Minnesota Gray Wolf
The never-ending bad wolf news just keeps on coming. The Grand High Poo-Ba, Ken Salazar, announced from on high that wolves in the Great Lakes Region (Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin) are no longer in need of ESA protection and will be delisted.
“The delisting rule will become effective 30 days after it has been published in the Federal Register. Official publication in the Federal Register is expected to take place next week.”
Truthfully I’m so tired and anguished over the endless quest to kill wolves. It’s expected wolves in the remaining Western states and Great Plains will also lose their protections in the near future. It doesn’t matter there are no wolves in these states. This is a pro-active way of stopping wolf recovery in its tracks. For example, if the dispersing Oregon wolf, OR-7 crosses over into California, he would automatically be federally protected BUT if USFWS is successful in ending federal protections for wolves around the country, a dispersing wolf like OR-7 could be shot.
Minnesota, long thought to be so tolerant of wolves, is already talking about holding a wolf hunt. For years Minnesota’s wolf plan included a five-year waiting period before initiating hunts, if wolves in the state were ever delisted. But this year Minnesota lawmakers repealed the “five-year waiting period”.
When Minnesota Wildlife Services lost their funding this year to trap and kill wolves, both Democrat Senators Franken and Klobuchar got busy. Franken wrote to USDA Secretary Vilsack, pleading for funding to be reinstated. And that’s exactly what happened. Senator Klobuchar made sure money was found to continue to trap and kill wolves.
This is what’s passing as tolerance of wolves in Minnesota. Pretty pathetic. Once again wolves will be turned over to “state management” and we all know what that means. WOLF HUNTS!!! I urge the Humane Society of the United States to take wolves back to court.
What terrible news just 3 days before Christmas. Will the President and his minions ever stop their war against wolves?
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Gray Wolf Delisted From Endangered Species List
December 21, 2011 Updated Dec 21, 2011 at 3:04 PM CST
Washington D.C. (Northland’s News Center) — Gray wolves are no longer an endangered species in the Great Lakes area.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that gray wolf populations have recovered enough that they no longer need federal protection.
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US gray wolves rebound but face uncertain future
By JOHN FLESHER, Associated Press
ATLANTA, Mich. (AP) — After devoting four decades and tens of millions of dollars to saving the gray wolf, the federal government wants to get out of the wolf-protection business, leaving it to individual states — and the wolves themselves — to determine the future of the legendary predator.
The Obama administration Wednesday declared more than 4,000 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have recovered from widespread extermination and will be removed from the endangered species list.
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Gray wolves coming off endangered species list in western Great Lakes
“Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials said wolf hunting and trapping could begin as soon as next fall. However, they said it was premature to discuss details of the season, limits and regulations because they were still drafting ideas.
DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr said the department has the authority to implement a hunting season on its own but might need legislative approval for various aspects, such as charging for special permits.
And Landwehr added, “We will not implement a season without an opportunity for public comment.”
State lawmakers this year repealed a law that would have forced a five-year waiting period.”
http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_19597312?source=pkg
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Photo: Courtesy flash-screen.com/wolf wallpaper
Posted in: Wolf Wars
Tags: gray wolves Great Lakes, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Obama administration, Ken Salazar, USFWS, wolf persecution
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With 22 million members in the National Rifle Association, and millions of members in the Cattleman’s Associations, and a**-kissing politicians securing their jobs with constituents, it is truly a battle of David vs Goliath to save the wolves. They are all conspiring to have wolves only seen in zoos and no longer in the wilderness where they belong. Greedy ranchers just want to fall trees and allow their cash cows to graze on public lands (tax payer lands) and wolf territory! Trophy hunters don’t want to compete with apex predators for prey animals, and thrill killers like to “get themselves a wolf” – an animal much more powerful, noble and iconic than then, themselves, could ever hope to be.
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I agree with you. The time has come for us all to stand up for the WOLVES.
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AMEN. TIME TO FIGHT FOR THE TRUTH AND WHAT IS RIGHT!!!! SALAZAR NEEDS TO BE OUT OF OFFICE!!!
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You said it all. Greed, ego, the lust for killing by pathetic people who apparently feel powerless without their guns and trophies. Furthermore, Ken Salazar needs to be replaced! He was probably President Obama’s worst choice.
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This is so, so sad. Is it possible to delist Ken Salazar from the human race?
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I truly cannot believe this is happening. Really – I can’t ~
How many times can you send an e-mail, write & protest??
I hate these people – I really do
Nabeki – HELP
Gitte – I wish there was a way to do just that.
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ramses…we’re going to have to re-group after the holidays and do some serious brainstorming. I think it’s very clear we need protest rallies. Writing letters, signing petitions and calling is just not cutting it. We win one victory over the Lummis rider and several days letter the Obama admin. announces they are delisting wolves in the Great Lakes? That was not an accident.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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Dear GOD, please get this Ken Salazar out of office and stop this evil that he has created. In Jesus’ Name I pray.
Ken Salazar, you are nothing but a killer of the most beautiful animals in the whole world. Your evil will catch up with you. If not in this lifetime , then in the next.
GOD CREATED THESE ANIMALS AND WE ARE SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, NO KILL THEM, YOU AREVERY EVIL PERSON. YOU AND PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATES WHICH WILL KILL THESE WOLVES.
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I have worked with educating the public in Michigan about wolves. I have had the help of Donna Rumsrilla from the DNR in Rose Lake, Michigan, for a long time with printed information which I have distributed to the public, and Donna retired this year, so I have a new employee to help me in the future. I have also funded several sources since 1988 on wolf restoration and it upsets me deeply that there are those uneducated people in positions of power destroying everything many people have worked to saving.
First they came for the wolves, then they came for our dogs.
Deborah Lone Wolf Kitzul
http://www.lonewolfwoman.com
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Thank you deborah for all your hard work and dedication to wolves. I know it’s heartbreaking to see people in positions of power destroying wolf recovery and taking it backwards. We all know the wolf cannot thrive without federal protection. Once the states start “managing/killing” them, their numbers will diminish. The point of the ESA is not to manage just for numbers but to protect a species like the wolf who is so persecuted. Some people can’t get that through their heads. It’s mind boggling.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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What is this war on wolves? Again political ignorance wining out over scientific fact. All I say is this nation is going backwards.
Salazar has to go before he does even more damage to wildlife.
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I moved to MT from the state of Illinois. There was an article last week in our previous hometown newspaper that talked about the falling number of deer available for hunters. Guess what…………..Illinois doesn’t have any wolves !!! (no bears or cougars either) What most people fail to realize is that a smaller deer population is the result of harsh winters, lack of a good food supply for the deer and over hunting. It’s time for everyone to stop blaming wolves.
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Cowboy Kennie’s Contact Info
Everyone Please Write, Call, Email, And Tell Cowboy Kennie That Because Of All Of The Horrible Things He Is Doing And Has Done To Our Wildlands And Wildlife, That We The People Demand That He Resign Now!
Ken Salazar
“Cowboy Kennie”
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
(202) 208-3100
feedback@ios.doi.gov
http://www.facebook.com/SecretarySalazar
http://www.facebook.com/SecretarySalazar?sk=wall&filter=1
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I hate wilves and all animal’s killers!!
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Too many people are against the Wolves. Ranchers, Senators, Governors, and President OBama.
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Barbara…..Obama will not win a second term, he’s too unpopular. I can’t imagine a President being harder on wolves and wild horses then he’s been but a Republican in office is a scary thought too. I wish Hilary would challenge Obama but she won’t. That leaves us with very few choices.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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Nabeki, we need to let GOD to guide us how to vote. By the way I sent Ken Salazar an email about the Wolves. I am waiting for a reply.
OBama is not right for America. But he got voted in.
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This just makes me SICK!!!!!!!! It is just astounding how hard certain individuals have worked to override the obvious desires of the citizenry and make sure the opportunity to kill wolves exists. Even when there is little funding for necessities; even when the public instituted a 5 years waiting period, even when there are not complaints….It’s just SICKENING!!!!! That’s all I can say!
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Forgot to put the FGWS. They are behind the killing of the Wolves too.
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Somewhere in this vast Universe, wolves are living the lives they were meant to live, in a world that is still in balance. What does it take to open people’s eyes to the fact that a living world cannot survive without balance? When will we reach the tipping point that brings us to sanity? I am grateful for and will continue to support all the people and organizations who work every day to make sure the message survives despite the madness.
Thanks Nabeki,
For the Wolves and all the Wild Ones.
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You’re welcome Janet, it’s a never ending battle but we are growing all the time. More people are joining the fight, which is very encouraging. The antis are organized and have the support of the hunting and ranching orgs. Our side is divided and that hurts us. Right now some environmental groups are supporting the delisting of the Great Lakes wolves such as the NRDC and others aren’t, like the Center for Biological Diversity. Make sure you know a groups position on wolf hunting and wolf recovery before you give them one dime.
I believe the grass roots movement is the key to victory, no one organization is going to save the wolves, it will be a collective effort with the power of the grass roots leading the way.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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Yes, I agree. I gave up on Defenders of Wildlife because I haven’t seen any action on their part since the delisting rider. I have been giving my support to some of the organizations that have been involved in the court actions against the rider like the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians.
In the past two years, I have also had to blow the whistle on a local “wildlife” organization that, as it turned out, was violating FWS laws. I’ve been threatened, maligned and abandoned by other people who decided to look the other way. But there are now four convictions against these people. So, yes, I know what grass roots work means. It’s exhausting but if you feel strongly enough……..well, I think you know what I mean.
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we are all preaching to the choir. We need to actively protest this nonsense and cruelty.
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I sent Ken Salazar an email; let’s see of he replies to it. I told him exactly what I thought of him, Presaident OBama, governors,ranchers, senators and the FGWS.
That I hope GOD can forgive him and the others for the killing of the Wolves, because I can not.
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Barbara, I think they know how we feel but don’t care. They are running roughshod over the wolves. What I don’t understand is why is Obama doing it? He won’t get votes from the Red states, they don’t like him and would never vote for him. What is his motive??
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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Why would OBama care about the Wolves, when he did not know how important it was to keep the ban on Partial Birth Abortion?
He was just hours in Office when took the ban off. He does not like the traditional marriage.
I do not like OBama at all. He has not done anything for me to like him. Except when he got our soldiers home.
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I completely agree Donna, if been preaching this for years. If we don’t stand up to this it will continue. It’s like living in a repressive regime, trying to intimidate wolf advocates so they won’t speak out.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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This is all a continuation of Sarah Palin’s “Kill Baby Kill” Program that I witnessed when I lived in Alaska (2002-2010). First you kill all the wolves, then the bears, then the mountain lions, and the lesser predators until the forest is empty. When the amount of game animals increase– you slaughter them too as was done on the hillside in Anchorage when 1000 moose were shot because they were eating non-native ornamental trees planted by homes. All this to satisfy the Hunting Lodge Lobby Group that was losing money because people were not coming to Alaska to hunt as they had in the past.
It’s all about politics, money, and back room deals and our wildlife is paying the price.
Yes. All of our wildlife groups need to unite as one to be heard and noticed. Obama has got to understand that he has a low approval rating because he has alienated us (wolf advocates) and we have a large population of supporters.
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My Letter to Ken Salazar
Your proposed delisting of the wolves in the Great Lakes area and the current delisting of the wolves in the Rocky Mountains is loathsome and removes needed protection for an animal that is essential to a healthy ecosystem.
Large sections of land in the northern part of our country have been set aside for animals and vegetation to remain in a “natural state” and when these reserves were established ranchers were not allowed to graze animals on that land.
Now that ranchers are allowed to lease state and federal lands, they are facing losses by predators that are native to that area. Less than 1% of livestock losses nationwide have been attributed to wolves and predation, while disease and poisonous plants have had a greater influence. Ranchers that are skilled in predator control techniques have few losses and are able to peacefully coexist with predators.
The claims made recently regarding a decrease in the number of deer and elk due to wolf predation is also erroneous. There is an increase in game animals in the Great Lakes area and in the Rocky Mountains and there is an increase in the number of animals seen in communities and along roadways. The wolves would not destroy their own food source and they cull out sick and diseased animals assuring a healthier stock.
Delisting wolves is a grave error and misjudgment on your part and you have set us back 75 years as a nation in our ability to manage wildlife.
You would be doing this nation a great service if you would resign as Secretary of the Interior and allow someone who is experienced in the scientific management of animals to take your post.
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Great letter Toni!!
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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I’m just convinced it will take public awareness in a massive way…Letters to the editor, news articles, TV spots, documentaries, media, media, media – anyway you can get it…a protest is good but it would have to be one major protest, well planned, with thousands of attendants. We can do it. 2012 must be the year of ACTION. If not, there will be few wolves left after another hunting season!
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Oh it gets more terrible. I am really feeling down about all this. Will there be any wolves left alive?
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Brigid – Your question is on-target and the answer is “no” there will not be any wolves left UNLESS there is swift and definitive ACTION NOW!
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At the HSUS, we’ll be examining our legal options and may again urge a federal court to block this premature removal of wolves from the list of threatened species. Those interested in ready more about this situation can check out our CEO’s blog at http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2011/12/double-barreled-attack-on-wolves.html
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Thank you Anne. I was hoping HSUS would take the wolves back to court. I’ll follow your CEO’s blog and see what HSUS finally decides, I urge everyone else to do the same.
UPDATE: I just read your CEO’s blog post ( Double-Barreled Attack on Wolves)and was amazed and moved by his candor. It is a must read for anyone who cares about wolves. If you don’t mind I’d like to do a post on his comments and link back to his blog.
The plans for killing are already taking shape in the Great Lakes:
“The conservation group the Center for Biological Diversity says Minnesota has already announced a bounty of $150 per wolf hide, while Wisconsin plans to cull its population by half.”
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/28/42615.htm
Again, thank you for the update.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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First the Rocky Mountain Gray Wolves, and now the Great Lakes wolves?! When will this War on Wolves end?! I know that the Great Lakes Wolf Population(s) is much healthier, but still, wolves in the Lower 48 States, in general, have not recovered, and this delisting will open up the possibility of a Wolf Hunt in the Great Lakes States (which I will always be against, no matter what the size of the population is). In fact, Minnesota is already planning a Wolf Hunting and Trapping Season! (I will give them credit for basing it on science rather than anti-wolf bias, but still, Wolf Hunting in general is horrible) Although hunting won’t be as big of a threat to this wolf population than it is to the Rocky Mountain population (assuming that it is regulated/limited), it is cruel to the wolves and it’ll greatly decrease the possibility of wolves moving out west into their former territory – the Great Plains – and possibly connecting their populations with the wolves of Montana (thus creating one interconnected wolf population, which will allow for tons of genetic exchange between the Rocky Mountain and Great Lakes wolf populations). Another point that should be mentioned is the possibility of 2 wolf species existing in the Great Lakes: the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and the recently described Timber Wolf (Canis lycaon; used to be considered a subspecies of the Gray Wolf, Canis lupus lycaon). If that is the case, then how many of each species exists in the Great Lakes? Which one lives in which states? Does their populations mix in any of the states? Is the recently described Timber Wolf an endangered or threatened species? If a majority of the wolves in the Great Lakes are found to be Timber Wolves, then is the Gray Wolf population threatened or endangered? If hunting is established on one species and the other is endangered, how will it be known whether individuals of the endangered species are being killed or not? As you can see, there are so many questions surrounding this, and as such it would be irresponsible to delist the Great Lakes wolves and allow hunting – at least without more knowledge on the species issue. Before any Great Lakes wolves delisting is proposed, there must be tons of study into the new species and the wolves that currently live in the Great Lakes so that these and other questions could be answered! I feel that, instead of being completely delisted, the entire Great Lakes Wolf Population should be reclassified as “Threatened” (rather than having the Minnesota population “Threatened” and the Michigan and Wisconsin populations “Endangered”).
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This is disgusting. Poor animals.
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