So...my dear, sweet readers (or, probably, like, one at the moment, but I'll write in the plural anyway, eh?)...
I'm going to cut to the chase.
You have of course heard about the horrible, senseless gunning down of wolves lately...Wait. Some of you haven't? Well, yes. There has been a large movement through many parts of the United States (notably the western states). This began with gray wolves being removed from the Endangered Species Act in several states. In February, 14 wolves were gunned down in Idaho at Clearwater National Forest, for example.
And this was merely the one incidents. These sorts of things are happening all over, all the time. For the most part this is done to try and boost the number of elk or in some deranged attempt to protect cattle. Out of all cattle deaths, wolves were responsible for less than one percent in 2005. Vultures are known to kill twice as many.
I could continue to rattle of statistics and accounts, but I believe my point is made. The deaths of these wolves are senseless. It is pointless and the number of wolves remaining is already a very low number. There are slightly over 5,000 gray wolves left in the lower forty-eight. There are 200, 000 left among different countries compared to the over 2 billion in earlier times. Due to killing of wolves for the aforementioned senseless reasons and the huge problems caused by human encroachment on their habitat (the effects of this problem can't be overstated, I merely can't go into for fear of rambling), the numbers have dropped like dead weight. Historically, they used to cover the majority of the United States. This range dropped to literally nearly nothing by 1974 and has slowly begun spreading again since 2006.
I know these aren't pleasant truths to acknowledge. I know you may be sitting with a heavy weight in your hearts. I know you don't want to think about it. I have to say this, though: if we don't think about it-- don't do something about it-- if everyone ignores it, nothing will be done about it. At that point, there will be nothing left to think about.
--Lyn
