Federal Officials Embrace Wyoming Wolf Killing Plan

There have been a number of stories on this. Here is the view of Earth Justice, who might possibly represent any litigants of the killing plan.

Many Wyoming politicians have long tried to confine nature to Yellowstone Park, and they are succeeding, and the rest of the wide open spaces are being industrialized for oil, gas, and coal.

Federal Officials Embrace Wyoming Wolf Killing Plan. Earth Justice. Press Release.


by

Tags:

Comments

  1. kim kaiser Avatar

    so what would happen if the population dropped to below 100.. would they go back lsted or would they just allow the number come back to 100 or whatever that min level is,, If the govt of wyoming is going to shoot them donw, why not just go ahead and shot them back down intentionally to force a re list, if that is the route that involves re list.. seems a harsh way to go about it, but if lawsuits dont stop it, then why not shoot em down and get them more protection again,, just another thought,,,,

  2. Brian Ertz Avatar

    Jon Rachael, of IDFG, responded to a question @ the boise “open house” with his understanding that if wolves need to be re-listed they will be fully re-listed. that is, no 10(j) – no “experimental population” ~ i don’t think gunning them down is the appropriate method of accomplishing that ~ but this was a question that i had ~ especially with a new administration mulling over status ~ i think it’s interesting…

  3. Brian Ertz Avatar

    i think i need to make clear that i don’t mean to dilute the absurd state management levels or the outrage associated with the looming slaughter ~ but if the state believes that the “experimental population” is absolved once delisting occurs ~ i wonder about the malleability at the federal level of the 100 & 300 levels after a change in administration … especially considering the things learned since then … the state’s “viable population” might differ from a (new administration’s) federal “viable population” if the feds are more willing to consider recent science ~ thus the floor heightens at the federal level for consideration of relisting ? jeez ~ that’d piss these good ol’ boys off !!

  4. kt Avatar
    kt

    And the plan for the rest of the Western public lands that may have had the good fortune to not be underlain with oil and gas is to turn into into a great big “Renewables” Production Zone and Water Export area – Mountain top removal wind farms bulldozed and blasted into high sagebrush ridges , each valley cut with giant utility lines, … Token “wilderness” areas while everything else gets trashed.

  5. kim kaiser Avatar

    who said there was gonna be a new administration,, theres nothing clear at all that says the new admin will be present, and given the present democratic lead congress failure to do much of anyting other that extend there own work week since they took over, i thnk i would rather have a back up plan that didnt rely on the election cycle

  6. timz Avatar
    timz

    I agree Kim. Western Democrats in Congress and in state governments are almost as bad as the republicans. They’re all in the pockets of the ranching and extraction industries. I’m afraid our only hope lies with the courts.

  7. jimbob Avatar
    jimbob

    Well, there it is…When the “Bush Administration” took office it was plain to see that they were there to go after long time enemies: Iraq (see Bush’s father’s experiences); lack of a huge defense spending policy (see Iraq); any enemy of “Big Oil/Big Energy” including the Edangered Species Act (they’ve been after it from the beginning); ridding the U.S. of a neutral media (check the responsiveness to negative press by revoking press priveleges and the way broadcast monopolies have been allowed under Bush). It is not only a shame for wolves and other endangered species, but our political process as a whole. They have practically dismantled our system of government. The administration is full of “states rights” supporters, but only as far as “Big Business” will let them. Notice when states come out against drilling they are all for Federal Mandates! This huge blow against wolves and the ESA is only the beginning salvo in how these bad policies are going to decimate our ecosystems! You’d think it wouldn’t be allowed in a “democratic” nation….

  8. Ralph Maughan Avatar

    The Democrats were of course hobbled by their tiny majority, so one can argue they were taken down by the Republican filibuster and an intransigent, though wildly unpopular President.

    There is a lot of truth to this, but on measures that were not subject to filibusters the Democrats didn’t do much better.

    In 2006 I gave more money than ever before — money to individual candidates and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. I get pleas from them every day for more donations.

    This year I haven’t given a dime.

    For now own I’m going to donate through the blogs — those blogs and closely related organizations that are organized to engage in political campaigning.

  9. d. Bailey Hill Avatar

    Lawsuits were filed Wednesday asking federal judges to put the USFWS under a deadline to review the decisions on the 13 species Fish and Wildlife director Dale Hall ignored. This is Julie McDonald’s mess that was screwed with for political reasons. The director had planned on reviewing only 7, which enraged quite a few people. More lawsuits are planned which will address a total of 55 species. Senoir analyst for Center for Biological Diversity said, “We were able in just a matter of days to identify 55 species that very obviously were politically squelched.”
    Details of the lawsuit have not been released.
    This is just a review of the main info in an article in today’s Oregonian written by Jeff Banard.
    I don’t know if it is even possible, but maybe these lawsuits can somehow pave the way for the lawsuits that will be filed on behalf of the wolves.
    This article was in the metro section of the paper and since a few of the species are in Oregon, the paper will probably have more updates as new info becomes available.

  10. Don Riley Avatar
    Don Riley

    Ralph,

    Can you provide a list of blogs (either privately or on the site) that subscribe to “those blogs and closely related organizations that are organized to engage in political campaigning”.

    I have likewise donated to an extreme but my political philosophy now is, vote for the non-incumbent. Unfortunately, in Wy., party affiliation does not necessarily mean as significantly different political philosophy.

    Gary Trauner might be different, he came within 900 votes of beating Cubin last time. she saw the writing on the wall and quit!!!

    Don Riley

  11. vicki Avatar
    vicki

    The problems with letting courts handle it are still there. First, the courts interpret the law. They don’t make it. So they can only help if laws are obvious in their wording, and those laws are actually designed to benefit conservation.

    If the laws are too difficult to interpret, you have suits filed over every little word. That takes valuable and prescious time, and money.

    Cost is a big problem with that stance too. Where do you get the money? How will it be allocated and for which suit?

    The best case scenario is that we do get politicians in office that represent the environment. They would getthe right laws in place.

    How though? How do we get good people elected? I hear a lot of discouraged posts, no faith in the politicians.

    Some one needs to run for office. Some one non-abbrasive yet assertive, honest and fearless. Some one who could be backable and who others would give money to. Some one you or I would literally go door to door to support, because they won’t likely get millions in contributions.

    It seems like a tiresome task. But maybe no more tiresome than reading endless info on the desimation of our natural rescources.

Author

Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.

Subscribe to get new posts right in your Inbox

×