There has been much criticism leveled at the ODF&W for its decision to kill two wolves in far eastern Oregon that had developed habitual taste for beef. I am not known as a champion if the micro-management of Oregon's big game,but concur with the decision to remove those wolves. Once wolves learn livestock is easily killed, it is biological fact that they will hot relent. Criticism of any sort of management control of wolves stems primarily from anti-hunting and preservationist groups like Oregon Wild, PETA, the Humane Society of the United States, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biodiversity. They often use the romantic notion that wolves are required to maintain a healthy balance. This is an old wives tale.If this were true how did all the large mammals and ungulates in the United States recover from the brink of extinction in the late 1800's and early 1900's?
The answer is simple; the conservation, restoration and support of professional game management and protection efforts by hunter-conservationist organizations re-established the native Bison, Pronghorn, elk, mule deer, blacktail deer, and whitetail deer populations. That money and those efforts also support hundreds of other species; raptors, reptiles, birds and small mammals. Those efforts ended or slowed decades of uncontrolled grazing, market hunting and uncontrolled development. Wolves have been virtually absent from the western American wildlife picture over the past 100 years. During the period large deer and elk herds have not only survived, but flourished. The preservationist 'bunk' that wolves are required to "keep herds healthy" is pure applesauce. As my old Daddy used to say,"that old dog won't hunt!"
My next post will offer some thoughts, facts, figures and further thoughts.
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