Wolf Notes

I see there are some ranchers complaining that the state isn't fast enough <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/08/13/news/state/70-ranchers.txt" title="Billings Gazette Story">killing problem wolves</a>. for their tastes.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>State wildlife officials take too long to authorize the killing of problem wolves, ranchers and others said Friday at a meeting of the agency oversight committee of the Environmental Quality Council.<br />n<br />n"It's like a guy's robbing a bank and you have to go get an arrest warrant," said committee member Sen. Jim Shockley, R-Victor. "It doesn't make a lot of sense."</blockquote><br />n<br />nI have no experience <u>yet</u>, I repeat <u>yet</u>, on this issue so i don't know. It wouldn't surprise me though. Just reading the article it sounds like the State officials want to make sure of the situation before they go killing wolves to protect themselves from the Feds taking wolf control back over. Typical government cover your ass type reaction. Be afraid to make a decision because somebody might get mad at you and say you did something wrong. I would be upset to if I was losing stock and the state officials were hemming and hawing and not doing anything. Typical government mess.<br />n<br />nAnother story talks about the affects the wolves have on stock themselves and on their <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/08/13/news/business/45-wolfs.txt" title="Billings Gazette Story">weight gain</a> while on pasture.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>Consequences of the federal wolf reintroduction program in the Northern Rockies may be visible on the dinner table soon, in the form of skimpier lamb chops and porterhouse steaks that expose more bone than beef.<br />n<br />nFor years, cattle ranchers and wool growers have fretted over wolves that kill dozens of cows and sheep each year. But the steepest price may be the declining weight of livestock terrified by the howls and footsteps of the stalking predators.<br />n<br />nCurrently, calves fetch $1.45 per pound on the market. So if wolves cause just a few lost pounds on each head of cattle, that quickly mounts into big losses, said Lloyd Knight, the executive director of the Idaho Cattle Association.<br />n<br />n"When the cows are scared, they bunch together, they don't spread out like they're used to. They don't eat and drink – you can just tell they're losing weight," he said. "The loss of weight from the whole herd could cost far more than the depredation of a few calves. It's something we've been afraid of since the reintroduction program began."</blockquote><br />n<br />nNow I've never heard of this concern before with wolves returning to livestock areas. I am not an expert on these things so I won't even begin to say for sure. Are the ranchers just blowing smoke or is there something to it? It would be interesting to know more information on this. I'm assuming that this is just like any other story a person hears, there is a partial truth to it. There might be an affect on livestock weight gain but the article overstates it. With the ranching business every dollar lost hurts so I can see why the ranchers are complaining. I mean really, the opening paragraph is a little overstated since not all meat comes from the area where wolves presently are, I know they keep moving further out, so not all critters are affected at this time so I don't know how a consumer will notice "skimpier lamb chops and porterhouse steaks." A little overstated. More information would be of interest.<br />n<br />nFor the record, I don't like the wolf return to the area. It has not effected my cattle operation yet but I know it will. Sensible procedures on how to deal with them and their removal from the Endangered Species list is necessary for Ranchers to protect their livelihood from this animal. The sooner these things are done the better. I'll keep watching and praying that wolves don't end up around here but I know better. The day is coming and I dread it.<br />n<br />n<strong></strong>