Ron Gillett, the blustery former outfitter turned anti-wolf activist got his name in the papers again last week vowing to begin another petition campaign to take away the state’s power to manage wolves.
Gillett had all but disappeared last March after his arrest on assault and battery charges for allegedly attacking a wolf advocate minding her own business near his home in Stanley. The jury trial is set for late August in Challis.
The man who stepped in to lead the campaign was Tony Mayer, leader of the group Save Our Elk, from Twin Falls. Mayer, still uses the same bloody pictures of dead elk to appeal to the emotions of hunters fearful that wolves are going to decimate game populations.
But Mayer has not used the bombastic rhetoric and “angry man” approach that was Gillett’s style. He told me last April that the group missed getting enough signatures by only about 10,000 names.
However, officials at the Idaho Secretary of State’s office report that only 11,640 valid signatures were submitted to all 44 counties. With 45,893 signatures required, Mayer’s estimate was way off.
So now Gillett reappears in a story in the Lewiston Tribune vowing to lead another initiative campaign now that a federal judge has returned control over wolves to the federal government. Mayer, on the other hand has written on comments to my blog that he’s taking a wait and see approach.
“Our organization is currently evaluating our strategy to counter this disastrous ruling, and we will appreciate your input and ideas,” Mayer wrote. “Please let’s not throw rocks as this is counter productive. We are all in this together and it’s going to take each one of us to band together to take on the wolf extremists.”
Mayer argued that if they win an initiative it would give Idaho a stronger bargaining position. The outcome of Molloy’s lawsuit should demonstrate that a state initiative that would have kept The Idaho Department of Fish and Game from managing wolves and required all the wolves be removed would only lead back to the current situation.
Wyoming’s wolf rules, which allow wolves to be shot on sight in 90 percent of the state, was the main reason U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula ruled against delisting. I don’t see that Wyoming’s bargaining position has gotten stronger in federal court.
One thing is obvious: Mayer and Gillett haven’t been able to collect enough signatures from enough hunters who register to vote in two campaigns to even get their initiative on the ballot. For Gillett it’s hard to see how his latest legal issue will help a new initiative campaign.
The next time Gillett will be in court it won’t be about wolves, it will be about charges he attacked a woman.
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Idahoans favor wolves
A few years back Boise State did a research project on wolf reintroduction. Part of that was a survey to determine Idaho citizen's views on the reintroduction; the results of which showed that a good majority of Idahoans were in favor of wolf reintrodution. And now that wolf viewing has become a growing tourist attraction I don't see these anti-wolf people gaining traction.
Bloody pictures Rocky
So wolves don't do that to their prey? What, they lick them into submission? What is wrong with seeing what wolves really do? I realize the pictures are not warm and cuddly like the one the stateman puts in. Not anti-wolf but they need to be managed. As far a growing tourist attraction, I hope someone can do a survey in one of those towns to see how much business has increased.
So why use the pictures at
So why use the pictures at all except for sensationalism? As for those towns, what would change for them without the wolf around?
Not many are questioning that wolves should be managed; however Gillette wants them extirminated completely from the state.
gut shots?
What would you say if the Idaho Statesman ran pictures of butchering or field dressing? We hunters do the same thing as wolves.
Pay them to dry me some JERKY, of course!
Well rocky
that would just be showing a fact of what sometimes happens while hunting. Are you ashamed to field dress an animal and care for the meat properly? You said we hunters, are you one or do you think hunting is riding a 4-wheeler? I understand what you are trying to get at, wolves and hunters are alike when they kill an elk, deer, etc. Some unethical hunters leave the meat, or do not even look for their gut shot animal. Truth is the truth. Maybe the statesman should show pictures of field dressing an animal or butchering one. Expalin how to do it correctly so those that do not know can learn. They teach and show this in hunters ed also. In the end, I have no problem with field dressing pictures, description, etc.
Butcher Lessons
This would be a great idea. I am always looking for some tips in regards to butchering good meat and everyone needs to know where their food comes from. However hunters do not butcher and eat their critters alive as the wolf gods do. Look wolves are here and are not going anywhere. The only issue that most sportsmen and women have with them comes down to management. It is time to stop worshipping the wolf, take them off their pedestal, and do what is best for all of Idaho’s wildlife. They need to be delisted and managed by the state. The only thing in danger here is common sense.
Happy trails,
Titus
Wrong...
No, hunter's do not do the same. Hunters try for quick humane kills. Rocky, you've evidently changed "colors" since residing on the more conservative side of the State.
Bloody Pictures
Obviously these "Saveourelk" advocates haven't seen what a bear does to an elk calf or fawn, how a shark tears apart a group of seals or how an orca dismembers a sea lion.....It isn't pretty, but that's the natural world.
Man is crueler...look at trapping . An animal suffers in a trap for hours, or days. It either dies of stress, starvation, hypothermia...you name it. Finally it chews its foot off. Put that on your website!
Stop living in a vacuum.
A koona matata
Stepping outside the vacuum I am not seeing any sharks in Idaho, although I would love to catch one. Bears do a good number on calves and fawns, whenever they take the balance out of ungulates bear tags go up. It is called management. That is all that is needed with wolves. Management.
I am glad that you have a strong stomach and are cool with the circle of life. With a mindset like this you must be a strong supporter of hunting. After all, it aint pretty, it's just natural. Get in touch with nature, buy a wolf tag!
happy trails,
Titus
Some of the photo's on the
Some of the photo's on the Save Our Elk website don't depict wolf kills at all. Some of them are simply winter killed elk. They have the gall to claim that some of the cow elk were killed while giving birth IN MARCH/APRIL when there is still snow on the ground! March and April are among the hardest months for elk and elk don't calve until June!
It's no wonder that these fools can't get their initiative on the ballot. They don't know what they are doing and they spew lies.
Lots of Lies on Both Sides
The truth is somewhere in the middle.
I thought that was the creme filling center.
The other 3/4ths...
were Statesman bloggers. Way to go dudes!
They're all cuddly and soft
until they're carrying off your pet or child. The reason the majority of Idahoans liked reintroduction of wolves? The majority hadn't ever seen one except for in a zoo. See a hungry one when you're alone in the wild and you'll change your mind real quick.
Could you name a time when a
Could you name a time when a wolf has carried off a child in the states here? How about an incident in North America? I would love to hear about your fantasy.
I know it isnt recent but as
I know it isnt recent but as far as children, the child wasnt carried off but devoured alive on his farm in North Dakota in 1888. www.aws.vcn.com/wolf_attacks_on_humans.html. There was also an attack on a 6 year old boy in Icy bay, alaska in 2000. THe boy wasnt killed but required many stitches. Other places like in parts of India and Russia, alot of children are killed by wolves. between 1996-1997, 74 people(most prebubescent children) were killed by wolves in the northern part of india. www.sinauer.com/groom/article.php?id=24
There have been numerous fatalities by "domestic" wolves in the states in the 20th century. Russia has had it pretty bad. Theyve had winters where over 1400 people have died by wolves. Granted wolf attacks arent as likely as bear or cougar attacks, but to assume that wolf attacks never happen is well... kinda naive. One aspect you have to remeber is that when wolves were eradicated in the late 1800's in alot of areas, there were alot of trappers or families "out in the sticks" that had no contact with anybody or wouldnt see another human in weeks that could have died with nobody knowing.
look here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGXWy3htXgQ
watch this one, too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjmfeN6EKHQ&feature=related
or this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtsRWUotTPI&feature=related
80 Examples of Wolf-human conflict
People are so polarized they cannot see both sides of this issue. Wolves are not likely to attack humans at the same time it does not mean they are the family pet. Read this article which is not put out by wolf lovers or haters. http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080729/NEWS04/492591304/1005/NEWS90
By not managing wolves that have saturated the prime wolf habitat and negatively impacted ungulates and ranchers in localized areas we can only look forward to adding to the list of 80 wolf-human conflicts that were mentioned in this article.
More wolves will be killed next spring than were killed this spring and summer. They are out of good habitat and will venture into areas of high conflict and be killed.
happy trails,
Titus
You best stay out of the woods...
You're likely to see your own shadow and jump right out of your skin. Wow, it shames me to think that this has what "sportsmen" have become (assuming you are--if not, I apologize for thinking you might be associated with that rugged group of individuals that spend those long, scary nights tucked away in the big 40' camper surrounded by mean, spooky wild animals). You're far safer out in the woods than walking down a sidewalk in Boise, so stop being babies about those supposed vicious, child-eating wolves.
Not certain where you are coming from
but if I have a dog in the woods, I am packing bear spray, and a gun. Wolves have killed a lot of pets, dogs and horses and the owners don't get compensated.
Define "a lot"?
People let their dogs run loose and get hit by cars by the thousands, same with horseowners that don't take the time to give the $20 west nile shot, resulting in a dead horse. The number of pet dogs killed by wolves is a fraction of this, horses are even less common. If a dog gets pasted on the road, no big deal, but one running around loose in the woods gets killed and all of a sudden its unsafe to go out in the woods? And besides, I wasn't talking about animal safety in the first place.
What?
You lost me at "$20 west riflw shot" and I have no idea what you meant to say.
I realize those
are pretty large words, maybe your mom can help you with them.
Maybe if you get some sleep and then...
EDIT THE PART WITH NO CLEAR CONTEXT. Then you might understand what you are sniping my heinie for nothing over.
Need a 'tude? Have a clue.
West nile shot:
an inexpensive vaccine that can be administered to a horse to prevent west nile virus. My point is that despite being cheap and easy to do, many folks don't bother, resulting in a dead horse in many cases. This was part of the bigger point being that lots of dogs and horses die needlessly and nobody seems to make a big deal out of it, but a very small number of dogs and even fewer horses are killed by wolves, and somehow that's an outrage and that we need to pack guns and bear spray.
I'm not anti-wolf
I think that they should be hunted aggressively in high conflict areas and have little pressure in the back country. To downplay conflict is as ignorant as the people who think wolves will kill all the elk.
I'm not opposed to wolf management either
But conversely, to overblow isolated, uncommon incidents is equally ignorant and an inappropriate use of sensationalism to hype the anti-agenda.
Not overblown
Perhaps the people that have been impacted by wolves in a negative way would not agree with you. I agree with P_J's opinion on management. There is plenty of wilderness for the wolves.
West Nile Shot
Thanks for the comment about the West Nile problem.
You are talking about a real danger here, not a mythical one. Nowadays I make sure always have DEET and a mosquito net jacket in my rig, plus a spare long-sleeved shirt even though the temperature is expected to be warm.
People should also be aware that the percentage of infected mosquitoes increases as the summer wears on.
Not all wolf attacks get reported
You don't see all wolf attacks in the news. Even if they are reported to F&G they are not reported in the news.
We adopted an old mare after she was attacked by wolves 4 years ago (the guard donkey was able to drive them off, but he was pulled down and half eaten alive by wolves last year.) A reliable witness saw the attack. We showed the F&G the obvious teeth marks on the horse. We were not looking for compensation - BUT it was not recorded as a wolf attack due to lack of evidence.
If there are 3 people in our small area who have all experienced wolf attacks on their animals, wouldn't you think that was an outrage?
I agree with you that folks need to take better care of their animals and be current on all vaccinations. The vet bill was $94 for each horse this spring for all shots and worming.
Thank you for being clearer.
I understand that and agree.
you might want to read this before you continue
http://www.shoshonenewspress.com/articles/2008/08/05/news/news02.txt
Thanks for the link
I understand his frustration.
Rocky - the pictures aren't pretty and neither is this issue!
Rocky, sorry that you are offended by our SaveElk.com website. These wolf kill pictures are not a pretty, as this is not a pretty issue and is not one that can be easily swept under the carpet as many of you pro wolf brethren wish to do. Our group has maintained all along that wolf delisting would be successfully challenged by pro-wolf advocates - who has been right on this issue? We have also maintained the wolf introduction and subsequent management plan have been ill-conceived and flawed from the very beginning. I wish this wasn’t the case but here we are. For those that have put their faith in the IDF&G to deal with this wolf issue, look where it’s got you. One hell of a lot of wolves with no legal plan to deal with them. Steve Nadeau, the head wolf biologist for the IDF&G, cares more about wolves than he does for our elk and deer. He along with a handful of other IDF&G officials have repeatedly biased management in favor of wolves. Follow the money – over the last several years the IDF&G has received millions from the USF&W service to promulgate and bolster wolf populations. Successful wolf introduction has taken over the entire course and direction of the IDF&G department to the determent of our ungulate wildlife.
Is this an organization that you can say is meeting their overriding mission to be the ultimate true stewards of our Idaho ungulate wildlife? This years Big Game population is plummeting. This is resulting in license and tag revenue drying up because frustrated and disgusted hunters and outdoorsman like myself, along with hundreds of others, are fed up with the lack of game. For those of you who have relied on the IDF&G to watch your back on this wolf issue; you can follow the Pied Piper Steve Nadeau if you like but I think a change in course is needed. What are you going to say three to four years from now when most of our big game hunts are cut? How are you going to explain the lack of Big Game hunting opportunities to our children? Tell them that they should take up another past time? Our elk and deer are literally being wiped out before our eyes and pro-wolvers and many sportsmen are content to sit back and watch. The pro-wolf crowd’s mantra is to never kill a wolf, and they tell us to trust nature and to trust the wolves to make the right decisions to kill only the sick and weak. Ya Right!
As rocky so quotes me "it is going to take all of us that are concerned about this issue to band together and take on the pro-wolf extremists"
Let Me See
So your contention is that we need to de-list the wolves and hunt/kill them so that you can go kill deer and elk. So you want to kill the wolves for trying to survive so that you can hunt for sport.. hmm..
Someone has their priorities mixed up I think
No, let me see...
The vast majority of hunters were raised in a culture where hunting is a very important piece of their lives. I was raised not only to respect the animal we hunt, but to also use it and not to waste. My family enjoys the meat we harvest, and its better for us than domestic meat.
It's not hard to see the animal rights activists and their agendas. What makes it right for you to try and take away our heritage?
Steve Nadeau
Extremists from both sides of this issue are polarizing public opinion. The "for or against" mentality is not conducive to rational discussion.
Personally I think Steve Nadeau (our state wolf biologist) knows more about wolves than most people, and do not see him as a "pro wolf" advocate. I do agree with him that the prime habitat for wolves has been saturated, and wolves should be managed like other large predators.
Increasing wolf population will continue in wildland urban interfaces and cause more problems as wolves become habituated to humans (like problem bears are doing now.)
What
Ya'll tellin me thay ain't a countin me and my wulf hatin kin who put our X on that thar piece of paper
Perhaps if you hadn't drawn it at 8 1/2 x 11" : )
ROFLMAO
Ya what Buffaloed says about
Ya what Buffaloed says about the website save our elk...its a joke, its a scare tactic. I think someone should post pictures of some of the good ol boys from SFW and other anti-wolf groups, how it looks when they gut shot an elk or deer, that too is not a pretty sight.
These wolves should enter POLITICS...
they seem to get more attention than the cats already there.
Why not just go back home...
My vote is for all of the out-of-state relocators to just go back to your big cities, and leave Idaho and the management of their wolves to those whom belong here? Out-of state, or should I say, "foreign" interests, are the reason we had the wolves "reintroduced" in the first place. Why not reintroduce them into the other locals where they were native? Dallas, Phoniex, L.A., Kansas City, San Fran, etc...
So we all go back to on the Mayflower etc...
Incluyendo Sr/Sra Huntsman?
Hey, the aboriginals get the freeways!