Gray Wolves Delisted

Gray wolves have been taken off the threatened & endangered species list. I called this one a long time ago. I knew it would happen no matter how much we fought to stop it. Cattle money speaks loudly out here. I will not rant on this-everyone already knows my passion for wolves. I think it is premature. Attitudes towards wolves may have shifted nationwide to conservation but here in the heartland of the drama, wolves are not wanted. Hate for these great canines is rampant. Ignorance and greed dictate nature out here.


In 1922, these wolf pups were captured to be killed (by any means necessary-and I have read the detailed reports from back in those days). NPS archives photo.


In 1995, after gray wolves had been exterminated to extinction, gray wolves from Canada were brought in to restore a lost population and a broken ecosystem. NPS archives photo.


Today, wolves have rebounded in numbers and the Yellowstone ecosystem is thriving. (Too bad people's attitudes towards them haven't rebounded.) NPS archives photo: Rose Creek pack.

What is next for wolves? Who knows. My outlook is not optimistic at all. I imagine many will be exterminated as soon as possible. Sadly, up to 1,200 of them can die and still the "minimum allowable limit" will be met. Folks out here apparently will not be happy until the only remaining wildlife is caged.

Another shot through my heart:(

Bison Slaughter Escalates

In the last 2 weeks, 290 more Yellowstone buffalo have been sentenced to death for nothing. Every few days, more and more are rounded up.


The words of the Buffalo Field Campaign shot me through the heart:

Along the north boundary, near Gardiner, Yellowstone National Park has captured and sent to slaughter 290 of America's last wild buffalo. It is so hard to imagine the stress and horror these buffalo go through as they are captured and separated from their families by age and sex. Frightened, they run around in a panic, goring each other as they try to find a way out of this thoughtless prison. The sacred buffalo, being loaded onto livestock trailers and hauled to the dark nightmare of the slaughter house, to be processed and cut to pieces. How dare Yellowstone National Park condemn the buffalo under their care to such a fate.

Excuse me while I rant. What the hell kind of "management" is this that has been allowed to continue for years unchecked?! The buffalo are not even tested for brucellosis. If they were, I'm positive the majority of them would not have the disease. Why are the elk with it not sent to slaughter or even considered to be a threat? The "managers" and ranching interests backing this sick practice are completely braisen, even to the point of being morally bankrupt. I'm sure Natives weep for the loss of the bison. So do I. I believe God is saddened also-we are not taking proper care of His creations.

The vision I see of the future for America's western wildlife is not good, in fact our precious animals are in a dire situation-wolves, bison, bears, cougars,... Every year I watch as the sad tale unfolds. The states with the largest areas of prime wildlife habitat and fewer people kill more wildlife than anywhere else in the nation. There is no tolerance, no pride for what wildlife we have out here, no real conservation practice (most times the word "management" is used out here, maybe because they know it is not "conservation"). I have acquired friends from many states across the U. S. and none of them can believe what we are doing to our wildlife out here in the great West. One gal from New York of all places put it this way the other day, "They kill animals out here, that's what they do." She's right. It's a gun toting, animal shooting funhouse where selfishness dictates. I'm tired of knowing bison are dying daily for the whims of a few with more money, therefore more political clout. Corrupt-no way, right?! I would like to read a pleasant story in any paper out here once in awhile about a living animal of any kind. Guess I'll have to start my own paper for that.

I feel helpless in situations like these. All I can think of is to tell others to boycott American bison (meat, hides, etc.) in the marketplace until current bison management practices stop. When money talks, "management" listens.

Photo: 3 of Yellowstone's last remaining bison (very well could be dead now).

Oh, To Be Free Flying

Currently, I have heard much sad news about animals. We have cattle being tortured to make them stand up so they can be "fit for slaughter" for human consumption. It is downright animal cruelty. I'm sure you've seen the disturbing footage on the news over the past couple of weeks. We have polar bears drowning in ever-expanding Arctic waters. Gorillas and elephants are being massacred. Moose in the Rockies are roaming into expanding urban areas in search of food and then being trapped and hauled off to God know's where. We have people anxiously awaiting the upcoming grey wolf massacre. And hundreds of bison are being shipped off to their death, even newborn calves, in the name of retaining "brucellosis-free status" for cattle herds-only problem is the bison being shipped to slaughter are not even tested for the disease.


In light of all of this, I have been thinking about what it would be like to be a wild bird flying free. As a bird, I may have a better chance to escape death by human since humans are mostly concerned with larger, predator type animals. And what a better bird to be than a raven out in the mountains. Humans are more apt to capture or kill fancier birds with nice plumage or more meat. Ravens have always fascinated me. They are quite intelligent birds. They can use tools, reason, and have moods and personalities. They have inquisitive minds and a special relationship with wolves. Just imagine what they see out there!

On a fall trip to Yellowstone last season, we stopped at a picnic area to get lunch. Ravens are always hanging around that picnic spot every time I've been there. Probably the same birds. This time we were sitting at the table when 2 ravens slowly moved in closer and closer to us, hopping along the ground, over boulders, and through trees. One was far more reserved than the other and would come no closer after a certain distance. The other one was quite a character. This bird was testing us to see if we would give it handouts or drop crumbs. It would circle the table by walking on the ground and then slowly move in to the benches until we would move a little. Then it would scoot back a bit and do it over again for the good hour we were there. In the meantime, of course, I am talking to this raven and I can plainly see that it's listening to me by the way it's looking me in the eye and tilting its head and "talking" back when I am through with my statements. I don't claim to know what it said but I do know we were communicating. This is the friendliest raven I have ever come across. It became so brave as to sit on the bench at the table. Keep in mind that the picnic area was full with other tourists eating lunch, but none got to be part of this special experience.

After eating lunch and making sure to leave no crumbs of human slop around for the ravens (and even cleaned up others' slop off the ground), we took off walking to the restroom. We came out and guess who was hopping over the ground to us? The 2 ravens, with the shy one farther back. After the car was loaded up, we drove over to dump the trash and the ravens were still following after us until they caught up to us. I told my "friend" we had to get going but we'll be back after winter is over for another visit.

A terrific book to read on ravens is: Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heindrich. He has spent a lifetime studing these fabulous birds. In fact he has also contributed to PBS's Nature program "Ravens" . I have not seen this yet but I'm sure it's good. And as always, don't pass up a chance to watch or interact with these birds.


Photos: The raven on rock is my "friend" at the picnic area. The other one I don't know-it was catching bugs in a thermal area.

Buffalo Roundup In Progress, Again

The current buffalo hunting season that is now underway has left 102 buffalo dead so far. Another 50 unfortunate buffalo have been herded into the Stephen's Creek pen awaiting shipment to the slaughter house or some particular research facility, I forget where. The unlucky bison herd (sarcastic voice now) blatantly ignored the rules given to them for staying within Yellowstone Park boundaries. The herd crossed over the Park boundary one time too many this year. The herd spitefully wandered out of bounds to graze and survive the winter even though the obvious boundary is clearly posted with warnings in buffalo language. The herd must promplty be dealt with. In addition, the spring 2008 summer season is soon approaching for the Park and buffalo meat is needed to stock the cafeterias.

It just weighs my heart down every time I read about buffalo. I haven't heard a positive thing about these wonderful animals in years around these parts. Well, I love them. They are nice animals except when pestered by goofy, camera-wielding tourists that attempt to invade their personal space. Yes, they may even charge for no apparent reason but they are still fine animals. Some fools even try to pet them like an ordinary house pet. Who wouldn't have their hide ruffled at that?

Please help these and other imperiled bison:

Buffalo Field Campaign

Photo: NPS Archives. A previous roundup. Jim Peaco 2003.