Editor's note: A rally to raise public awareness about wolves in and around Yellowstone National Park is scheduled for late June near the north entrance to the park at Gardiner, Montana. The following release came from the program's organizers.
The establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 represents one of the greatest achievements in American history, affording protection to one of our country's true wild places. Appreciation for this action, and the land it preserved, is increasing with each passing generation. And Yellowstone is much more than an American treasure; it is an international jewel, attracting millions of people from all over the world every year.
Fast-forward 123 years to 1995 and 1996, when the federal government, at the behest of the American people, released 66 gray wolves into Yellowstone. After one of America's most iconic species was brought to near extinction through hunting, trapping, poisoning, and other government-funded methods in the 19th and 20th centuries, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service finally began to recover this internationally beloved species. And, because of its wildness and large size, as well as its complement of abundant prey species, Yellowstone was one of two places chosen to welcome the wolves home. Idaho was the second place.
On June 28-29, 2014, people of all walks of life are invited to attend Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014, a 2-day family-friendly celebration of wolves, predators and other native species that contribute to our rich national heritage. The event will be held at Arch Park in Gardiner, MT, just north of the Roosevelt Arch, near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014 will feature prominent speakers and authors from the conservation community, and will include live music, education booths, children's activities and food vendors. The event is free and open to the public.
In addition to daytime activities at Arch Park, the screening of two wildlife documentaries will occur on Saturday evening, June 28, at 7 pm. The films will be shown at the Gardiner Community Center, which is located at 210 W. Main Street in downtown Gardiner. Organizers will be showing Predator Defense's film, Exposed: USDA's Secret War on Wildlife and Project Coyote's film, Coexisting with Wildlife: The Marin Livestock and Wildlife Protection Program. The films will be followed by a panel discussion composed of conservationists and scientists. The films are free.
Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014 is an opportunity for the American people to unite and demand wildlife management reform, and to take an important step toward restoring our national heritage. Unbeknownst to many Americans, over 3,000 gray wolves have been slaughtered across America, including around Yellowstone National Park, since certain segments of the wolf population were prematurely stripped of federal protection under the Endangered Species Act just a few years ago. The controversial delisting of the northern Rockies gray wolf was the first time Congress intervened and delisted a species in the 40-year history of the Endangered Species Act.
A public rally is scheduled for late June to raise awareness about wolves/Monty SloanLengthy hunting seasons now occur in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Hunters are permitted to hunt wolves with dogs in Wisconsin. Barbaric trapping/snaring seasons exist in Idaho. The USDA Wildlife Services just gunned-down 23 wolves from a helicopter in a rugged national forest in Idaho. In just 20 years, the federal government has completely reversed its course on the biological recovery of the gray wolf, and is now in the business of wiping them out again.
While many people are calling for relisting of gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act, others are saying that it is time to completely reform wildlife management in the United States.
Event organizers for Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014 have developed the following five keys to reforming wildlife management in America:
* Ban trapping/snaring on all federal public lands.
* End grazing on all federal public lands.
* Abolish the predator-control department of the USDA Wildlife Services.
* Reform how state fish and game agencies operate.
* Introduce legislation to protect all predators, including wolves, from sport hunting, trapping, and snaring.
Please consider attending Speak for Wolves: Yellowstone 2014. The only thing that can save the gray wolf from a second extermination is a strong grassroots movement consisting of every-day people. Let's come together and embark on this journey together. Let's make the world a better place, for not only current generations, but also for those generations still to come. Your support is greatly appreciated! Learn more at www.speakforwolves.org or follow the event for updates at www.facebook.com/speakforwolvesyellowstone2014.
Comments
Freedom1080--Why are we allowing anti-wolf pimps to pollute this page? Your analysis of wildlife in the park is ludicrous.
Freedom 1080, I am fairly certain that all of the wildlife in Yellowstone has been coexisting in a perfect balance of predator and prey for the last several million years, up unitl the early 1800's when Europeans arrived. It sounds like you have lost livestock or know people who have lost livestock to wolves, and your feelings represent a hatred and fear of them. You have a very 19th century mentality.
Fortunatley, most land managers are now recognizing the value of top predators to the health of ecosystems.
Wow. So much false and misleading and hateful "information" in one place!
If all this is true, why are many ranchers in the area immediately around Yellowstone now changing their minds about wolves? Could it be that they've discovered the lies being fostered by folks like these two commentors?
Then there are the statements published by wildlife experts employed by the various states where wolves have been "destroying" elk and other "nice" animals. Statements that completely debunk the idea that wolves are the cause of elk population declines. Remember, these guys are working for the states in which a few propagandists post billboard messages full of the same kind of outlandish claims made by our friends above.
Making claims like those above is simply a sign of laziness. Too lazy to do even a minimal amount of research to learn the truth. Too lazy to avoid allowing themselves to be duped.
Hmmmm, and who ARE those ranchers tolerating wolves killing their livestock, especially when the prices are at an all time high? That is a complete lie. I personally know many ranchers around Yellowstone and NONE willingly allow wolves to kill their animals. How ignorant, that's like saying a store owner willingly allows thugs to rob him and steal his inventory.
The only "laziness" is from clueless wolflovers that are too lazy and bigoted to get out and speak to people living with wolves and ask them what wolves have done to their animals.
I am so sorry. I hate to see someone with such a festering bile inside. If you kill every possible wolf you will still have this dark hate you have built up. I wish you every possible bit of healing.
No, having livestock killed by these wolves represents a huge financial loss. No "fear". Wolves are delisted. Legal to hunt. Nothing scary about them.
How much money/income have you personally lost to wolves?
Judging by your ignorant and bigoted comments about ranchers, seems you are the one afraid. How many ranchers that have lost have you personally spoken to, or know?
You contradict yourself by stating the wolfies were thriving "until Europeans arrived" then whine about us having "19th century mentality". lol.
Yeah, I live in the here and now; it's 2014, lots more people here now, NOT the "19th century" you live in. Free-roaming wolves are a thing of the past...ummm, "19th century".
Uneducated? How so? I stated that I live with wolves & witness what they do. I don't see that anyone can BE more educated about wolves than being in the real world.
"Researching" them on the internet and watching PBS's "Nature" will not educate you on wolves.
What do you know about "clinging to bad husbandry"? How bigoted and predjudiced you are about a group of hard working Americans that feed you. How dare you assume you can dictate and demand how we live. Reminds me of me exactly of the persecution of Jews by the Nazis.
How many ranchers have you personally spoken to that have suffered wolf predations? How many have you spoken to that have grazing leases? Have you discussed the details of how much they pay, for how long and all the work and additional costs involved?
Wolves are overpopulated, delisted and legal to hunt. No, we absolutely will NOT use any any ineffective, expensive, time-consuming "non-lethal" methods. Those days are long gone. They do nothing to control/manage the wolf numbers and only delay inevitable wolf attacks. We have a right to protect our animals.
I am glad there are people on here to support the wolves. The vile hatred of some commenters is irrational. You have no right to eradicate any species just because it is inconvenient and annoying to you. We need to respect all living things. Other people live in this country, not just ranchers. We are entitled to OUR opinion. The wolves were there first. Yes, I'm a tree hugging, wildlife loving conservationist so you don't need to make your nasty comments!