By Jim Stanford on February 27, 2007
A Game and Fish officer counts the ungulates. Photo by Mark Gocke
Apparently, elk are getting along just fine despite the presence of wolves in northwest Wyoming. Wildlife managers recently counted 11,790 elk in the Jackson herd, 60 fewer than last year. In addition, the ratio of 25 calves per 100 cows is just about on par with the historical average.
The Jackson herd is Wyoming’s largest and lives in close proximity to a multitude of wolf packs in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the Teton and Gros Ventre wilderness areas.
Will these latest scientific figures stop state lawmakers and the governor from claiming that wolves are “savaging” wildlife? Probably not. But at least we know claims that the National Elk Refuge has been starving elk are pure fiction.
State legislators and Gov. Dave Freudenthal have been seeking draconian measures, including a state-financed aerial gunning program, to control wolves once the species is taken off the endangered list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has initiated the delisting process but has rejected Wyoming’s management plan because it could put the species back on the brink of extinction.
The survey of the Jackson elk population included only elk counted on or near feed grounds. Wyoming Game and Fish Department estimates there are another 1,000 or so animals in the surrounding areas, bringing the total population to nearly 13,000 — about 2,000 above the objective set by Game and Fish.
Mark Gocke, spokesman for the state agency, said crews counting elk observed five wolf packs in Jackson Hole, including several in the Gros Ventres and one near Moran. Wolf activity also has been observed at the base of the central Teton peaks.
The pro-hunting group Sportsmen for [Killing] Fish and Wildlife claimed last year that managers of the National Elk Refuge intentionally were starving elk. That prompted the group to organize a “Hay Day” rally in which its supporters brought more than 60 tons of donated hay to the refuge in December.
Sportsmen for [Killing] Fish and Wildlife has joined politicians like Rep. Pat Childers, R-Cody, and Freudenthal in claiming that wolves are “savaging” the state’s wildlife, particularly elk.
They have argued that the state must be allowed to kill wolves to keep them from killing elk, whose populations are propped up artificially high by state-run feed grounds. That way hunters can kill the elk, and the state takes in more money in license fees.
Sadly, the media continues to echo these rants, without any fact-checking to dispel the myth that elk populations are being decimated by wolves.
Here’s an excerpt from an AP story that ran in yesterday’s JH Daily:
The state says the existing rule makes it extremely difficult for Wyoming to kill wolves that are killing too many of the state’s wildlife. State officials say wolf depredation by growing packs could soon result in reducing elk hunting opportunities in areas of northwestern Wyoming.
“It’s not just for Wyoming, it’s created a huge problem in Idaho and it’s created a huge problem in Montana,” Freudenthal said of the federal government’s current restrictions on allowing states to kill wolves.
Posted under hunting, politics, wildlife, wolves, wyoming legislature
Please ask the media to report the facts. Emotions sell news and no one objects to reading them, but to present them as fact is a disservice to the public.
I am sad to see the plight of wolves in Wyoming so similar to Alaska, where politiks overpowers responsible environmental conservation.
I have done much research on the wolf; as I am an artist who enjoys painting their wild, and vivid stature.
During my research, I have noted that many have chosen to present our legislative powers that be, with SKEWED and INFERIOR statistics concerning the Wolf Packs and their Prey.
In a court of law, if there is any SHADOW of DOUBT, then the guilty is presumed innocent, that is JUSTICE.
I say, prove to the PUBLIC that WOLVES are murderers, or else stop the MURDER of WOLVES!
Or else soon, all the wildlife of Wyoming will see, hear, and fear; as SPORTSMEN shall fly helicopters to lowly shoot their new found WOLF trophies.
What’s next? The Eagles that adorn our Government?