A Blind Eye For Wolves

Article by: Ron Dean

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (GF) is proposing additional protection for wolves that inhabit the Gros Ventre River (GV) drainage. This is in spite of the problems caused by their presence in the drainage. 

 

Wolves were eliminated from the Jackson Hole area nearly 100 years ago. Prior to that time thousands of elk free ranged in the GV each winter. Since then much has changed and the situation is markedly different. Among other things, snowmachines did not exist then and human activity was minimal.  Access is now readily available (snow machine tours, etc) and several permanent residences now exist. These changes have slowly eroded the opportunity for elk to free range there during the winters. Most importantly wolves regularly displace most of the elk from the area during the winter months. Even with the changes that have occurred, the G&F ignores these changes and manages wolves as if nothing has changed there in the past 100 years. The displacement of wintering elk means that much of 100,000 acres of native winter range commonly goes un-used. Perhaps more important, the G&F has preached  and placed their emphasis on slowing the progression of chronic wasting disease (CWD) by encouraging elk to free range during the winter months. This effort is wasted when the elk in the GV are chased to the National Elk Refuge where they then become a part of the dense herds and are more likely to catch CWD. Just because wolves were there historically seems to be reason enough to provide protection for them even in the face of the detrimental effects they have caused. 

 

This is all in the face of numerous examples of native species being protected from the harmful effects of introduced species, in this case, the re-introduction of wolves from Canada. For example, there was the killing of mountain goats in Teton National Park to protect native bighorn sheep. Barred owls are being killed to protect spotted owls in Oregon. The GF is removing brook trout from some streams in Wyoming because they are an introduced species that harms native trout species. Nonnative lake trout are removed from some waters in Wyoming because they are causing harm to native species. Burbot are being removed from Flaming Gorge because they are causing harm to native species.  

 

The examples mentioned show where decisive action has been taken to protect native species. However, the G&F continues to protect two or three packs of wolves in the GV. Currently, the G&F is proposing to reduce the number of wolves that can be harvested in that area. Sacrificing this vast winter range and forgoing efforts to curb the advancement of chronic wasting disease to protect a few wolves is opposite of how other harmful species are managed in other situations. The G&F readily advocates the control of one species to protect others in some situations, then, in this case, makes management decisions to the contrary and is a blatant example of hypocrisy.

 

Ron Dean PhD, retired G&F feedground supervisor (1976-2006)