Predator Derby Planned for Salmon, Idaho

Posted on August 6, 2014 by GarryRogers

Predator Derby

Photo: National Geographic

GR: The BLM is proposing to issue a special 5-year, December 15 to January 15, recreation use permit for a predator derby to take place on public lands. Up to 500 derby participants would have 3 days to kill gray wolves, coyotes, skunks, weasels, jackrabbits, raccoons, and starlings. Killers would receive points for the animals they deliver to a judging station. Please send comments to the BLM.

“The BLM has issued a “scoping letter” asking people to provide comments on the scope of what the BLM should consider in an Environmental Assessment they intend to conduct on the impacts of a proposed “predator derby” on the BLM lands surrounding the Salmon, Idaho area during the weekend of January 2-4, 2015. The 15-day public comment period started on August 4th and will extend to August 18, 2014. The “predator derby” is being hosted by Idaho for Wildlife, the same outfit that held the coyote and wolf killing contest in Salmon last winter. Last year the derby was infiltrated by activists and a journalist, Christopher Ketcham, who wrote: How to Kill a Wolf | VICE United States.”

Source: Ken Cole, Wildlife News

Send comments before August 18, 2014:

Liz Townley
BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner
blm_id_predatorhuntderby@blm.gov

or:

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Salmon Field Office, Predator Derby Comments
1405 Hollipark Drive
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83467

To view the scoping letter and other materials click here.

Source: Ken Cole, The Wildlife News

Washington Fish & Wildlife Rejects Nonlethal Wolf Management

Posted on August 2, 2014 by GarryRogers

Eight Petitioning Groups Will Appeal Fish and Wildlife Commission Wolf Decision

Press Release from the Center for Biological Diversity, August 1, 2014: “The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today denied a petition filed by eight conservation groups seeking to limit when wolves can be killed in response to livestock depredations, and to require livestock producers to exhaust nonlethal measures to prevent depredations before lethal action can be taken. The petition was filed to prevent lethal actions such as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2012 decision to kill seven wolves in the Wedge Pack despite the fact that the livestock producer who had lost livestock had taken little action to protect his stock. Petitioners plan to appeal the commission’s decision to the governor.

“Washington needs to make legally enforceable commitments to ensure the state’s vulnerable, fledgling wolf population is treated like the endangered species that it is,” said Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity. “The state has made some headway, but without clear rules to prevent the department from pulling the trigger too quickly, Washington’s wolves will be at great risk.”

“Conservation groups filed a similar petition in the summer of 2013 but withdrew it based on promises from the department to negotiate new rules governing lethal methods of wolf management. A year later, with no negotiations having taken place, the department gave notice to the commission it was going to introduce its own, far-less-protective lethal wolf-control rule, leading the groups to refile their petition.”

Source: Center for Biological Diversity.

GR: Historical ties to special interests influence government wildlife agencies. For public land managers, the U. S. “wild-wild-west” legacy shows up in the inflated influence of hunters and ranchers. These groups form the society to which public agency officials belong. Lacking respect for outsiders, the officials often use tricks and deception to serve their old friends.

Manipulating the Numbers in Montana Wolf Policies

Posted on July 5, 2014 by GarryRogers

“Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has stated publicly many times over the years, that they are using the best available science in their Gray Wolf management policies. Yet, time and time again, they have proven that they are not using the best available science, but rather manipulating numbers to appease special hunting groups and organizations, as well as the domestic livestock industry.”

Source: nywolf.blogspot.com

GR: For public land managers, the U. S. “wild-wild-west” legacy shows up in the inflated influence of hunters and cowboys. Public agency officials use tricks and deception to serve their old friends.

Stop the execution of Siberian wolves

Posted on July 3, 2014 by GarryRogers

Here is the link to sign the Siberian Wolf petition to the Parliament of Latvia requesting an end to wolf killing.

Source: wiwildlifeethic.org

GR: Herders and farmers see wolves as economic threats; hunters see them as competitors. Neither group is interested in stable Earth ecosystems. Perhaps Latvians need a better education like, uh, like…. Hmm, does any country require natural history and ecology courses in its school curricula?

Wolf execution ‘quota’ a measure of Wisconsin DNR’s ignorance

Posted on June 23, 2014 by GarryRogers

“On Wednesday, June 25, the Natural Resources Board, comprised predominantly of appointed hunter activists, will “consider” the hunter-controlled wolf committee’s quota of 156 wolves to be killed in the 2014-15 hunting/trapping/hounding season — the third season in Wisconsin.”

Source: wiwildlifeethic.org

GR: Why not adjust human behavior instead of eliminating the tiny threats and minor competition from wolves. Perhaps the Natural Resources Board should reread “Never Cry Wolf.”

Changes Needed to Help Mexican Wolves

Posted on June 13, 2014 by GarryRogers

“Recently the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed one very good and many very bad changes to the rules governing the Mexican wolf reintroduction.

“The proposal is very important to the future of Mexican wolves in the wild, who numbered only 83 at the last official count.

“USFWS plans to release a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and to hold a public comment period and hearings this year.

“Your help is needed now to make sure that changes to help the lobos thrive are included and the changes that would push them closer to extinction are discarded” (www.mexicanwolves.org).

See on www.mexicanwolves.org

Action Alert: Comment NOW On USFWS Bogus Push For National Wolf Delisting!

Posted on February 22, 2014 by GarryRogers

I can’t say this enough, we must stop USFWS from delisting wolves nationally, it will be the final nail in their coffin. Please act now and voice your disdain over the political “not based on the…

See on howlingforjustice.wordpress.com

Why Wolves? – David Parsons

Posted on February 22, 2014 by GarryRogers

Dave Parsons, TRI’s Carnivore Conservation Biologist, gave a lecture in Santa Fe for a program called Science Cafe for Young Thinkers sponsored by the Santa Fe Alliance for Science.

See on 4thenaturesake.wordpress.com

Mexican Wolves (2) Will be Released in Arizona

Posted on February 15, 2014 by GarryRogers

Releases to replace Mexican wolves illegally shot between 2011 and 2013

(from Arizona Game and Fish Department)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) have initiated actions for the release of two Mexican wolves in Arizona to replace wolves illegally shot, as directed by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in 2012 and to increase the genetic diversity of the wild population. Continue reading →