The predators have about used up the elk and deer.

This re-introduction fiasco is highly ready for re-evaluation. There should be a bounty placed on wolves in many packs. This is not strictly an issue in the parks, either. There are problems all over the Mountain West too.

I find this article to be inaccurate and very biased in its interpretation of information. Certainly, it is up to the reader or listener to interpret meaning. However,the quote from me, Jess Edberg, was taken out of context and interpreted to be an example of an opinion. The context that the quote was from was in reference to a question I answered about why wolves would attack a dog.

“They don’t see them as we see them see as a family pet. They see them as another wolf–like animal that might want to steal their food. So they want to eliminate their competition,”

In no way does this pose a bias or judgement to the owner of the pet or the pet itself. I am disappointed that an organization offering courses in science-based disciplines would offer such unresearched and unfounded interpretations.

It is widely known that the International Wolf Center is a science-based educational organization that promotes wolf survival by encouraging critical thinking and well-informed decision-making regardless of the opinion of the learner.

Sincerely,
Jess Edberg

The Federal Government has overstepped its boundaries set in the Constitution of the US and has harmed the good people of Montana by a forced re-introduction Of a foreign species. A lawsuit should be filed by Montana sportsmen, guides, outfitters and Ranchers against the US Fish and Wildlife Service. We need to act now and legalize the trapping and poisoning of wolves, hunting from aircraft as well. Wolf control must become state sponsored. It will take 10 years to recover our game populations if we start now. When I have read claims of MFWP personnel claiming elk numbers are up or stable, I wonder if they are fraudulent claims in an attempt to sell licenses, or just old data because the depletion of game in the mountains has been rapid.

What’s interesting about the broader picture here is not all the name-calling and position-grabbing, but that WE (as in non-Native people which I’m assuming most of us writers here are on this blog) or our predecessors came here, carved up the land with highways, barbed wire, and airports (to name just a few), almost wiped out the bison, continue the charade of raising cattle where they don’t belong, and now snipe at each other about whether or not we can exist on this planet alongside another species (that would be the Gray Wolf).

Non-Native (**read: “White”**) people still kill small mammals near my house in Belgrade, jam sticks in their mouths, roll up the whole bundle of over 100 animals, and throw them next to a road. White people were found dumping garbage and carcasses at a river access less than 5 mins. from my door. Let go of the domination factor, white people (of which I am one). We don’t need to dominate everything; in fact, it will tear us apart.

I’m sure some of you disagree, and may even insult me. That’s OK. I haven’t insulted you, just stated my opinion. Thanks Mike for having this blog and allowing people to write on it.

Reply: Paul, I hope your students learn something from my blog. One thing they may appreciate is that people (human beings, skin color irrelevant) have been the keystone predators and environmental stewards in North America for 12,000+ years. Similarly, in the Balkans, human beings have been resident for twice that long and perhaps longer, and have also been caretakers of nature there. Sometimes what humans do seems cruel, and is cruel, but it is our birth right and birth responsibility to be stewards of this planet. We humans (all colors) are dominant, like it or not. It is also our responsibility to care for each other. That means sometimes we must control predators, pathogens, and disease-carrying animals, for our good as well as the good of the planet. I hope that Serbians, Croatians, and other people of Europe are vigilant in controlling mosquitoes, rats, wolves, and other vermin. It’s the humane thing to do.