Scientists: Wolves not decimating elk herds. Conservationists fear effects of wolf hunting season. By Steve Benson. Idaho Mountain Express Staff Writer.
This is a story about a news conference yesterday featuring two wildlife biologists, Suzanne Stone of Defenders and myself. We put it together to counter the anti-wolf rally slated for Boise. It was held just before the anti-wolf rally.
The Idaho Mountain Express also published this guest editorial. “Wolves should not be scapegoat of the West. Wolves deserve protection, respect.“
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
Ralph,
Are the data on this public (i.e. published/peer reviewed)?
They didn’t present articles at the news conference, but the Atkenson’s various studies at Big Creek have appeared in peer reviewed journals.
I have also seen their presentations of data and photos at the North American wolf conference several times.
Dr. Peek has many peer reviewed articles. He is retired now. I haven’t read his articles.
Here are some photos from the Taylor Ranch field station 20 miles inside the Frank Church Wilderness. That’s were the Atkensons are doing their research.
http://www.cnrhome.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=91081
From this web site I pulled out this research paper- Akenson, J. J., H. A. Akenson, and H. Quigley. 2005. Effects of wolf reintroduction on a cougar population in the central Idaho wilderness. Proceedings of the Eighth Mountain Lion Workshop 8:177-187.
Ralph, In looking at your photos, and mention of the U of I researching, I remembered something about the Hornocker Institute a few years back proposing to locate at Boise State, and being turned down. Do you know what went on there? Were there ploitics about predators involved?