US plans end to wolf protections; critics say it's premature
Source: Associated Press
Matthew Brown and John Flesher, Associated Press Updated 8:34 pm CST, Wednesday, March 6, 2019
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) U.S. wildlife officials plan to lift protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states, re-igniting the legal battle over a predator that's running into conflicts with farmers and ranchers as its numbers rebound in some regions.
The proposal would give states the authority to hold wolf hunting and trapping seasons. It was announced Wednesday by acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt at a wildlife conference in Denver.
Wolves had previously lost federal protections in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, where hunters and trappers now kill hundreds of the animals annually.
Wildlife advocates and some members of Congress reacted with outrage to the latest proposal and promised to challenge any final decision in court.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/science/article/AP-NewsBreak-US-plans-to-lift-protections-for-13667096.php
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)Afromania
(2,767 posts)democratisphere
(17,235 posts)F'em I say. Protect the wolves.
pazzyanne
(6,518 posts)We are finally winning the fight and now this! I. HATE. THIS. ADMINISTRATION!!!!
susanna
(5,231 posts)I am no expert - far from it. But I do try to learn. From what I have learned:
Wolves, in a natural environment, hunt herd animals.
Herd animals, generally, can absorb losses. It's why we have deer/elk/moose seasons for humans, above and beyond what wolves kill. Generally speaking, herd animals can (and do) rebound from their losses.
Pack animals - like wolves - can be utterly decimated if a high-ranking pack member is killed randomly. Giving open season to wolf hunters? Just no. Most wolf hunters wouldn't even be bothered to know if they are killing an important part of the pack. So it's a no from me.
It is literally apples and oranges.
Not even remotely comparable.
Mendocino
(7,430 posts)kill deer and elk, therefore they must be destroyed.
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