I was dozing off yesterday after work when I was awakened to a surprising announcement on the news. A moratorium on the Yellowstone bison slaughter is being demanded, not only by the Buffalo Field Campaign but by large national organizations such as the Humane Society. This is great news folks! That means people all across the nation are fed up with this brutal, unnecessary bison management practice. People are paying attention. I'm still not optimistic that things will change but I am overwhelmed with joy that so many people care about the plight of the buffalo-there is hope in numbers. (Over 1600 bison have been killed so far this season.)
On a disturbing note now, I report on the plight of our very recently delisted gray wolves. Only one has been killed in Montana. I think it was after livestock. I haven't heard anything about Idaho yet. However, in Wyoming at least 10 wolves have been killed. Keep in mind that over most of the state wolves are able to be shot on sight with no permit or liscence required. Only around Yellowstone wolves are classified as trophy game and there will be a designated hunting season established. But why wait for wolf hunting season when you can hang out at the "shoot-on-sight" boundary line and kill the wolves as they cross this invisible line? Hunters have been hanging out doing just that. There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to happen. Wolf defenders tried hard to prevent this from happening but to no avail. These hunters are making big news in local papers. They make it seem like such a fun time to go out killing these wolves for fun. Even wolves that are not even attacking livestock. Wyoming will not be satisfied until all wolves are exterminated.
Photos: both are from NPS archives
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Happy Twist in Bison Defense But Not So Good For Wyoming Wolves
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Hi Heavenabove;
That is good news on the bison, I have seen more about it on the web recently…It just seems crazy to have killed so many of them!
And…
That is sad news about the wolves. Did you take that photo of the bumper sticker locally?
Real challenge sitting by the boundary waiting for an unsuspecting wolf to venture out…
What kinds of things are the local papers saying about these wolf hunters?
What a shame…..
As always thanks for the update….
The bumper sticker photo is from the NPS archive free use photos-Jim Peaco, Yellowstone Park's photographer took it in the park. But I've seen others.
It's disturbingly interesting to read the stories in the papers as the "sport" of wolf hunting evolves rapidly into everyday life out here. Nothing bad has been said so far about the hunting but lots of stories an comments on the people doing it and the hardships they must endure to get a kill. Still plenty of stories on wolf attacks on livestock. Just the sheer numbers of these biased. reports subliminally instills fear and hatred of wolves into folks. Keep in mind that it has only been a few weeks since the delisting.
Livingsword, when you go on your trip to Yellowstone, I hope you get some pictures of wolves-even poor shots from far away. I fear that one day again, pictures will be all we have of our Yellowstone wolves.
Hi Heavenabove;
It amazes me the things people will sometimes put on their bumpers, or shirts for that matter….
Your area certainly has a hunting “culture” if there was one thing that could be done to change people’s attitudes, their hearts and minds so they don’t embrace such a culture what would it be? I don’t mean laws, but actually change the root of the problem….
I haven’t seen a wild wolf in quite awhile, it would be a treasured moment, and a photo shot is the only kind of “shot” I would take….
You can count that we will be taking many photos and posting them on Creation and perhaps Life depending on the context….Perhaps an article about the animals we didn’t see may be informative….
I have to say we are getting more excited every day about our vacation to Yellowstone! Like a journalist traveling to the Middle East to report on news there… LOL
Yep, the Park is a kind of war zone but once you're in there the natural wonders of God put all that bad stuff on the back burner.
The hunting culture out here...boy, I really think it cannot be changed. Killing for fun is a mainstay of our area. This way of life has been around here (the West) since Europeans settled the land and brought in their culture of little regard for animal life. People here do not want to accept change. Anything different is frowned upon here. Norms of the rest of the country take many years to assimilate into this place-" going green", popular music and fashion trends, like body piercings, are a few examples I can think of readily. It is also the least friendly place I have ever lived and I've been here the majority of my life. From my experiences, back east and even in large cities, folks are much more friendly and accepting of diversity.
Hi Heavenabove;
Excellent!
It sounds like there needs to be a miracle!
Time for prayer….
Post a Comment