ipswich, Massachusetts, I learned how bonded these animals are with each other, they have an infrastructure, where each depends on the other for survival. We humans seem to forget how much we encroach on nature's original blueprint. Try trap/neuter/return. It works. (Ask feral cat folks).

Commenter: Joel Kuhlberg
Looks like Obama has let us down again. Delisting wolves at this point (1600) in 3 very big states is not going to result in a stable, healthy population. Yes, the ranchers have a right to protect their herds, but shooting wolves for sport is stupid.

Commenter: Joan Ashton
Thank you for NOW's involvement with this important issue.

Commenter: e148
What makes you think that government should protect any animal? Should put any animal over a human?

Commenter: Michelle
Common sense must be prevail over and beyond wolf-haters! Whenever humans destroy the natural hierarchy (specifically a 1st tier predator) of animals - all of nature is put into chaos. The chaos may not be visible to humans for many years but that does not mean it will not occur. It boggles my mind how those who live off of the land in America are so utterly blind to the cycle of nature including the consequences of aborting that cycle!

Commenter: Sandy Mckay
I live in Reno Nevada,in winter we have coytes,actually walking down our street ,feel people took away ther habitat,do not already shop at Cabellos or Scheel's,against hunting,when they lived here first, to bad these animals don't know how to use a gun,for the people who do this to them!!

Commenter: Blue
I almost laughed at the comment about how ranchers think city people know nothing about wolves, that we're too soft to know the problems they face. First, they kind of people they are referring to are the ones that stand around in the mall all day. Now I don't live in Wyoming, but I don't live anywhere near a city, and I never want to; disgusting places. I have seen these ranchers go on and on about how evil the wolf is because it kills their cattle. Well there is more than 6 million cattle roaming American lands; where are the wolves supposed to go? Humans are spreading so fast, tearing up every scrap of land that they see, we're lucky to have national parks. Because otherwise the wolf would be gone.
And ranchers always get mad when wolves enter their property, but how are wolves susposed to know? It's not that they don't know boundaries, they know boundaries very well, but our way of passing along those boundaries is unknown to them. They communicate through scent marking and voice. We think fencing will do it but that's not enough. When wolves see cattle, they don't register it as owned by a rancher because the territory isn't marked in their language. We have become so cut off from nature that we jump to the wrong conclusion of that wolves just hunt out of bloodlust, which is a better description of man than wolf.

And I wanted to slap that women across the face, the one who asked why animals should have more rights than people. How in the world do animals even have close to the amount of rights that people have? Animals don't even have the choice of being euthanized or not, it's made for them. While humans have freedom, animals are subjected to cages and chains because their living standards don't me our "expectations".

Hunters are so selfish; as the video put it, the wolves kept the elk population in check, something the hunters like to do. So is it a big fight over elk now? Are we going to kill wolves for a food source that wolves base their entire living off of when our world is stock piled full of other food choices?

I love this video, it's really informative.
Please save the wolf!
H.O.W.L. Help Our Wolves Live

Commenter: Charlie Lammers
I wish Ken Salazar would retire or find some other career path. I am equally disappointed in President Barack Obama for failing to exercise better leadership and allowing Salazar to have free reign over the Department of the Interior with little or no Presidential input. As for the woman in the video who questioned why a four legged creature should have more rights than people my answer would be because they were in her part of the US long before her forebears were. Wolves shared the land with native people who lived in harmony with them and other animals. Wolves and other animals have not invaded the ranchers habitat. Rather, it is the ranchers and other humans who have invaded the habitats of wolves and other wildlife. If these people are incapable of living peacefully with wildlife they should move to cities where much less wildlife exists.

Commenter: David Cannon
SENATOR ALLEN CHRISTENSEN OF UTAH IS EITHER SO CORRUPT AND ARROGANT THAT HE IS INTENTIONALLY SPREADING LIES & FALSE INFORMATION OR HE IS SO STUPID & INCOMPETENT THAT HE CANNOT DISTINGUISH FACT FROM PROPAGANDA. Most likely it is a combination of his corruption and stupidity. Arrogance, corruption, incompetence and stupidity are not desireable traits in any politician. The American people are fed up with politicians like him.
Here is his exact response to someone who addressed their concerns about wolf conservation to him:

"You live in la-la land. The reintroduced wolves are large canadian wolves not the previous ones put here by nature. No animal can stand up to a pack of 10-20 wolves, thus the wildlife populations suffer. Also much killing is done by the wolves just because they can and not for survival. You are chosing to believe one side of the issue and I believe the other. Ask the people that live with them. They tell me that these wolves are unmanageable and uncontrolable. I trust they will be invading your area soon and I hope you then remember our conversation. Senator Christensen"
First of all "You live in la-la land" is a response someone would expect from a 12 year old, not a US senator. The senator is either intentionally lying or he is too incompetent & stupid to know what he is talking about. There is little genetic difference between gray wolves from across north america. (1) There is practically no difference between the gray wolves from Canada and those that were in the western United States.(2) This has been clarified with new techniques such as molecular genetics. (3) In other words, there is no difference between "canadian" wolves & "previous ones put here by nature". All of senator Christensen's statments are false, including "these wolves are killing just because they can." That happens only rarely and in uncommon situations. It is rare for wolves to kill wild prey in surplus. If wolves occasionally do kill more than they can immediately eat, they are responding normally to a situation that is drastically different than usual.(4) In areas where wolves have been absent for some time, the prey have become more vunerable. The prey will quickly adapt to the presence of wolves, and the small ammount of surplus killing he is refering to will be nothing to worry about. Restoring wolves will increase overall species diversity and help restore the balance of nature.(5)

After reviewing the current scientific literature, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that Senator Allen Christensen is an incompetent moron of such limited intelligence that he is unfit to be a US senator.

1) Ecology & Management of Large Mammals in North America.
2000, Prentice hall Inc. p. 337

2) Wolves. Behavior, Ecology & Conservation.
David Mech & Luigi Boitini
2003, Universiy of Chicago Press. p. 245

3) Ecology & Conservation of Wolves in a Changing World.
1995, Wayne, RK pp. 399-407

4) Wolves. Behavior, Ecology & Conservation.
David Mech & Louis Boitani
2003, University of chicago press. p. 144

5) Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity.
2005, Island Press. p. 40

Commenter: Kim G.
That's pretty amusing, Bruce; your comment that "wolves sport kill in ever [sic] state they live." So if I'm understanding you, I should believe that wolves must just sit around in their man "caves," enjoying their pizza, potato chips & beer. That is, until morning rolls around when they all head out together to kill other animals just for sport. Wow. Who would've known?

No Bruce, the larger threat to this area are those who support eradication of the wolf population. Diminishing the number of wolves is purely motivated by dollar signs, selfishness and ignorance. Any population that is unnaturally altered by man will ultimately throw off the bigger ecosystem. Unfortunately, man's influence over the wolf population brought about nearly wiping out wolves in this region of the country. I believe as citizens, we need to be good stewards to our environment, and right now, wolves need our help.

That said, it might interest you that I am not affiliated with any animal rights group or PETA and I'm not an environmental alarmist. In fact, I mostly vote conservatively, I am a NRA Lifetime Member, I drive a gasoline-fueled vehicle, I prefer more toilet paper than not and I don't tie myself to trees. However, I do what I can to protect what I can by turning off faucets, recycling, picking up trash and I'm teaching my children to do just the same.

I'd love to see your data, Bruce, to back up all your claims. Please, be sure to include the sources.

Personally, I'm standing with the wolves, who by the way, are standing on my federal land.

Commenter: Steve Easten
Bruce, you need to educate yourself before you make foolish statements.
Wolves only kill what they eat, and many other animals benefit. They strengthen herds and bloodlines of Elk, Deer, Bison, etc. They cause River lowlands to flourish and increase habitats for water fowl, fish, Otters, Beaver etc, by keep herds moving and not stagnant.

On record less than 500 kills of livestock in 5 years. Not all were proven Wolf kills. U.S. gov. pays the farmer. No farmer has gone out of business from Wolf predation.

Commenter: Heidi
Its So Hard to read about this it breaks my heart their poor animals just trying to live, but man uses them for their own benefit,

Commenter: Donna Reichart
It is just amazing to me how stupid these legislatures are to enable killing of predators.
If they went to an accredited college, they should have been required to take a basic course in biology
with some animal ecology highlights. Animal ecology is a very delicate balance, taking millenniums to perfect. Predators,have few offspring,
are generally NOT KILLED for food and serve an extreme importance in keeping prey in check. Prey,
on the other hand, have many offspring and ARE KILLED for food. Prey when left unchecked can absolutely wreck havoc. Australia has been to the brink of castatrophe with mice eating all their grain, Canada with rabbits. Grain is one of the most important food staples needed by all humans and the very prey (cattle, chicken, etc)they consume. You don't have to look very far to see how large civilization can be wiped out by disease or massive consumption of their grain. I haven't heard of anything of such due to predators, except the stupidity of mankind. I am a third generation rancher, and yes wolves sometimes kill calves or weak cattle, but this is an aberation. Some states deal with this loss by allowing the ranch to write off it's loss just as a grocery store is allowed to do so when it's fruit rots on the shelves either because the price was too high for people to purchase or it was shipped that way,etc.
Wolves are kept in check by natural selection.

Commenter: Emilia Ghitulescu
Protecting life for al Wildlife.That is the best pressent which GOD give to all of us.

Commenter: JEFF WILLIAMS...
I am very disappointed at the way the Obama administration has handled this wildlife issue. i truly hope it's not an example of what is yet to come, because I was relying on this administration to lead the world in many areas (including all wildlife issues and supporting the endangered species act!)...

Commenter: Lucy Honeychurch
People must learn to live in harmony with, and in support of, wildlife and wild places.

We were put here to be caretakers of creation. Anything less is a sin.

Commenter: Kate Kenner
Wolves are being killed from helicopters in Alaska and Idaho. Oddly enough Idaho is where they were relocated for their own safety and Sarah Palin has been no great champion to them. the slaughter goes on even though she is no longer Governor. I would love to see that brought to the public's attention. This is an abomination.

Commenter: Jeanne Daniels
The government saves and the government kills. They do what that want to...if we don't have a voice. Please protect God's creatures...they do not have a voice, we are their voice.

Commenter: Linda Bentley
My husband is a rancher. We lose several cows and calves each summer when they graze in the mountains. On our lower altitude winter range, we have seen coyotes (the smallest species of wolves)start eating the head of a calf as it was being born while the mother was helpless. Once you live around them and have them eating your meager profits, you think differently about their needs. The wolves have multiplied rapidly and in the process killed many elk so that herds are perhaps endangered themselves.

Commenter: Thomas Johnston
The Obama Administration is just wasting time. I admit that I badly need help with health concerns, but nobody is shooting at me or trying to wipe my family out.
The only real way to handle states like Montana, Wyoming and Idaho is to remove their US government sponsored funds such as funds for roads and other government sponsored programs. I'd leave AFDC and some of the other programs for the needy in place and remove subsidization of ranchers (who only want to kill and are unwilling to change) who are using the public's lands to graze their livestock. Farmers and ranchers need to be much better husbandry-ites of their livestock and not just turn them loose with no oversight and expect a 100% increase.
Wolves and wildlife are our gifts to our children and grandchildren. They are not ours to destroy.

Commenter: Robert
This show was nothing more than a pro-wolf propoganda piece, and lacked any input from other sides of the issue...biased is an understatement...we have wolves living in and around towns and populated areas 20 miles from National Forests...not places meant for reintroduction, and pro-wolf groups still want to limit our ability to control the out of control populations....maybe if everyone had to stand guard with guns at their kids bus stops because of over-populated wolves, some common sense would come into the equation...not for wiping out the wolves, just for controlling them...if left to run amok, they will eat themselves out of prey, and then what???? In some areas they have already devestated the elk heards....and yes they do sport kill elk and deer....controlling the woves is good for the wolves...the reason our mountain states have all the game we do is because of hunters, and the $ they spend and time they volunteer for wildlife.....just think this show could have spent at least a few minutes on facts from another perspective..instead of just feeding people the enviro point of view.....

Commenter: Naturalbill
This is God's dog and must be protected against the bloodlust of ranchers and hunters. The livestock kills are minimal and the informed ranchers are coexisting with these keystone animals. Once reestablished, the habitat becomes more healthy. Yes, the cows are alittle lighter from being more active and alert when predators are present but is the eradication of a magnificent species worth augmenting the bottom line of the few cattle ranchers left in this small area of Yellowstone? The wolf must remain on the endangered species list and it must be enforced. If the days of the iron grip of the cattle, mining and timber industries on government are not strongly confronted with education and enforcement, the battle will never end.

Commenter: Charles Swanson
I cannot possibly make my comment any more appropriate than St. Francis of Assisi, who said: "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."


Commenter: MaryAnne Carse
I believe the wolf is the most "misunderstood" of any animals. It is a proven fact they do not deliberately kill.

We have tried so hard to bring them out of extinction only to have them slaughtered because of various political means.

It is truly sickening. Perhaps maybe we should start doing this with humans. It is the same premise. Don't want something around, get rid of them by any means.

Commenter: Aaron
Very good documentary. Clearly Salazar is corrupt

Commenter: ariel

Commenter: Bruce Hemming
The real goal of the wolf is to attack the rural culture of America. Defenders of Wildlife promise the sportsman of America as soon as the wolf recovered they would support hunting. The wolves official recovered in 2002 ever since DOW has done everything they can to stop wolf hunting.

1. Ranchers have been forced out of business watch Undue Burden the real cost of living with wolves.
2. School distrust have build wolf proof bus stop shelters.
3. The official wolf count is base on a fraud. No singles doubles or un known packs are not counted.
4. Wolves don't kill they eat some large animals the pack will hold down and eat on the animal while they are alive. Once full they leave the animal suffering.
5. Wolves sport kill in ever state they live. For an easy fact check search Dillion MT 120 sheep slaughtered by wolves.

Commenter: Sandra McGee
Since the "white man" came onto this continent, it has reeked havoc. We have messed with the balance of wildlife long enough. It is evident that nature needs wolves for that balance. Just as we need other species for the balance of nature, whether people regard them as nuisances or not. Really that has no barring on nature. It is NOT up to us. We are supposed to be stewards of this earth - and as far as I have seen we have done a crap job of taking care of it. I would like to mention all of the folks who have worked hard to reverse years of pillage & plumage on this earth & its wildlife - they should not go unnamed or forgotten. For they are the ones who keep wolves and other species alive. Without them we would have nothing.

Commenter: Kathy Stuart
It is hard for me to believe that once again America is finding herself in another "kill em all" mindset; the same as we lived through in the nintenth and early twetieth centuries. In those years we saw most of our apex predators and a large number of other species nearly disappear from between our shores. I am so ashamed that yet again certain groups find that it is politcally expedient to pander to large corporations like the meat industry instead of following good science and the will of the "People". Those involved with the derbies, cullings, or whatever euphimemism is currently bandied about, continue to line their pockets at the expense of our national treasures.

I can only hope that the Obama administration hears the voices of those that are fighting to save not only our wild lands but our wild animals as well. He simply cannot allow us to return to the time when the poular photos of the day showed dozens or hundreds of dead wolves, cougars, and innumerable other furred or feathered victims hanging from wires, fences or the sides of lodges while grinning pseudo humans preened and posed for the camera, proud to the bone of the carnage they had wrought.

No more.

Commenter: Susan Brereton
The wolf is very misunderstood. This is a regal animal and to slaughter these is about the worse decision that the Obama administration has made. He will never get my vote again.

I owned a wolfdog, 3/4 gray wolf and 1/4 german shepherd and she was the most docile and loving animal, she recently passed on at the age of 13.

This slaughter needs to stop....

Commenter: Rosalie Godines
How can the Obama administration do such a thing. The wolf need to be on the endanger species list. Its a beautiful animal and we need to protect this animal with everything we have.

Commenter: Todd
Even though I'm giving what I can, I do wish I was rich so I could give ALOT more. Why must humans kill animals for "sport"? It's very aggravating to me and I HATE it!!! Humans kill animals because they get over populated in areas? That's because humans are taking over their habitat and have no where else to go! We should think about OUR population before we kill off animals because without animals on this planet, we have nothing but the disease and virus that is us as humans. I may be human but I think our species are a menace to this planet and it would be better off without us.

Commenter: Sandra L. Girffel
Is history repeating itself? Did we not learn one
thing during the Teddy Roosevelt days? Are we going to repeat the days of wolf slaughtering? Shame on
our government!

Commenter: Kathleen Hatt
We must fight to save our wildlife.

Commenter: Linda Spillman
Wolves need to be part of the balance of nature. They should be protected by the government. I understand they aren't aware of boundaries and appropriate food sources.

Commenter: Eric Burr
The International Wolf Center in Minnesota is the best source for unbiased information.

Commenter: carol
I never believed obama. nor trusted him. with all the wolves killed since palin was in office to now the servival of the wolf has diminished greatly. The airel hunts are cowardly and disgusting. Ranchers moved into the wolf habitat - therefore they knew before hand the chances of their livestock being attacked. They are just in the wrong place- they should be moved away from the wolf habitat.the ranchers are greedy for the land and care only how much money they can make off the cattle flesh they harvest for meat eaters of the human specie. Move the ranchers save the wolf, bison and bear.

Commenter: Rodger Schlickeisen
The Obama administration made a horrendous mistake in adopting George Bush's interpretation of the Endangered Species Act and removing federal protections for wolves in the n Rockies. I am confident the court will rule that in doing so they acted illegally. I believe the administration itself now recognizes their mistake. They should therefore act before the court rules and thus save the lives of numerous wolves in ID where they plan over the next month to hunt and kill them right up to their well-known den sites. They should be truthful with the public and acknowledge that what they did put politics above science in the ESA and thus weakened that law severely, something they promised not to do. We all make mistakes. The real difficulty is if after you know you made one, you don't acknowledge it and act to stop the harm you mistake is causing.

Commenter: Billy Klock
If they go by science which was the promise when he took office then there is no other choice but to protect them under the endangered species act.

Commenter: jo cittadini
stop killing God's creatures ..

Commenter: Juanita Larkin
These animals have just as much right to be on this planet as we do.More destruction is done by man than these wolves.They should be protected as promised.

Commenter: mary ann LaJoie-Sandroff
You have done a great job so far, but hunters and contests killing wolves are still going on. Human beings seem to be the terrorists still of the animal world. Cruelty, torture and ignorance is still the human condition. There must be a way of birth control for the wolves. spend your money with research that is studying that possibility. We can't keep killing everything that has as much right to live here as we do.

Commenter: Anne Lerdvina
I am appalled the Obama administration opting to allow this to happen, especially since beautiful wolves were on the endangered species list, due to inhumane hunting.

Commenter: Ron Voltz
As far as the complete protection going on indefinetly I don't think that will work. The wolf is highly adaptable and will reproduce at a rate that will surprice
you. With no control and not many natural predators for them. It could be a problem.

Commenter: Marg Salemme
Stop killing these magnificent creatures, they are too important to our ecosystem, and most of all because they were here first!

Commenter: Kimela Blue Horse Perkey
We must band together to save our Creator's most majestic creature the "Wolves", it is a disgrace for any one of our Creator's creatures to be destroyed or hunted and killed for pleasure or for any reason....

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