Idaho Mountain Express: Cooperative project may keep wolves and sheep alive

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Cooperative project may keep wolves and sheep alive

With the delisting of wolves as an endangered species, the prospect of a needless slaughter of an essential link in nature's wildlife ecosystem loomed quickly. The awful spectacle of vengeful gunmen wiping out packs of wolves would have been a national scandal.

That has yet to happen, happily.

Even better news is the sensible model of cooperation being charted in the Wood River Valley by sheepherders, pro-wolf conservationists and federal and state wildlife experts that understand the self-defeating consequences of a range war over wolves.

As the summer sheep-grazing season is about to begin in areas north of Ketchum, major ranchers have agreed to work with Defenders of Wildlife, the national conservationist organization, and wildlife experts to develop ways of separating wolves from the sheep.

Some of it is high-tech—electronic tracking collars on wolves and electrified movable fences for encampments of sheep at nighttime when they're most vulnerable to attack. And some methods are low-tech—large guard dogs to ward off wolves.

Participants are calling the joint effort "groundbreaking" and "unprecedented."

Indeed. Ranchers, who have the most to lose if this project fails, are to be thoroughly commended for their willingness to participate. Their cooperation in time could be an incentive for a far wider effort throughout the ranching West to hold off on killing while intelligent new methods are developed to prevent predators from damaging ranchers' economic wellbeing.

No less thanks are due Defenders of Wildlife, which is investing in field assistants to work throughout the grazing season to protect herds allocated land in the Sawtooth National Forest.

No one is predicting sure-fire success. In fact, failure is always a possibility when taking on the unknown and untried.

Fortunately, residents of the valley have developed a greater appreciation of sheep and their economic importance over the past few years because of the popular and educational Trailing of the Sheep festival that attracts thousands of attendees.

Groups who are at loggerheads on other environmental disputes--global warming, off-road vehicles on public lands, oil exploration, creating wilderness areas and more--would profit from adopting this working-together method of finding solutions. Engaging in hostile standoffs with competing interests not speaking, except through brittle press releases and lawsuits, rarely leads to any sensible solution.

On the sidelines will be some naysayers who believe the solution lies solely with killing wolves. Their best contribution would be to allow the Wood River Valley wolf project to proceed without distracting or meaningless criticisms.

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The comments below are from the readers of mtexpress.com and in no way represent the views of Express Publishing Inc.

Denise – Pennsylvania

07/17/08 - 10:25

Congratulations to the all involved for working so hard for a solution and trying other options. Wolves are an integral part of the ecological balance. In a perfect world, we never would have depleted any animal populations to begin with, but now it is our duty to put things right!

annette – amboy, washington

07/15/08 - 07:21

I am so glad to see that the ranchers are trying to work out the problems--the wolves are beautiful and smart animals--I had a hybrid 3/4 grey wolf and 1/4 malamute--believe me when I say I learned alot from him--he taught me to be more spiritual and caring--I saw life through his eyes--and I realized humans could be real idiots--we have moved into their space of habitat--and so we need to be more understanding to their needs--along with other wildlife--when "God" took him from me my life was empty and still is--I never realized how much he impacted my life--I call him the peaceful one--he taught me and people in our little mountain town that wolves are misunderstood--and we are to quick to judge--we can work these issues out its just going to take time and patience---

Laura Holyfield – Little Rock, AR

07/15/08 - 07:03

I'm so thankful to hear some good news about people with different viewpoints cooperating for the good of all. We were put here to care for the earth and the creatures that live here as best we can.

I know I don't live in your area, but I do know some hybrid wolves (wolf and Malamute mixes) here in Arkansas, and they are magnificent, very intelligent creatures.

Thank you for sharing this story.

07/09/08 - 17:46

Hey Niki, lets just pack up a few wolves and send them to you in NJ !! Restore the natural order there! It is so easy to support something when you don't have to deal with it.

Niki Richardson – Lawrenceville, NJ

07/09/08 - 11:12

Defenders of Wildlife is on the ground doing great things to help ranchers get compensation when a rancher loses stock to wolves. We must work together for wolves are important to the natural order and Yellowstone has proven how much they are. There are millions of Americans who loves wolves and will support them in everyway.

mostlyMike

06/23/08 - 09:43

I am very pleased to see this project. Live sheep and live wolves are much better than dead sheep and dead wolves, although I know that State of Idaho usually doesn't see it that way.

Regarding Dr. Mech, he has become full of himself in recent years. He is no longer an objective student of wolves.

Calle Seleborg

06/23/08 - 01:05

A word of warning. All of the wildlife must be well managed when you protect the livestock. The tragic events in Hazaribagh, India happend as result of three vital conditions. The wolf was protected from hunting, the natural prey was depleted and the livestock was well guarded. The result was that the wolves entered the villages and killed a large number of children. Villages in Irak are starting to have problems with wolves as the herdsmen in the desert is fencing in livestock.

Michfan1 - TN

06/22/08 - 16:55

Thanks to Utah for participating in this wonderful project. I belong to Defenders and I'm a big advocate for the wolf population. These beautiful creatures are being killed by cowardly hunters only for sport, or a photo of themselves smiling with a dead wolf. It needs to be stopped. The wolves and all other wild creatures are being driven from their own habitat by humans whose only concern is making money (greed). An animal does not know right from wrong, only humans do and apparently there's more humans out there that would rather do the wrong.

sage mora – Las Vegas, NM

06/22/08 - 13:40

I can not tell you how grateful so many people are to read this...Thank you Utah...for having common sense and coming up with a gameplan..that is workable.

Too many Americans love our wolves..they are an icon as the Eagle..We hurt to see what is happening to them.

YES>>ranchers CAN be creative in preventing wolf attacks on their livestock...wolves do not need to be slaughtered.

We, "Keepers Of The Wolfs" only pray the other states can take your noble lead....hats off and a HUGE thank you UTAH>.....this does NOT go un-noticed by even the smallest org..whose cause is to SAVE our wolves..they belong to ALL of us.....

Alaska thus far is the toughest state to get to agree with us...we will not give up as org...are linking together..to be the voice of our wolves...GREAT JOB UTAH!!!!!!!! : )

sage mora – Las Vegas, NM

06/22/08 - 13:39

I can not tell you how grateful so many people are to read this...Thank you Utah...for having common sense and coming up with a gameplan..that is workable.

Too many Americans love our wolves..they are an icon as the Eagle..We hurt to see what is happening to them.

YES>>ranchers CAN be creative in preventing wolf attacks on their livestock...wolves do not need to be slaughtered.

Alaska thus far is the toughest state to get to agree with us...we will not give up as org...are linking together..to be the voice of our wolves...GREAT JOB UTAH!!!!!!!! : )

saveelk – twin falls, idaho

06/20/08 - 23:40

This wolf introduction has disastrous ramifications on our native ungulate as these wolves are targeting the young. The long term detrimental impact to our wildlife ecosystem will be tragic. The wolf population has exploded with Dr.David Mech admitting to over 3000 wolves in spring 2008 in our three state area with over 2000 in Idaho.
As wolf population expands, they continue to move closer to civilization. Some wolves have been seen fraternizing with domestic dogs. Interbreeding with domestic dogs puts into question this entire wolf movement and reintroduction goal. The goal was to protect the native wolf. What kind of hybrid wolf will be left once the interbreeding plays into the equation? Wolf advocates and experts alike should take note and be alarmed. For this reintroduced Canadian wolf to remain a purebred species they cannot be allowed to encroach in territories close to civilization. To protect this purebred wolf species they must be pushed back into the deep backcountry and not allowed to cohabitate close to civilization and domestic dogs