Wyoming Wolves: Conservation or Preservation?
By Todd Helms
Source Link:
https://cowboystatedaily.com/
“. . .the state’s “predator zone” for wolves should be eliminated, so packs might have a chance to expand their range. “There could be wolves down around Lander and in the Bighorn Mountains,”. . .” – Wyoming Wildlife Advocates Executive Director Kristin Combs
The truth is that Wyoming’s wolf population is currently over objective and expansion outside of the management zone (northwestern Wyoming) has been roundly proven to be socially unacceptable. I for one remember a growing population of wolves in the Bighorn Mountains before the delisting and current management plan went into effect and I can sum it up in two words, No Bueno!
Wyoming Game and Fish have done an excellent job managing the state’s wolves by balancing federal mandates with resident’s wishes. Wolf recovery in Wyoming has been a resounding success, as is the case with grizzly bears, but that’s not enough for activists.
Yes, activists. . . do not let them fool you with the term “Conservationist”, they are anything but as that term is rightfully reserved for people and groups whose interest is to conserve wildlife and wild places. Activists are only looking to preserve (think the over-grazed, ecological disaster of a bison preserve that is Yellowstone National Park) and should therefore stop hijacking the term conservationist and use the correct name of preservationist. But I digress. . . .
The true aim of activists is to end ALL hunting. This is done by growing apex predator populations by whatever means necessary to control game animal numbers. Their argument for a balanced ecosystem is couched in the lie that apex predators like wolves, bears and mountain lions are the best way to ensure that balance. They ignore the success of the North American Model of Conservation and how hunters and shooters are single handedly responsible for that success. Without hunters and shooters footing the bill for management, wildlife will suffer.
This is a war, people. To quote Fred Bear, “If you are not working to protect hunting, then you are working to destroy it.”
What are you doing to protect hunting?
