Idaho Republican lawmaker Dick Harwood wants to declare a state emergency.
He’s not talking about the threat of larger class sizes or a shorter school year due to the state’s budget crisis. No, the emergency is that wolves are overrunning the state. But if rural school districts cut back bus service some school children who have to walk to school might become even more vulnerable to this serious threat.
The bill suggests “wolf packs have moved into densely populated areas and unnecessarily large numbers of wolves constitute a threat, not only to property, but to human life itself, with particular threat to children,”
And, if that’s not enough to declare an emergency, “people living in most rural parts of the state are threatened by wolves and must change their habits and lose the safe use of, and travel upon, their own property. Individuals must now arm themselves to face the threat of growing, unchecked numbers of wolves in many parts of the state,” the bill says.
Of course they are threatening livestock and Fish and Game has announced a major campaign to reduce their numbers where they attack livestock.
But that’s not enough. House Concurrent Resolution 043 says “unchecked numbers of wolves are destroying the culture and heritage of rural Idahoans including, but not limited to, their use of real estate, their use of hounds for legal hunting of big game, their livelihood in professional hunting, such as outfitting and guiding, and their choice of type and location of livestock animals for food production and recreation.”
Harwood, of St. Maries, and supporters want Gov. Butch Otter “to declare that a state of emergency exists in Idaho and to authorize and require the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to use any legal means to reduce wolf numbers to those designated for recovery of the species.”
That of course is what wolf advocates have argued Idaho leaders would do if the wolf, which the nation spent millions of dollars to recover, were delisted. The state of emergency declaration might come in time for the next hearing in federal court.
I expect response just as hysterical from the other side. Only it will come in full page ads with wolf pups and television commercials with famous actresses.
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Somebody remind Harwood
Somebody remind Harwood wolves were here before we were and were eradicated from Idaho by Idaho citizens. Which caused the re-introduction of wolves back into Idaho. Who should be removed; who is infringing on whose natural survival.
Of course, this is an election year so CYA.
and then,
by your logic, pack your bags, because you need to give back your home and property to the native americans as well as the rest of the state.
Wolves are a problem?
Several years ago right after wolf reintroduction began wolves killed two dogs that were accompanied by children who were sledding in a popular area on the edge of town in Salmon Id.. Concerned citizens complained and their voices were ignored by the wolf supporters and the Federal Govt. We knew that when the problem moved to the edge of our major cities that things would be viewed differently. The doofus that feels they have first claim ignores the fact these were canadian wolves who came here after we did. To infer they have right of way shows the lack of common sense and ignorance ignoring a potential problem,. Lets hope his kids are the first ones threatened.
How many is enough?
How many wolves are enough? Does restoring wolves to their "former habitat" include private property? Every square inch of Idaho? Residential neighborhoods? School yards?
Why don't you try talking to folks in rural areas of our state and find out what impacts wolves have had on residents Rocky? It might make for a very unique story.
Wolves kill dogs
They don't like 'em. I think we need to hunt wolves to keep the fear of man in them. They rarely attack people in North America, but they are much more bold in Urasia. Shooting some each year will help keep them at bay. Dogs, however are in serious danger when in wolf habitat from what I read.
Keep your weapons out of the Statehouse, blast it!
Maybe not blast it.
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Like a midair collision with a tugboat
Wolves versus health insurance
I'll bet the children in this guy's district are far more threatened by lack of health insurance than wolves. A Republican diversionary tactic.
health insurance vs. employment
I'll bet the adults in his district are far more threatened with a lack of meaningful employment than they are by health insurance. Typical Democrat diversionary tactic. (At least AGW seems to be off the table these days).
And it's 1, 2, 3...
I just had to bring Country Joe McDonald into this.
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Like a midair collision with a tugboat
"99 percent" chance wolves killed teacher
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News) It appears a woman was killed by wolves on the Alaska Peninsula.
http://www.ktva.com/ci_14642730?source=most_viewed
It would look bad if her snowmobile rolled over her though.
At least she has this eternal excuse now.
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Stop whining about the stupid signature and think for yourself.
Do we tell the tourists not to jog?
The village in Alaska said the wolves were acting bold prior to the attack.
Where I live the wolves have been acting bold.
They can learn the biathlon?
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Stop whining about the stupid signature and think for yourself.