Disgrace: Gutting the ESA and Killing Wolves
Posted April 9, 2011 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places, U.S. Law and Policy
_2.png "wolf pup (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)")
The Associated Press is reporting that Senator John Tester got the go-ahead to attach a rider to last night’s budget deal that will strip endangered species protections from gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. As a result, Montana and Idaho (whose legislature recently passed an absurd “declaration of wolf emergency bill”) are very likely to move forward with plans to kill hundreds of wolves in the region.
This is a huge setback for one of America’s greatest conservation success stories and a significant blow to the Endangered Species Act and the principle it embodies: that science and law, not the whims of politics, should dictate what animals and plants are worthy of federal protection. It is particularly disappointing that Senators Tester, Baucus, and Congressional leadership would moved this forward knowing full well that a settlement is in front of a federal judge in Montana that would alleviate the conflicts over wolves without setting a precedent that would hobble the Endangered Species Act. Just as the assaults on the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act, proposed as riders in the House, were inappropriate for a budget bill---Congressional leaders should put this forth as a standalone bill if they want to undercut one of the foundations of American environmental law, rather than sneaking it through the back door in the dead of night.
Now is not the time to give up, however. We will keep fighting for wolves and, should this short-sighted rider move forward in the budget, NRDC will carefully review whatever language Congress enacts and assess our options. We will be closely monitoring the state management of wolves and the federal agencies that want to help the states carry out their plans. And we will keep fighting to defend the Endangered Species Act and all the living things it protects.
UPDATE (3:00 p.m.): I just learned that the federal court has ruled and said that it will not approve the settlement I noted above, one that might have resolved the wolf controversy. This is another blow and will make stopping this irresponsible wolf rider all the more difficult. But it does not change the basic fact that Congress shouldn't be meddling in science or in the even-handed application of a law like the Endangered Species Act. And it certainly does not alter the fact that this kind of profound change in policy should be debated in the light of day, not tacked onto a budget deal at the last minute.
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Comments
Amanda — Apr 9 2011 03:16 PM
That is so wrong. I hope that there is some way we all can stop this execution of the gray wolf.
Kathryn — Apr 9 2011 03:27 PM
Are you kidding me?? This isnt a planned hunt; this is a slaughter. So to get the whiney baby's vote last night, he caved and sent the wolves to slaughter. Wow...nice job Senator Tester....How about moving them first..... There are plenty of states with a minimal population of wolves, with some states not having any. We have worked too hard to increase thier populations and now that we have done so, some arent happy. Well, some of us arent happy about this outcome either.
Alissa R — Apr 9 2011 03:41 PM
Unfortunately, the listing and delisting of wolves to the ESA is like a yo-yo: on again, off again, on again, off again. Wolves are a polarizing and complex policy matter. I love wolves (am even writing my masters thesis about the WI wolves) and I'm not saying this is the right move at this time, but when it comes down to nuts and bolts, we can't protect all wolves at all times. The Rocky Mountain wolves especially are thriving, but wolf-human conflicts are going to require wolf management, as hard as that is to swallow for some folks. There are no easy answers.
toni peters — Apr 9 2011 03:46 PM
Congress is only concerned about themselves. They don't think about how their actions are going to effect the environment in later years. Who do they think they are allowing nothing but pure uncalled for extinctions to take place? They are attacking what our precious Lord created and for a purpose. What will be their excuse when they meet their Maker!
shawn olsen — Apr 9 2011 04:04 PM
This is despicable, and I for one will not vote for any democrat that approves this period. Baucas and Tester are disgusting pigs.
Jeff Howe — Apr 9 2011 04:37 PM
Senator John Testerkill is a low-down sneaky bawlless meany!
JOJO DANCER — Apr 9 2011 04:44 PM
THIS PIECE OF TRASH SENATOR NEEDS TO BE REMOVED!!! HAS ANYONE MADE THE WHITE HOUSE CLEARLY AWARE OF THIS BS?!!!
Allie — Apr 9 2011 05:07 PM
On the bright side, John Tester is up for reelection in 2012. I know how I'll tell people to vote!
KRASENICS — Apr 9 2011 05:18 PM
Please tell us what we can do to help! This is unbelievable! Another short-sighted, narrow focused target of those with money who benefit from this. Really sick.
Joann — Apr 9 2011 06:00 PM
WE NEED TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT THIS AND THE OTHER "FAR RIGHT" HIPPOCRITES SNUCK IN THIS RIDER!!! HE CLAIMS TO BE A CHRISTIAN? NOT! CHRISTIANS (WE) BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MORTAL SIN TO WILLFULLY HARM/KILL ANY OF GOD'S CREATURES!!!! LET THEM CHOKE ON THAT ONE! Sarah Palin, all of them!
Teresa Lewis Watts — Apr 9 2011 06:46 PM
I am sickened by Tester's actions as much as any of us, & thank God I've NEVER voted for him, which would be difficult since I'm a life-long Republican :)
I believe in the sanctity of our wilderness areas, & in the sacredness of the wildlife who inhabit those areas as their home. The wolves deserve their place in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
To allow them to flourish only to begin slaughtering them again is unprecedentedly STUPID and COWARDLY, to say the least.
Don't forget to VOTE every election! Protect what you cherish, or some self-serving jackasses will ruin it for all of us!
Joann — Apr 9 2011 07:25 PM
WHO GAVE HIM THE "GO-AHEAD" TO ATTATCH THE ESA RIDER? WE NEED TO EXPOSE ALL OF THESE JERKS!!!
Rich C — Apr 9 2011 08:46 PM
As a resident of the great state of Montana, I believe we have good stewards in the wildlife and fish department. They have done a marvelous job protecting and managing both the wildlife and habitat in this state, working with land owners, ranchers, farmers and hunters. These guys are on the ground and in the air, keeping meticulous records of the populations of all the wildlife. These guys and gals are professionals at what they do. I don't think out-a-staters ought to be sticking your nose where it don't belong. Your kids aren't skiing and hiking where there is an (over) population of wolves. If someone came and stole a $800 dollars from you, you wouldn't take to kindly to that. Well when a wolf takes down a ranchers calf, the rancher just got robbed. When a wolf kills a kid, because it doesn't have enough food, it won't be your kid. With that said, I am proud we have wolves in our state, we take care of them. You guys don't know what its like to watch deer starve to death because of overpopulation, or watch whole herds wiped out by blue tongue. Fact is, you don't know what your talking about. Senator Tester did the right thing for Montana and for the wolves themselves. And don't worry, we ain't gonna shoot that cute pup you got pictured, we are going to kill the one that has just ripped apart a baby elk calf.
Zoey Kelman — Apr 9 2011 11:00 PM
I am heartbroken! Please don't stop fighting for these beautiful intelligent animals.
Leigh Michele Venters — Apr 9 2011 11:37 PM
@ Rich C...OUT OF STATERS...brother, your forgetting those wolves and the habitat they secure as master of the predators is not only our business, it is our lives as well as the lives of the whole rest of the world. YOU do not have a supreme doctrine over the ecosystem of the planet because you live there. And we are probably talking about public lands as well..which means by GOD it is too our rightful direct business. They may be located in your state, but all those employees you were just talkin about are paid by the US tax payers. Lifting the endangered species titles from those animals means that probably some PRIVATELY owned company want s to come in and use the land for personal gain at the cost of the ecosystem of the entire world. It is a balance, and the wolves are natures great equalizers maintaining large mammal populations so that over grazing doesn't occur and there is habitat for insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds! YOU brother are in the wrong...this is an American story and it belongs to us all!
Michele — Apr 9 2011 11:43 PM
@RICH...deer don't starve to death when the wolves are allowed to hunt them ! POPULATION REGULATION VIA MOTHER NATURE, and it doesn't require one government employee to shoot them down either! And no one wants to come to walmart to ski...they come because it's wild! Take that away and you really have nothing special to offer, just homogenous, I can get that at home nothingness! Diversity in culture, landscape, and wildlife is what defines an area and make people want to come!
Michele — Apr 9 2011 11:47 PM
And we've heard all your rancher whining before....someone somewhere wants the land for profiit, and they want the endangered title removed so they can act freely on that land at a huge cost to your deer and your elk and your entire food web there!
Josh Wolf — Apr 10 2011 12:17 AM
Let the slaughter begin....this is what they've wanted to do for so long. It just appalls me in this day & age that man still has to resort to barbaric behavior when there are alternatives to this. Relocation to areas where there is more natural food for them, for one. Why do wolves kill livestock? Maybe because man keeps clearcutting and decimating all the forests & so much of nature is gone. Without forests, there is no wildlife to sustain them; they have to get their food from somewhere. One day there will be no more wolves, and future generations can mourn the loss of such a beautiful creature, one of many of creation. Keep the Endangered Species Act intact!
Bob Fanning — Apr 10 2011 01:30 AM
"Last minute dead of night"
You're a liar Andrew .
This has been widely discussed, public knowledge published by Rep Mike Simpson last March 18.
http://simpson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=229982
The Idaho wolf emergency bill passed both houses by SUPER MAJORITIES
Celeste Cole — Apr 10 2011 04:46 AM
You are correct Josh, and it is very disheartening for all wild creatures. The wolves are just a part of the whole picture and an easy target, it is why they were extirpated in the first place. Humans have created a mess and it doesn't look like we're going to cease our destructive behavior any time soon. I can only hope that those of you who follow here and other venues will continue to fight the good fight encouraging one another and making your desires known. As a wildlife biologist and a Wyoming native who grew up on a ranch, I am saddened to see and hear the negative reactions surrounding the "predator" issues. Humans are by far the most dangerous and destructive "predators" on the planet. I would like to agree with Alissa, but I've been grounded in reality for so long, that "management" has become a dirty word. If and that is a big IF, we managed wildlife for their sake instead of privatized interests, I could stomach some of the human/wildlife conflict resolutions, but the way it is managed today in most instances is as Kathryn suggests, pure slaughter. Just this past week, family lost three cows and calves to grass tetany and will no doubt lose more from the same and yet no one is up in arms about it. In my experience as a rancher's daughter, we lost more livestock from disease/illness than from any predator. A rancher cannot obtain funds from those deaths, like they do from predation and so it pays to call foul for some. I do not want to presume all ranchers feel the same as I know a few believe in letting nature be, in all its forms. The man vs. wildlife is a senseless battle and one that will cost us all dearly in the end. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts, stay aware at some point we may be the majority instead of the minority.
Laurel Stegina — Apr 10 2011 09:54 AM
I am strongly opposed to Congress attaching this rider to the budget deal, stripping endangered species protections from gray wolves in the Northern Rockies.
In addition to the obvious adverse implications it will have on wolf populations, this is another political, back-door attack on the Endangered Species Act and should not be tolerated by Americans.
Somer — Apr 10 2011 01:21 PM
The facts are more children are malled and fatally wounded by domestic dogs every including the house pet. Yes, more ski accidents, football accidents cause deaths than do wolf attacks.This is not about sinister wolves descending from the Black Forrest to make off with our children...It's about ranchers, sport hunting, and money. The bottom line: money, control, cowboy intellect and that feeling of power some have when taking down a legendary wild animal....Check out how France handles this problem might be constructive, humane, intelligent even.
Bob Fanning — Apr 10 2011 02:08 PM
These comments cause me to think of a line from Hamlet, "The lady doth protest too loudly, me thinks."
Only Montana and Idaho have been "delisted" . Congress can change , ammend or clarify any darn law the want to because they write the laws. The eco fascists still get the wolf listed in 48 other states and get to gorge on all the juicy corrupt cash and legal "Access to Justice" graft associated with it.
Dr. L. David Mech said in his federal court declaration in May 2008 that the Northern Rockies had 3,000 wolves. The 1,670 number was all that they were able to COUNT.Wolves breed at at 30% per anum rate.
Professional Russian wolfers who spend all day every day actively trying to kill / hunt wolves only come in with one or two wolves a year. This hysteria about protecting Montana's and Idaho wolves is so, so, so, twentieth century and infantile. Those in the "wolf protection rackets " will just have to move to Utah, Washington , Oregon and leave Bozeman and Hailey, Idaho..........otherwise this is the biggest non issue since 1491 when they were arguing about the world being flat or round.
Governor Otter signed H 343 and the Idaho legislature passed it by a SUPER MAJORITY because there is a WOLF EMERGENCY. They HAVE TO BE CULLED ...so GET OVER IT.
Stephen — Apr 10 2011 04:33 PM
Dear Senator Rubio:
How is it that for the first time, an act of Congress will remove a specific species from the Endangered Species List?
The budget deal announced Friday night includes a policy rider that would strip endangered species protections from gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. The addendum was inserted by Montana Senator Jon Tester in an effort to remove wolves from the Endangered Species list in Montana and Idaho.
Of course ideological issues like abortion and women's health are regularly used as political footballs. And of course they don't belong in a budget bill.
But overriding the regulatory agencies and scientists to remove protections for grey wolves? In the budget bill? That really stinks.
Is there some great ideological point to this? Is there some real ~national~ impact on the budget? Of course not.
Will every species that offends the Congress now be subject to its political whim?
Please pass this on to Senator Tester: "Keep your dirty paws off the ESA."
Don Hall — Apr 10 2011 08:14 PM
AMEN to what Joann Butkus said in her post above.
LBG Freestone — Apr 10 2011 08:48 PM
Sadly, The Endangered Species Act was used to satisfy and manipulate politics for a single species, and therefore the whole ESA became subject to it - it was misused by overreaching environmental focus groups for political rather than scientific truths, and now has been shot full of holes for use with other genuinely endangered species that truly need protection. This is absolutely the fault of these environmental groups as much as it is the lawmakers. They misused it JUST as badly. Sad that reasonable balance couldn't have been the goal - because now, not only the wolves lose out... but every other dangerously dwindling population - like the Sage Grouse.
Dave H — Apr 11 2011 12:03 AM
I can't believe how many people on here won't even pay attention to the scienctists that says these animals are recovered. Congress has to act, because the environmental companies make millions of dollars fund raising on the issue and stalling science based decisions in the courts with frivilous law suits. Idaho and Montana are not going to go around gassing wolf dens and dropping strict 9 like the federal government did in the 1920s. Wolves will be managed just like every other mammall in the states. By the stewards of people that live and breath the same air as the wolves. If you guys cared you would want to protect all the animals including the ones that have zero calf survival rate, because of overpopulation of the predetors.
dvierheller — Apr 11 2011 09:16 AM
I'm ashamed to be a registered as a Republican...changing that status!!!
jeff t — Apr 11 2011 04:04 PM
RAPE & DESTROY!! That's the Republican way!!!
Wolf — Apr 11 2011 05:35 PM
Since Jon Tester and the other (comment edited; please keep the conversation civil, thanks) in Montana do not respect the intent and law of the ESA, why should they be respected. Real environmentalists should take a page out of their own book. Time to give them a dose of their own medicine.
Geronimo — Apr 11 2011 05:52 PM
This is basically the result of the lobbying power of ranchers. I don't care a whit about a ranchers financial loss when a wolf eats his calf instead of a McDonalds customer.
Enjoy your hamburgers everyone. This is what it means. If people in the industrialized economies would just reduce their meat consumption a little bit, it would have an enormous positive impact on global climate, water & air quality, wild ecosystems, endangered species, and probably health quality and costs. Reducing meat consumption is the most inconvenient truth.
Lady L — Apr 11 2011 07:59 PM
What needs to be abolished are hunters ..... Once the hunters stop hunting the food of wolves, the less of a chance he/she won't touch ur calf. Go to the root of the problem ..... The problem is "us" ..... But we keep repairing the problem by covering up the cause of it. Wake up people!!! We're here to conserve life, not destroy hundreds of wolves as a way of saying to them, "aHa, nanni nanni boo boo, that's for my calf u big bad wolg" ..... Like a bunch of 5 yrs screaming to mamma. All because we put our noses where they didn't belong and killed the wolves means of feeding themselves .... Brilliant!!!
APRIL LANDUS-STARZMAN — Apr 11 2011 09:44 PM
What goes around, comes around!
Stop the killings!!!! The Universe is watching and will put matters into it's own hands. It's time to get rid of these people that we put in government and they have wronged us and our beautiful animals. LET'S FIGHT FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS ON THIS EARTH!
WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!!!!
Pamela Franzone — Apr 11 2011 10:58 PM
When will the people of this country wake up?! Premeditated killing wolves is outrageous! What's worse are those who use this issue to warrant their own hunting opportunities. Who loses? We all do, but especially the wolves. Such a waste! These beautiful creatures invoke so much to our natural wilderness. It is beyond compare! When will the wolves stop being the scape-goat for these hunters' ignorance? I sure hope it is within my lifetime. Let the wolves roam the wilderness. We're doing enough to limit that area of natural beauty anyway. Pretty soon we won't even have a place for any wild animals. What a shame!! The politicians should be ashamed of themselves! How do they sleep at night.
Mark Miller — Apr 11 2011 11:14 PM
I'm fine with this so long as, at the same time, cattle are banned from running on National Forrest land. On the other hand, if ranchers in Montana & Idaho start shooting wolves, then it seems that those of us that hunt on National Forrest property should start "mistakenly" taking out cattle. Maybe ten "oops" it looked like a deer for every wolf.
Emil R — Apr 11 2011 11:14 PM
It's time to start talking about expanding our National Parks. The national priority in the greater Yellowstone area should be conservation. We have more beef in this country than we know what to do with. As for hunting, most of the country is open it. Let's expand Yellowstone and Glacier NP into the surrounding public lands and a new NP in norther Idaho for good measure.
Rudolf Abraham — Apr 12 2011 05:34 AM
A very sad day, and yet another piece of blindly stupid, short sighted vote grabbing on the part of politicians who claim to represent the people. If anyone had wanted to find out what people actually want - or heaven forbid, whether there was any legal or scientific ground for making this decision - it wouldn't have been tacked onto the back of a budget deal.
Janet Young — Apr 12 2011 11:53 AM
This rider is not about the budget, or reducing the deficit and it never should have been inserted into a budget bill in the 11th hour. It is about special interests who think that because an animal lives in their state they have the right to eliminate it. Wolves are predators and the biggest one of all wants all the wildlife - elk, deer, not just for themselves, for if they did there would be plenty to go around. But this is also about the business of bringing in other predators from outside these states to also shoot the wildlife. I don't think one should eliminate a species because you are afraid one might some day kill your child. Don't turn the entire world into one large predator-free artificial landscape where it is safe to kill the easy prey. If you live in the Wilderness there will be Wildlife and danger. If you are that concerned about the dangers then move to a state that does not have an environment to support wolves. The last time I looked there were quite a few of these for you to choose.
Maru — Apr 12 2011 04:40 PM
I can't believe that this is about to happen. This is wrong and wolves shouldn't be targeted. Leave them alone Congress, let nature handle it. Don't but in it and their business like you do with everything else!
I love wolves and I will do anything to protect them from the evils within the government. I personally know wolves as well as I've met a couple wild wolves before. Though I was able to show that I wasn't a danger to them. I wouldn't ever hunt, or use a gun.
Guns should be banned from the US definitely. Hunters should be stripped of all weapons and forced to hunt with just their bare hands, knives, needles, or just their fists. If you want to hunt, hunt like a real hunter, not a fake hunter that uses guns and such.
Real hunters use nothing but their bare hands and claws (knives/needles), or even a sword. Either way it's close combat. Animals close-combat to get their prey, so why must humans stray from that fact, afraid to get hurt and killed? Then don't hunt and stay out of the woods.
Leave the innocent wolves alone. They don't deserve this horrible act. It's humans that deserve it. I almost wish I wasn't a human because of this.
Lee Rockwell — Apr 12 2011 04:46 PM
Go Janet!!! I live in the wild and I love it! Lee
Pamela Fox — Apr 12 2011 09:44 PM
Enough is enough...here is what i say:
WHAT IS MAN WITH OUT THE BEASTS...IF ALL THE BEASTS WERE GONE, MAN WOULD DIE FROM A GREAT LONELINESS OF SPIRIT. FOR WHAT EVER HAPPENS TO THE BEASTS... SOON HAPPENS TO MAN!
ALL THINGS ARE CONNECTED
Rich C — Apr 13 2011 12:36 AM
I admire your passions, but most I have read is not based on fact or reality. Please read up more on this issue, especially from our technicians and scientist on the ground that keep track of the numbers. Our Montana Parks Wildlife and Fisheries men and women are good at what they do, they are professionals and they care, as I do, about our ecosystem. It is their job to take care of our wildlife and they know better than you or me how to do that. I challenge you to come to Montana, see our marvelous wild life and how we care for it. Find out how hard we work to make sure there is balance here before you resign us off as a bunch of blood thirsty animals, we are not. I want to make sure generations to come can see a wolf in the timbers, or a grizzly eating berries for the winter, an elk bugling in the fall, but to be able to have that, we must have proper management of the wild life and that includes population control. I don't suspect you understand and that's OK. I respect your views and I respectfully disagree.
anthony modanese — Apr 13 2011 03:14 AM
this makes me sick
Maria — Apr 13 2011 11:19 AM
I think this Senator should be banned from being re-elected. (edited — please keep the conversation civil.)
clove's corner — Apr 13 2011 11:49 AM
I live in Wyoming. What frightens me about this proposal is that Wyoming's wolves will be reduced to Yellowstone Park boundaries and god forbid if they should, say, winter outside of the park. Idaho and Montana, at least, have somewhat reasonable wolf-management plans (at least compared to Wyoming reducing wolves back to the "predator status" that got them on the ESL in the first place). Without Federal regulation, the States will significantly wipe out current wolf populations.
Laura Young — Apr 13 2011 04:29 PM
(Comment removed — please keep the conversation civil.)
Sonja Schramm — Apr 13 2011 08:05 PM
This is heartbreaking!!!
Kevin wilson — Apr 14 2011 11:31 AM
I live on the east coast,and I will only buy local beef from now on.I was in yellowstone last august ,the driud pack,and slough creek pack are gone probably illegally shot as soon as they steped off the park.We have to stop this, now that it's legal they will kill them all. Please contact your states congressman.
Josh P — Apr 14 2011 02:10 PM
@Rich C
"Find out how hard we work to make sure there is balance here before you resign us off as a bunch of blood thirsty animals, we are not.
Okay...its easy to resign the supporters of this absurdity when you have bumper stickers on the back of your vehicles with an image of a wolf in crosshairs reading "Smoke a pack a day" and signs outside small cafes that say "Tag a wolf get a free pizza and a pitcher of beer"
How hard do you work? It must be very hard for everyone involved be it the USFG officials in those areas, the hunters, and the farmers. It must be very hard to sit in a tree stand with a rifle, to shoot from a heli with a shotgun, to sit inside your house as your cattle roam public lands. How many head do you have again? Is this a rough number or exact? Funny, I remember when there was once a time without fences, firearms, or poisonous traps when shepherds managed their flock exceptionally well without these tools. you could ask them how many they had and they could probably tell you a long story about each of them. They cared. Now farmers only care when something goes against their plans as they sit on their ass an make plans for departing their livestock to be used for food and such.
Reality check: you're a tool. We're all tools. I'd like to consider myself my own tool rather than someone else's to be used at the whims of someone's political gain. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As a general statement, we are all ignorant tools myself included. Their is plenty I am unaware of on how I am being used and what is the undermining objective of our political leaders, this much I am certain of. I am also certain that this delistment and the feelings of the supporters of it is all about money, politics, propaganda, greed, and laziness. You're doing exactly what they want you to do, just as many people reacted to the "government shutdown" a few days ago.
WISE UP
Jo G — Apr 15 2011 02:13 PM
About 10-15 years or so ago, the Gray Wolf was re-introduced in Yellowstone Park, parts of the Rockies and other areas. This pack came out of Mexico.
It's obvious that the Gray Wolf was doing rather well after being released in the western parts of the U.S. because once again ranchers and farmers are whinging about their losses.
The mighty dollar always wins over the campaign to save our environment - both flora and fauna. I hope the keepers in Mexico are still keeping the packs of wolves safe.....that or start sending deer and elk down there to feed them so we don't have a population explosion here in the states.
tomrutter2006@aol.com — Apr 15 2011 11:57 PM
This delisting of the gray wolf has gotten almost zero media attention.
Can NRDC please co-ordinate an email campaign to the white house so Obama at least knows we have noticed what he has done? After all the pressure we've exerted through NRDC, it would be wrong not to respond in some way, yes?
Tom Rutter
Denver