Your Comment can Help save up to 4 wolves per Year! DEADLINE JUNE 18th

In National by Twowolves15 Comments

2016 Wolf Hunting Seasons, Quotas and HD Boundaries, and SB200 Wolf Quotas – Proposed COMMENT HERE http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/publicComments/2016/wolfSeasons.html

Your Comment Can Help Save Four Wolves Each Year

Wolves are protected inside Yellowstone National Park can be hunted as soon as they set foot over the border!! One of the areas where wolves can be killed is designated as Montana Wolf Unit 313. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering whether to triple the quota of wolves that can be killed in that unit from the current two to six. Up to four more wolves—some of them park wolves—could die each and every year.

The commission wants public opinion on this decision. You do not have to be a Montana resident to comment. The deadline for commenting is June 18.

Please make an online public comment stating that you object to having the quota in Unit 313 increased from two to six. You will be helping to save the lives of up to four wolves each year.

 

The quota for wolves in Unit 313 should be kept at two for the following reasons:
1. There is no biological reason to support killing more wolves in 313. Montana has set goals for the number of elk in each unit. The current number of elk in Unit 313 meets the goal. Elk are not threatened by wolves in that unit.
2. Economically, wolves are worth far more alive than dead. Some of the wolves that will die in Unit 313 will be wolves from Yellowstone. Last year about 750,000 of Yellowstone visitors entered the park through the north gate at Gardiner. Those visitors leave lots of money that supports the economy of Gardiner. Fewer wolves to see means fewer visitors to the park and Gardiner. Killing wolves in Unit 313 could harm the economy of Gardiner.
3. FWP says that 29 wolves have been observed in the Gardiner Basin, the area of Unit 313. Furthermore, FWP says that an area’s wolf population can survive even if up to 29% of its wolves are killed. Their recommendation to allow the killing of six wolves in Unit 313 is based on these two assumptions.  
But only about twelve wolves in three packs reside in the Gardiner Basin. The rest of the 29 wolves observed there by FWP are probably Yellowstone wolves following prey out of the park. Data from the collars of park wolves shows that these animals spend little time outside the park. It makes no sense to include them in the wolf count being used to justify killing more wolves in Unit 313.
4. FWP should acknowledge that protecting tourism must be one of their stated goals when considering the wolf quota in Unit 313. In addition, many Yellowstone wolves wear collars. These collars provide significant scientific information that help us understand how wolves impact the ecology of an area. FWP must acknowledge that protecting these research wolves must be one of their stated goals when considering the wolf quota in Unit 313.
5. A comment heard often from those who supported the proposal to increase the quota goes like this: We should kill more wolves because wolves are killing so many elk that it’s harder for me to find elk to kill. FWP records do not support that comment. The statistics reveal:
In 2004 (earliest online record), 106,896 hunters took 23,313 Montana elk. 
In 2004, Montana had 153 wolves.
In 2014, 107,663 hunters took 25,735 elk. 
In 2014, Montana had 554 wolves. 

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: 2016 Wolf Hunting Seasons, Quotas and HD Boundaries, and SB200 Wolf Quotas – Proposed

Comments

  2. The killing of wolves for sport should be abolished!Studies have shown that instead of decreasing elk and deer populations have thrived and increase instead of the opposite. Stop the killing of our wolves for sport and trophies, this is beyond sickening!

  3. If you kill wolves, an apex predator, you invite vermin in. These vermin will overrun any small to medium farm or ranch. Wolves have their place in our ecological system.

  4. It is an atrocity that these beautiful creatures are been hunted down and killed….you are killing the ancestors of your domestic dog…would u kill them? I think not….stop this cruelty, why is the life of an animal more valuable than that of a human??

  6. I object to the raising of the wolf quota in Unit 313. Look at the benefits and re-balancing of the environment which occurs when they are left to establish themselves (eg at Yellowstone) Please accept that they have as much right to exist as we do. Hunting for sport is so barbaric. Let them live

  7. Please stop with the killing of wolves, this is like killing your dog! They are an intelligent predator, family oriented, if they can’t live in the wild , then where can they live? Need to learn to live with them , not destroy them , they are essential! To destroy one is a lack of intelligence on your part, the biology says this as well. STOP!

  8. I object to killing more Wolves in the Yellowstone surroundings and to counting Yellowstone resident wolves that are only out of the park for short amounts of time as part of a wolf population count for areas that do not include the boundries of Yellowstone park. Raising the wolf hunting quota is Not acceptable. Using incorrect data to attempt to justify this is wrong.

    The wolves help the park and surrounding area from being overgrazed / over-broused. This prevents erosion and that helps the waterways.

    If there is a problem with deer, elk and such populations then you need to find out Why – Not just kill some more wolves and consider the problem solved.
    Is there too much logging in the area?
    Are there too many cattle, sheep, alpaca, goats… grazing the area causing a feed shortage for Wild grazers? Is there a problem with inbreeding, causing less healthy fawns ( or other young ) and could transferring a few breeding males into new ranges improve this problem?
    Perhaps a few pregnant females being imported / transferred from other areas of the Park would also be helpful to keep populations healthy.

    The Wolves are a Major tourist attraction, killing the wolves may get you some $$ from the Hunters. However it does not even come close to the Tourist dollars spent from people coming from all over the country and in some cases around the World to hear Wolves howl and for a chance to see them.
    Then there is the money spent in the surrounding area’s for Transport ( Plane, Train or Automobiles) Lodging, Food, Fuel, souvineers, Warm clothing, Camping gear, Posters, postcards, artwork, local handicrafts. The list goes on…. This helps the local tax base for all the surrounding counties and the places people drive thru to get To Yellowstone National Park.

    Kill the wolves, then you are shooting yourself – and the surrounding communities in the foot. And you do the environment and fishermen no favors. Will you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs because you are hungry for dinner… when other food is available? If you do, you are not wise.

    So I say No! to killing Wolves or Bears.
    Coyotes you might want to look at reducing the numbers of. They kill more young animals and also go after domestic Pets as well as livestock. And without Wolves – their traditional foe – to keep their number in check, they have become many,widespread and bold.

    Thank-you for your time.

  9. Strongly object to raising wolf quota in Unit 313. Throughout history, it has been fear & misunderstanding of wolves that have resulted in barbaric practices such as trophy hunting & mass killings of these magnificent animals. Wolves & other apex predators have an invaluable role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Please consider these comments before making your decision.
    Respectfully, Faith Fry

  10. LEAVE the quota in 313 at 2 and leave our wolves alone. They have as much right to live as you and I. We need them.

  11. I STONGLY OBJECT TO UNIT 313 TO RAISING THEIR QUOTA. If EVEN THE QUOTA OF 2 CAN BE REMOVED, AND THE KILLING, HUNTING,BECOME ILLEGAL OF OUR WOLVES, PLEASE DO SO. YOU WILL GAIN RESPECT OF SO MANY PEOPLE, TO SHOW COMPASION AND MERCY. PLEASE STOP THE KILLING OF OUR WOLVES.

  13. Save the wolves! I am a voice for the voiceless. Humans are the most frightening animals on earth. Protect these important creatures whose impact on the wilderness is positive creating ‘trophic cascades,’ that help wild species of flora and fauna survive and make rivers healthier. Science proves that wolves belong in the wilderness. Make room for the wild in this world. Protect and respect the wild world. Thank you!

  14. Please stop killing these beautiful animals we are fighting to save them.A world without them would be a much sadder and poorer place.

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