Famous Wolf Among First Casualties

[G_j]

http://www.earthjustice.org/library/features/tracking-hoppy-the-wolf.html

Famous Wolf Among First Casualties

Wolf 253 (known to local wolf-watchers around Yellowstone National Park as "Hoppy") was one of the first casualties as the federal government stripped Endangered Species protections for gray wolves in the northern Rockies at the end of March.

But this particular wolf was unique. "He was a hell of a wolf," says Steve Justad, the photographer who shared Hoppy's story -- and his own exclusive photographs -- with Earthjustice.

Read the story of this remarkable wolf:
http://www.earthjustice.org/library/features/hoppy-the-story-of-wolf-253.html

or watch a slideshow of Hoppy and his pack:
http://www.earthjustice.org/library/features/tracking-hoppy-the-wolf.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.earthjustice.org/our_work/campaigns/wolf-delisting.html
Wolves in Danger

BREAKING NEWS: At least ten wolves have been killed in the northern Rockies since federal delisting took effect on March 28. Earthjustice is preparing our legal case to stop the killing, and we'll file it with the court as soon as allowed under the Endangered Species Act. Stay tuned for more news...

***

The wolf's amazing comeback in the northern Rockies is one of our country's greatest wildlife success stories. But it may be dangerously short-lived now that the federal government has issued a rule that permits wolf killing in the northern Rockies. This heralds the beginning of a larger plan to allow large-scale slaughters of more than 80% of the wolf population.

Read the Associated Press article about this latest development, and a New York Times editorial addressing the importance of environmental protections for wolves in the northern Rockies.

http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2008/01/25/news/wyoming/36e490683a807b37872573db000578f7.txt
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/opinion/28mon2.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[G_j]

1. well, over 40 views, no Ks no Rs, Hoppy, they don't give shit that you're dead

:shrug: :cry:

[leftchick]

2. I do!

This shit is breaking my heart!

:cry:

[G_j]

3. guess, I'm just a bit bitter

This is why after years here, I come to DU less and less,
can you imagine if I had posted "give up your guns, and stop eating meat" in the subject?

edit: thank you for the photo, he was a beautiful animal.

(hugs to you)

[leftchick]

5. I know

it is fucking depressing.

:hug:

[G_j]

7. I waited

but this fell right off the page,
the last time I posted something about these wolves being taken off the endangered list, I got a bunch of ppl defending it!

[Rhiannon12866]

59. I've also defended the wolves for years, myself,

Written to people, signed petitions, etc. They are endangered only because of the cruelty of man. Magnificent creatures... Defending those who would seek to eradicate the wolves just makes no sense on DU... x( As I always tell my vet, liberals love animals!:-)

[uppityperson]

39. Lots to read and don't always stop to post. Freq I have to self kick once to get replies.

People care, just aren't replying and there is so much. Thanks for the article.

[sandnsea]

49. TEN Wolves in less than a month

I don't give a shit about Hoppy, specifically - the story is that there aren't that damn many wolves up there and at this rate they will ALL be dead by the end of the year. This is a crisis.

[texanwitch]

4. Damn.

I really admire wolfs.

I will watch the videos.

[lonestarnot]

6. Poor Hoppy. At least he won't be eaten during the food riots.

[scarletwoman]

8. Here's my k&r -- this makes me so sad.

It seems like some people just can't wait to start killing.

I'm at a loss as to what else to say. This is such a sick country...

sw

[G_j]

9. that is what it seemes like

somebody just couldn't wait to shoot themselves a big bad wolf.

[scarletwoman]

14. It's a mindset I'll never fathom -- and I will always despise.

It's the whole power/domination thing, I guess. Ego. And our society aggrandizes ego over everything, even to the destruction of the whole world.

The Lakota have the best word for it: Wasichu -- "taker of the fat". We are a nation of Wasichus -- takers.

:cry:
sw

[G_j]

16. a nation of Wasichus

still the same..
shit, we still practice "Manifest Destiny"
see Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. etc.

[leftchick]

29. I cried

I mean I cried looking at that slide show of Hoppy and realizing someone got kicks out of killing a crippled animal. Just like dick cheney, I wish we could purge the world of these soulless creatures preying on creatures with real souls.

:cry:

[flvegan]

10. How and why?

I mean was he attacking someone or livestock, or just some dipshit hunter looking for a trophy?

[G_j]

12. snip

<snip>
Eventually, Hoppy left the safety of Yellowstone and headed south again. He spent a year near an elk refuge near Jackson, then moved on toward Pinedale, feeding on elk, an occasional deer, and probably a smattering of jackrabbits and mice.

Hoppy must have known that elk could be found around man-made feeding grounds, where elk are concentrated and disease is easily transmitted. Hoppy was one of many wolves who preyed on elk grazing the land, helping keep the populations in check and thinning the herds of the sick and weak.


Wolf 253 (right, with his injured rear leg) joins two Druid Pack members during mating season in the northern Rockies
Photo courtesy Steve Justad
Hoppy had, however, crossed into Sublette County, where local grocery stores sell bumper stickers that read "Wolves — Government-sponsored terrorists!" Some ranchers and farmers don't hold much love for wolves, which they see only as predators… despite the fact that many animals are, by their very nature, predators. It's a brutal fact of nature. It's how they survive.

In the end, Hoppy's venture outside the safety of Yellowstone Park's official boundaries proved fatal. After eight years spent traveling over thousands of miles, he was shot — along with another male and a female wolf — near the elk feeding ground a few miles outside Daniel, Wyoming on March 28. He became one of the first casualties in a resurrected war against wolves that began the day the federal government stripped Endangered Species protections from gray wolves across the northern Rockies.

Hoppy's death was reported to the state, as required under new Wyoming wolf rules, and word of his killing quickly spread across the Internet. The Salt Lake City Tribune picked up the story, and talked with several people who were fans of the old wolf with the bum leg.

"He died for nothing," lamented Salt Lake City resident Marlene Foard. "If there was a reason to kill him, I could live with that. But there wasn't."
<snip>

[flvegan]

15. "Men" with guns.

What a shame.

[alarimer]

11. Fuck you, assholes who shot the wolf.

I swear they probably did it just for spite. May they rot in hell. No, rather, I hope they get shot.

[G_j]

20. The greatness of a nation

The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

Mohandas Gandhi.

[goodgd_yall]

77. Self-delete

[Mind_your_head]

13. RIP Hoppy - this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you...

:cry:

(k & R'd to remind people who feel so compelled to do likewise)

[oregonjen]

17. You might like this video of John Denver's last song "Yellowstone, Coming Home"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkIH7yyoc1E

Inspired by the return of the wolves in Yellowstone, this was the last song he wrote before he died.

[G_j]

18. wow

he would have been so very sad

thank you oregonjen!

[oregonjen]

21. Yes, there are so many things he would be so sad about

He truly was an amazing humanitarian. He was my idol growing up and I miss him and his music dearly.

[Annces]

19. Very sad n/t

[hankthecrank]

22. K&R

Man just does not get it pave over everything and you get no wild

But if there is no wild there will be no man

[yellerpup]

23. Heartbreaking.

K&R :kick: The whole country has gone to hell under this administration. There is nothing, no person, no species, no plant family that he doesn't disrespect. Everything we have accomplished during my adult lifetime in environmental controls, social programs, and all the good things that people all over the world have admired from afar and wanted to emulate have been torn down, disassembled, trashed to shit. If this is what working across the aisle means, then we need to set the wolves loose in the aisles.

[taught_me_patience]

24. k and r

this is sad. How f@cked up do you have to be to think this is fun?

[stevedeshazer]

25. Recommended

And kicked for Hoppy.

[xchrom]

26. recommend -- it's nothing but republican stupidity that is killing these wolves. nt

[ellie]

27. Disgusting.

I have given money to organizations to stop this killing but to no avail. I am not sure what I should do about it. I hate shooting for sport. I hope Hoppy comes back as something as magnificent as wolf and that he didn't suffer. People suck. Just suck.

[mikita]

28. so sad

this won't be corrected until the world is given back to the animals.

We humans are just fucked up beyond belief.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Unbowed]

30. Bastards. n/t

[LWolf]

31. Wolves are greatly underappreciated.

:cry: :grr:

I'm glad to hear that this will go back to court. I hope the effort to reinstate ESA protection is successful.

[MisterP]

32. Barry Lopez's "Of Wolves and Men" is an excellent exposition on human-wolf history

and also shows WHY wolves were listed in the first place--and that the 19th-century nutters are still with us (and the wolves) to this day

[mitchtv]

33. such beautiful,noble animals

I cared for a hybrid for 14 years.So fucking sad to treat wild animals like they do.

[G_j]

61. I volunteered at a rufuge

There were wolves and wolf dogs who had survived being shot, trapped, confined to a tiny cage and poked with sticks. etc.
These animals are very special, smart and loyal also.

[Rex]

34. Wow. 80% is a fucked up number.

Sounds like no one kept an eye on growth if they have to kill 4/5ths of the population. What crap.

[flashl]

35. K&R

[driver8]

36. Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!!

Why?

Killing is there answer to everything, isn't it?

This makes me so angry and so sad!

[Asgaya Dihi]

37. The name I use here

was adopted from a wolf at the North American Wolf Association. They do rescues and care for wolves in the Texas region and used to have a great web page with some of their success stories and bunches of great pictures. They've been down for upgrade for long enough that I'm not sure they are coming back but I've always had a soft spot for wolves.

[TransitJohn]

40. The wolf population is being managed

in accordance with the ESA. What's the problem? Because this one had had his picture taken a bunch?

[Asgaya Dihi]

42. The problem

is that we've little skill and less care with how to manage them, or anything else. Do you have any awareness of the history of them or related issues?

When we wanted to repopulate Yellowstone with wolves they couldn't find enough American wolves to do the job without stripping what few populated areas we had of too many, we had to use Canadian wolves. To restock US parks with "US" wolves for tourism and the ecology we had to go with immigrants.

I make a joke of it but that's really pretty damned pathetic. We hunt things into extinction or damned near to it then wish we could have them back, now that they are finally getting healthy if you note the article above we're talking about killing off some 80% or so of them again? We haven't learned a thing.

The problem is it's fucking stupid, it plays havoc with the ecology and the balance of pest and predator, it allows prey species to grow weak since hunters take what's in their sights or the trophy rather than the weak so it doesn't do the prey populations a damned bit of good either. Wolves remove or thin species such as the coyote which might compete on some level then we remove the wolf as well leaving a hole in the process, what picks up the scavenger or small animal prey then?

What's the problem? Mostly people who can't see past the end of their noses long enough to understand that NOTHING is ever that simple. Pictures? That's what this is about to you? That's sad.

On edit, apologies for being abrupt. As I said it's an issue I care a bit about and it's a bit more complex than pretty pictures or some romantic image of the way things should be, for me at least.

[TransitJohn]

43. I'm a lifelong resident of Wyoming and have followed

this closely since way before the introduction took place. I don't understand why the outrage over any of the killings, frankly. They restored viable populations to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The population is being managed with a minimum threshold of breeding pairs, which we are over. So why the outrage over this particular wolf? Because a photog shot a bunch of pics of him that were published?

What plays havoc with ecosystems is an overabundance of very efficient predators in an area that hasn't had them for over a hundred years. Watch the elk permits issued this fall and in subsequent years, bound to be on the downfall.

[Asgaya Dihi]

44. This particular wolf?

You picked an odd person to ask that since I commented on a refuge near me which I've been aware of for years now and the problems associated with the hunt, but I didn't mention that wolf in particular. The OP as far as I could tell didn't concentrate on it either so much as to point out that it's just one of the first. Kinda like when Magic Johnson got AIDS or something at best to me at least, it made him a poster child for the issue because we knew him but no more or less a victim than any of the rest of them.

The outrage is over the stupidity and mismanagement, we're a nation of extremes and this is no different. A reasonable compromise solution never even gets discussed between the shouting extremes. It's got to be all or nothing. So they want to thin them some and if the population got to be too large that's reasonable but if we're talking in the neighborhood of 80% thinning someone has seriously lost their minds. That is what the objection is.

The Elk you're concerned about, and other species, profit from the wolf rather than are harmed. They keep each other in balance. Too few elk and the wolf doesn't eat so doesn't reproduce. Too many and they do. With overpopulation or a lack of predators disease is more likely and more likely to spread so a large but predator free population isn't really a good sign. An animal gets sick and it slows so is easy prey, if it isn't prey it's just a carrier. The same can be said with other problems such as genetic which generation by generation don't do the species any good if they aren't thinned and hunters don't generally take the weak or the slow, but the prime.

Then there's the smaller predators such as the coyotes. Normally they (and most predators) play a scavenger role as well as hunting small prey. Add wolves to the area and their numbers are reduced or in some cases eliminated locally depending on how they compete. Now remove the wolf and we've got missing scavengers which leads to obvious problems plus a sudden and uncontrolled increase in the small animals they and the wolves used to hunt. This up and down bit throws the whole system out of balance from one end to the other and that's what we need to end, the artificial up and down cycles just because we can't decide if we're ecologists or not this administration.

What we need to find is a reasonable balance and defined areas large enough to support healthy populations which we leave alone. What goes outside of that I won't argue but this breed them for a few years then kill most of them off bit isn't good for any aspect of the system.

[G_j]

46. Thank You for the thoughtful post

no, I do not think people who refer to wolves as "terrorists" are intelligent enough to manage our wolf population.
& 80% is just plain wrong.

[lukasahero]

47. "The Elk you're concerned about"

Here's where you're going wrong - he doesn't care about the elk - he cares about "the elk permits".

Thank you for your wonderful posts.

[truebrit71]

55. Wrong on so many levels. Another poster has more specifically addressed your incorrect assertions.

..the minimum threshold is a bullshit number, and the indiscriminate slaughter of the wolves has a massively negative impact to the pack dynamic as a whole...

I hope you go back and do some more research on this issue because you sound intelligent and interested enough to learn more about it...

[susanwy]

60. but WY was short sighted

I too live in this great state, and the problem is that our chicken-shit governor would not stand up to the ranch community (and dominated legislature) and work to adopt more reasonable management policies like our neighbors in Montana, Utah and even Idaho. Gov. Freudenthal gave the ranchers everything they wanted and even wasted state $$ fighting the feds on reasonable policies. He offered up the wolves on a silver platter.

Off topic, but he has done the same thing with the out of control coal-bed methane development which is creating ozone holes over our once pristine state. Freudenthal is a wolf is sheep's clothing, i.e. a Republican posing as a moderate Democrat. And guess who endorsed Obama!

[Brigid]

38. Heartbreaking.

Poor Hoppy. :cry:

When are people going to learn that apex predators need to be protected as essential parts of the ecosystem? :banghead:

[Norrin Radd]

41. kr

Kick for Hoppy. Coincidence -- I named our new cat who is missing a foot Hoppy (we rescued her a few weeks ago from the streets).

[leftchick]

45. k&r

:cry:

[formercia]

48. Dick Cheney wants them all dead before he goes to prison

The Salmon are in steep decline thanks to Dick, now the Wolves.

[mitchtv]

50. Problem is ranchers who lease public lands

feel that this gives them the right to sterilize the ecosystem. God forbid they should hire a few shepherds and cowboys and guardian dogs to protect their herds and flocks.

[Brigid]

68. In some places, sheep ranchers place llamas with their sheep.

On Aminal Planet, I recently saw footage of llamas chasing coyotes away from the sheep. Llamas hate coyotes; maybe it would work with wolves too. It beats shooting them.

[helas girl]

51. We wont have wolves for much longer in this country

In Japan it was commonly believed that wolves were the guardians of the country. After Japan wiped out its wolves in the quest for industrialization, it was nuked twice and lost a world war. Coincidence? Maybe. It's something to think about.

[Indenturedebtor]

52. Grrrr how could you shoot a dog like that?

When I was selling cars I sold one to this moron who told me about how he and his friends would go out in S Arizona and shoot coyotes just for fun. I had to put food on the table so all I could do was stare at him. His friend, a girl he had there with him, told him he was a moron and smiled an embarassed smile at me.

I don't know what's wrong with people to take pleasure in killing. Especially in killing dogs. They're like little people with fuzz. :(

Somebody should shoot the asshole that killed this wolf and explain to his family that there are too many people around Yellowstone consuming too many resources. It's really all for the better asshole. You have to die.

[truebrit71]

53. God Fucking Dammit!

...words escape me...

Mother fucking bastards!

[WildEyedLiberal]

58. I see we had the same reaction

:grr: :nuke: :grr:

[truebrit71]

54. This makes me so mad...just joined up with a $50 contribution...

...someone has to protect the wildlife before we completely fuck this planet up...

[G_j]

65. thank you!

that was very generous,
may your good will return to you!
:applause:

[Yael]

56. This is so sad

I had to wait until I got home to go look at the pictures. I knew they would make me cry.

Poor little guy, out there minding his own business.

:cry:

[WildEyedLiberal]

57. God DAMN it

Fucking trophy hunters with NO sense of the majesty of nature destroying animals that have far more grace and dignity than they EVER will in their pathetic miserable lives.

I understand hunting to feed your family, or hunting to cull overpopulated herds of deer. But there is NO excuse for wanton, arrogant, and bloodthirsty destruction of beautiful creatures.

[Kaleva]

62. wolves and people

In Upper Michigan, the DNR brought in wolves some years ago and it's a major sore point with many of the locals. A lady went out jogging with her pet dog and a pack of wolves came out of the woods, attacked her dog and killed it. Another family came home and found their dog, which had been chained up outside, had been killed. The police confirmed it had been wolves.

I have talked to people who have said they will shoot a wolf on sight or others that will, if they know wolves are near their homes, will put out pans of anti-freeze for them to drink and thus poison them.

Sometimes at night, I can hear a wolf howling off in the distance and I do keep a rifle and ammo readily accessible as we do have pet dogs and chickens.

[Araxen]

63. I hate humans

and it's things like this that makes embarrassed to be one.

[Blue Diadem]

64. RIP Hoppy

:cry:

[ProgressiveFool]

66. In search of a silver lining, I hoped it was CNN's Blitzer /nt

[Luna_C_06]

67. 80%?

80 fucking percent? What the hell are they thinking??

[Lorien]

69. That would only leave America with a few hundred wolves at best

as I understand it. I think this is basically another favor to GOP contributing cattle ranchers (yet another good reason to pass on the beef).

[G_j]

70. very good point

noted..

[nam78_two]

71. Too late for an R-here is a K

Awful just awful...

[Lorien]

72. I'm an Earthjustice member, and they've been doing more to fight BushCo

on this issue than just about anyone else.A tax deductible donation to them is money well spent, imho. :thumbsup:

[ismnotwasm]

73. How ugly this is

There are better ways to handle any "excess population" besides saying fire at will. Complete, evil bullshit.

[Withywindle]

74. Every time there's a thread about animals...

...you always get someone on here ranting about how bourgeois it is to care about animals when there are people suffering, etcetera.

Yes, I'll admit it - I do believe that the lives of SOME animals are worth more than the lives of SOME people. Deal with it.


RIP, Hoppy. Your end was swift and you'll be remembered with love. May your murderer live to a ripe old age full of painful wasting disease and wind up unmourned in a landfill.

[AZBlue]

75. I just heard about this earlier today - and it broke my heart.

[goodgd_yall]

76. Poor ol' Hoppy

And all his brothers and sister.

Damn, damn, damn.