The Furious Spinner

In Alaska, aerial hunting of wolves is allowed. I watched part of the video, and had to stop. Suffice to say the killing is cruel and brutal. I was weeping. I don't understand people. Why would someone want to kill a wolf? Okay, if an animal is about to hurt or kill you, I understand that. I can even see killing animals for food. But killing animals for sport? It is sickening. And it's a woman governor allowing it. Sarah Palin, Republican. She should know better. (Yes, I believe she should.) You can go here to help stop the killing.

On the Defenders of Wildlife website, they write, "Despite the ecological value and the sheer natural beauty of the wolf, millions were trapped, poisoned, or shot to death during the first half of the 20th century, victims of unfounded fear and ignorance. Ultimately, nearly all wolves were exterminated throughout the lower 48 states, and their range was reduced severely on the Canadian prairies.

"Fortunately for the wolf, however, the 1960s and 1970s launched the modern environmental era, bringing about landmark conservation statutes including the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the cornerstone of America's wildlife laws. Shortly after the Act's passage in 1973, the wolf was identified as endangered or threatened in the lower 48 states and declared a candidate for species recovery. By the mid-1990's Defenders of Wildlife and our allies celebrated our success at helping the federal government achieve the now-historic reintroduction of gray wolves from western Canada to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

"Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest wildlife success stories, the Yellowstone and central Idaho reintroductions were a triumphant event and, today, 5,000 gray wolves can be found in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and the desert southwest combined. This rebirth of wolves across the U.S. has underscored both the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act and the remarkable role that wolves play in keeping ecosystems in balance...

"Wolf recovery is at a crossroads in the lower 48 states, where continued hostility toward wolves comes at a time when their growing numbers are beginning to disqualify them from further federal protections.

"Meanwhile, in a barbaric campaign reminiscent of mid-20th century wolf massacres, Alaska continues to systematically wipe out wolves across vast areas of the state. In an effort to artificially boost moose and caribou populations for big game hunters, the state’s unelected Board of Game continues to support allowing gunners in fixed-wing aircraft to shoot down wolves or chase them to exhaustion and kill them at point-blank range. In British Columbia and Alberta, wolves face year-long hunting seasons with no bag limits coupled with ongoing habitat loss."

I hope they get the help they need.

Labels: nature, sustainability

1 comments

1 Comments:

Kim, I know they are hunting these magnificent creatures, and it makes me sick, absolutely sick.

When are we going to realize that the wolf is NOT responsible for all the predatory activity they are taking the rap for?
Love and BB, Cate

By  kerrdeLune (cate), at 5:55 PM  

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