Obama ends gray wolf protection

I am very disappointed with this decision. The Obama administration has now made S. Palin happy. What's next?

So, are we now going to hear about the Obama administration "gutting the Endangered Species Act"?

I realize that hunters and ranchers don't like wolves. Hunters want deer that will stand still so they can kill them with ease. Wolves make deer much more cautious, They don't stand still for long so hunters have to learn how to REALLY hunt. They don't like that.

Ranchers don't want to lose cattle- even if the cattle are paid for if a wolf is the culprit. After all, they will not have ANY cattle left if we allow wolves in. I get it.

AND I know we can't keep wolves protected forever. But the positive changes that wolves bring to the ecosystem and to the balance in nature is big. VERY big. Not just a balance in wildlife, but in forage, grasses, and the entire ecosystem. Take a look at Yellowstone sometime. Wolves are good for far more than we ever realized before they were introduced again in the West.
But I'm in Utah, which, I'm afraid, will continue to favor backward ideas that harm all. The state won't even look at a wolf policy and denies they are here. Wolves are here, and have been for a long while. But, hey, no wolves in Utah so that must be a coyote over there and we can kill it, right?

I'l be making another donation to the Sierra Club. This decision is very disappointing, I'm with Susan on this. Hey Sue, how did you stumble onto The Swamp? Check out Bonnie Marris art on one of her favorite subjects, the wolf:

http://www.world-wide-art.com/Bonnie_Marris/Cops_and_Robbers/vaid21204.html

SusanM,

I'm in eastern Idaho and the amount of misinformation spread by hunters and ranchers regarding wolves is astounding.

B.O. dropped the ball on this one.

Another sign of what's to come. A quote from our absent minded president prior to his winning the election:
"I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other. And it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals."

~President Elect Barack Obama

What a crock of @#$%!

Palin must of got to him too!!!

He just took the Wolves off the endangered species list, like he has any idea of what is good for species conservation.

SAME PUPPET!!! Different Color!!!

I don't know what it is like everywhere in America, but here in suburban Chicago, you can't let a pet out alone at night without checking for wolves in the area. They like to eat little dogs and children. The sad fact is we have put up McMansions on their hunting grounds and made them the bad guys.

Susan, DT, and assorted other morons, you DO know that wolves ARE hunters, don't you? You cannot condemn the human predator that eats venison and at the same time defend the lupine predator that does the same thing and say it should be protected. I know hypocrisy is par for the course for you guys, but geez, get a clue and learn that a healthy adult wolf will take about 20 deer per year. It has nothing to do with whether they "stand still" or not, wolves actual cause LESS hunting because they thin the herd so human hunters don't have to.

Unreal- no different than Bush or Clinton with 'no surprizes'; Grijalva didn't get Interior job because he cares and ol Ken can whack one when on vacation in Colorado! Sue, sue, sue then start a third party with Russ Feingold/Kucinuch/Barbara Lee, all snubbed by Barack at White House

I don't understand why everyone is so surprised. The big environmental groups and their leadership, including Carl Pope of the Sierra Club, not only threw complete unconditional support to Obama and the Democratic party, they remains completely silent if not complementary when Salazar was picked by Obama and the DNC!!

Now they're shocked at the outcome? C'mon!

The environmental community left themselves with NO LEVERAGE when they made their organizations stepchildren of the Democratic Party! There is no room for criticism and there was never any threat of these groups pushing their membership toward another candidate. These groups have been ever hostile to alternative political parties like the Green Party, leaving no question in the minds of the Dem Party that their votes are sewn up.

Like I said, they have NO LEVERAGE in this instance, a mere 6 weeks into the Obama administration! What else is to come? And what will be the response? From now on, for four years, this administration can reneg on any and all promises and still feel fairly secure that anyone who cares will fall right back into lockstep again unless some commonsense is regained and alternatives are reallized.

But meantime, over 1000 wolves will pay that fatal price unless we can somehow convince Salazar to reverse course. It seems likely that he has been awaiting this chance for a long time though.

Lochness, in order for me to keep my independent status, I must call you out on your post. I think the only wolves in Chicago might be found in a museum or a zoo. I think you meant to say coyotes, which would be very true. Although, last year, they shot and killed a cougar in the burbs that had taken a multistate detour from MN!!!! I know because it resided in my county for a month or so.

Bill/Jeff,

SusanM is simply pointing out the typical hunter and rancher's position on wolves. Hunter's cry about wolves killing deer and elk, just as you did, but that is what wolves have been doing for years, until humans drove them to near extinction. The hypocrisy lies with the hunters that cry about wolves killing deer and elk because now it is harder for them to kill them. Yet most states are way overpopulated with deer anyway. Ranchers cry about losing livestock yet, as SusanM pointed out, they are reimbursed for their losses anyway. Nobody is asking for unlimited protection for wolves. It is simply way too early to remove them from the ESL.

Hey Jeffie,

Last time I checked, the human race wasn't on the verge of extinction, just the Republican Party.

What is it seven weeks now that our country has taken a nose dive with a trail of trillons of dollars scattered around in no certain order.The only meaningfull activities if you want to call them that are the exchanges between Rush and Barach Hussein Obama which seem like a side show in a two bit carnival circus.Oh yeah a new cabinet member has signed on and of course he owes back taxes too.Wjhat else is new?

Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 6, 2009 7:46 PM

You've got your predators mixed up. Chicago doesn't have a "wolf" problem - it has a "coyote" problem. There's a big difference between the two species.

How in the world can they allow the wolves to be taken off the endagered list and allow them to be killed? we are the ones who reintroduced them to the wild. How can Obama and Ken Salazar do this? I have stood by and voted for them year because I had faith in Democrats. I cannot believe that they are going to do this. My faith in our democrats has sure diminished!

How in the world can they allow the wolves to be taken off the endagered list and allow them to be killed? we are the ones who reintroduced them to the wild. How can Obama and Ken Salazar do this? I have stood by and voted for them year because I had faith in Democrats. I cannot believe that they are going to do this. My faith in our democrats has sure diminished!

haha i hope you guys that are against the wolves being delisted are kidding. do you guys have any idea what the word "conservation" means? wolves have no predators to help keep their population reasonable therefore it makes sense to take them off the esl so hunters can do their jobs a conservationist and keep the population under control. you prowolf advocates have no arguments towards keeping the wolves on the esl yet you continue to tell yourselves you do. please do us all a favor and focus on something that will actually benefit the u.s. in these difficult times.

Chris,

At one time the wolf population in the U.S. was around 2M. It is currently estimated to be around 200k. At one point, thanks to ignorant humans, it was near 0. They can come off the ESL when their numbers, adjusted for population, are in line with what they once were. To take them off now, we will be in this same mess for years.

Tears in my eyes right now. This beautiful animal should not be made to struggle so much in it's natural home. The ruthless way in which people want to destroy an endangered creature is disgusting.

Retrograde Wildlife Management Program:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaghancourtney/2147013813/in/set-72157603551571706/

i live in mn. how wrong some of you are and nieve,we get paid for losses on cattle get real that is what they tell you. any of you contibuting to this fund dont go there,ours comes from us department of agriculture a mere 100,000 .now i lost 38 calves,32,000 dollars worth i got paid for one got a iou for 2 and thats it .22 wolves in this pack dnr watched them go into my private pasture but give me the benafit of three maybe and theres 80 other farmers with same problem proof and pictures.if this money actually went where intended wouldnt have half the trouble with ranchers but they use it to sue to keep them from being delisted

this is just really sad... if you think about it wolves balance everything in the wild... with out hem the coyotes will end up being as big as the wolf again. and the grazing animals will end up eating saplings and so much more...

Do any of you nay sayers know that the deer population in montana has dropped by about 50%. This is not due to human hunters. If some kind of regulation does not happen then these wolves will just starve to death. Is it humane to let them suffer this way?

I hope the delistment includes MN. Did Obama finially did something that helps me?

SALAZAR BORN AND RAISED IN COLORADO!!! THAT'S WHY HE IS ALLOWING THEM TO BE SLAUGHTERED. OBAMA IS A SORE DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS AREA AND ON THE PORK IN THE LAST OMNIBUS BILL.

SEND MONEY TO GROUPS FIGHTING THIS IN COURT AND SEND LETTERS TO WYOMING, MONTANA AND IDAHO TELLING THEM YOU WILL NOT BE SPENDING ANY MONEY IN THOSE STATES ON VACATIONS AND QUIT EATING BEEF!!! WHY DO YOU THINK THEY WANT THE LAND, OUR FEDERAL LAND, FOR THEMSELVES? TO RAISE COWS ON!!! QUIT EATING THEM AND BREAK THE RANCHERS POCKETBOOKS.

Best decision this administration has made yet. I live here in Montana, we have enough wolves. They are now killing off our deer and elk herds. If you people lived here perhaps you would understand. Wolves need to be limited before it's too late and everything else is dead!

Wolves were here before the humans, check the data. Just because you can't understand them doesn't give you any right to kill it. And I'm so sick of people saying "Think of the children" wolves mind their own damn business. Wolves are only seen because we go after them via homes city or new sky scrapper. Did it ever pass your tiny thoughts to give them breathing space. Their numbers only seem high to farmers because the space available for them shrinks with every passing moment. What would you do if I came to your property and started nosein around, building stuff, and killing you because you were in my way. If you miss your precious cattle go to McDonalds. You'll find all the cattle you want. Don't play dumb.

I will be going to wyoming to see Yellowstone and to montana to pick up a hunting hound this summer. I am really looking forward to the pretty country and helping these fine states with a little of my hard erned union cash.

The people who miss the cattle are the cattle ranchers. Last I checked thats who McDonalds got thier beef from. Unless they have found a way to clone quarter pounders. If you check your info before you speek you might find that the department of wildlife and parks,i.e. the experts said their is not enough food to support the population at its current state.

My point was that beef comes from cattle you dumbass. Hunting wolves is heartless not because all hunting is bad but because there just isnt enough wolves to be hunted. The goal isnt to put them on the extinction list. They balence nature's health lines aka they help. Only man will put up with nothing than the best espically when it comes to hunting. That means the bigger and stronger wolves will die out first. Or even worse the species will be forced into adapting to a even bigger size range. Maybe we could set up araes for hunting and nonhunting if people really want some wolves killed. But for the sake of the species don't hunt with hate, hunt because you really think the species is too overpopulated.

No reason to call names. Now that you are more clear I agree with you 100%. In some places in Montana wild life and parks said there is already over population and even a hunting season would take along time to bring there numbers down. In part because there are so many but mostly because they are so smart. Put simply they are better in the woods than we are.

I can't believe that he did that. This species really should be on the endangered species list. Soon they'll be back to their former position: low in number and as rare as the Loch Ness Monster or La Chubacabra.

This is great...wolves have become a major problem in idaho and montana and a good hunting season on them will be a good thing to help elk and deer herds..this will make many people in the two states very happy...

Well said

please give me a good reason why they should be kept on the endangered species list. last i recall the management plan put together by you pro wolf dumba**'s was something like 15 breeding pairs. we met those goals in 2002 yet they were just now released from federal protection(thank god). There's something like 1500 wolves in the northwest and thats a minium. these numbers only include wolves in pack so double that number and you'll get close to the actuall amount. I know its hard to believe but the reason wolves became extinct to idaho and most of the northwest was because there was no management plan. For you people that think that is going to happen again go get a life or get your facts straight. our fish and game and management plans have come a long ways. they aren't just going to let people go shoot as many wolves as they would like(as much as i would like that). we've far surpassed our goals for wolves, now its time to manage them

Why are wolves bad for elk and deer? These animals have coexisted together for hundreds of thousands of years before people wiped out wolves. Now, we are left with sick, old, decrepit, and over-populated ungulate herds that roam around and eat saplings and prevent trees from growing. No trees means no carbon storage which equals increased greenhouse gases. Large herds of deer and elk that aren't controlled by natural predators also are more prone to disease outbreaks and population collapse. Lastly, why should wolves be considered endangered? Because there used to be hundreds of thousands of them roaming around the US, and now there are maybe a couple of thousand? Is that recovery? back to less than 1% of the original population? i don't think so. If hunters are serious about wanting to have healthier game, they should welcome wolves. If we are serious about combating climate change, we should also welcome wolves.

Dear President Obama:
Thank you from the depths of my being for your willingness to do the next right thing in each and every instance as you continue to wear the mantle as the "World's Most Important & Influential Public Servant".
I enjoyed reading the transcript from your speech of March 3, 2009, commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Department of the Interior. I especially enjoyed these excerpts from that speech:
"...an overarching mission has emerged: to defend the natural bounty of this country...For the services you provide touch the lives of all Americans...the vast wilderness that each new generation can discover and explore...it was this department under President Teddy Roosevelt that helped lead an unprecedented effort to protect our natural resources...And your mission is more important than ever before...That's why I am pleased that this department is in the capable hands of my great friend Ken Salazar...We'll fund the long-delayed work to preserve our natural wonders and historic landmarks, from Yellowstone National Park...Under the leadership of Secretary Salazar, these investments will be made with unprecedented oversight. In the past, as all of you know, we've seen lapses that have damaged the reputation of this department, despite the integrity and faithful service of the vast majority of people who work here. In just these first five weeks, Secretary Salazar has helped bring about a new era of responsibility and accountability. It is in this spirit that my recovery plan is being implemented...
Finally, today I've signed a memorandum that will help restore the scientific process to its rightful place at the heart of the Endangered Species Act, a process undermined by past administrations. The work of scientists and experts in my administration -- including right here in the Interior Department -- will be respected. For more than three decades, the Endangered Species Act has successfully protected our nation's most threatened wildlife, and we should be looking for ways to improve it -- not weaken it.
Throughout our history, there's been a tension between those who've sought to conserve our natural resources for the benefit of future generations, and those who have sought to profit from these resources. But I'm here to tell you this is a false choice. With smart, sustainable policies, we can grow our economy today and preserve the environment for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. That is what we must do.
...That's a sacred trust, the importance of which cannot be measured...
...So my grandmother, my mother, my sister and I all flew to Seattle. And we drove down the coast along the coast of California, and then east to the Grand Canyon. We headed across the Great Plains and to the Great Lakes, before heading back west through Yellowstone. ...That was an experience I will never forget. It's an experience I want for my daughters, and for all of our daughters and sons, to see the incredible beauty of this nation. It's an experience that's only possible because of the work you do each and every day."

This morning, I received this e-mail from Francis Beineke at the Natural Resources Defense Council, of which I am a member:
"Dear Roger,
It's the worst possible news for the wolves of the Northern Rockies: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has given the green light to a Bush-era plan that will kick them off the Endangered Species list.
Nearly 1,000 wolves from Greater Yellowstone to Glacier National Park could be caught in the cross-fire of state-sponsored wolf hunts -- and that killing could begin in just a few weeks.
The decision couldn't come at a worse time. Breeding season is here, and wolves will start giving birth in April. That means pregnant females and newborn pups will be among those gunned down.
I'm sure you share my disappointment that the Obama Administration has abandoned a science-based approach in this rush to hand wolf management back to the states. ..."

Barack, imagine what the native american youth witnessed a century and a half ago, the feelings that Teddy Roosevelt experienced following his killing the mother bear and finding her orphaned (by his hands) cub. Now if you can imagine the mentality of the man, who with pride, tracked down and killed the last (female) California Golden Grizzly Bear, rendering that species extinct; I strongly believe that the "Golden Grizzly Exterminator's" mentality will pervade the Northern Rockies if the wolf's fate is turned back over to the states (bowing to the ranchers' interests). I would like to see at least a small portion of this great country retain some of its 'wildness', at least in Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks. Please have your daughters view the documentary, "A man among wolves" and give you their impressions. I strongly urge you and Secretary Salazar to reconsider keeping the wolves’ fate safe in the hands of the United States Department of the Interior.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter,
from a devoted and concerned citizen,
Roger

Wolves have no natural predators, therefore we must become the predator. If we don't manage them they will destroy the elk and deer populations(as they are already doing) and then turn to what ever else they can find. That includes household pets and even humans. I don't understand why you guys are so for these wolves. Take a look at this website, nothing can change your stubborn a**'s but this should open your eyes. http://www.saveelk.com/

its about time they delisted these killers,wake up most of you that want wolves dont live anywhere near them its all on animal planet you watch.keep bringing up there was 2 million wolves this isnt your playground where we live to try bring back the past if you want the past the way it was you need all pray that was here to are you ready to give up cell phonesonys,ipods,tvs how about walk that block to work.how bout that grocier store where its so easy to get your food in plastic or a box.what pisses me off we work hard to feed everybody the only ones that still no something of the past is us farmers,ranchers,hunters we can live off the land.it would be good if all farmers quite for awhile we would see how many 2 legged wolves are out there stealing.now as ive said before i have no trouble with wolves kept in check,but i dont exspect to feed 22 wolves in a pack and not get paid.farming is a job just like yours if the boss caught you stealing you get rid of the bad apples right.the goal you guys wanted here was 1,600 wolves we got almost 4,000 but you want more and more,we didnt have a chioce when decided 1,600 but we went with it and that number didnthurt us that bad,but those extra 2,400 wolves does and were talking millions of dollars lost we dont get back so i guess if you look at it another way we have been the biggest suporter of wolves for free what have you done give to the sierra club to line there pockets

well said mmrancher

It's too bad ranchers do not get decent educations, otherwise some of them might be more objective. Greed is what drives them. I lived on a small ranch for many years where we grew our own crops and raised our own cows, goats and chickens. It was more than enough to survive on because we never got greedy. We lost livestock to coyotes and mountain lions every once in a while, but we knew that was part of life. To this day I respect nature's predators and their right to do what comes natural.

john,

i respect predators as well and feel they deserve a spot in the ecosystem just like any other animal. however when you introduce a predator that has no other natural predators besides disease and themselves(which is very minimal and exists for any other animals), they will thrive and kill off any other animal that is below them on the food chain. for this reason a management plan needs to be created and carried out by hunters. we have far exceeded the number when they need to be managed and there will be a time when its is to late.

john,

i respect predators as well and feel they deserve a spot in the ecosystem just like any other animal. however when you introduce a predator that has no other natural predators besides disease and themselves(which is very minimal and exists for any other animals), they will thrive and kill off any other animal that is below them on the food chain. for this reason a management plan needs to be created and carried out by hunters. we have far exceeded the number when they need to be managed and there will be a time when its is to late.

So lets cut the crap and tell all of those eviromentalist groups to stop referring to BUSH ADMINISTRATION all the time..........Now its going to be OBAMA ADMINISTRATION!!!!!!!! Yippeeeeeeeee nice to finally get everyone to see sense that he is not all HE makes himself out to be. Wolves eating children??? LMAO.....now thats another ignorant comment from somebody who lacks intellegence. You wish to go live in wolf territory, then decide you dont like wolves, then LEAVE! Wolves are native to USA and you arent......leave them alone and get on with living. Predators are PREDATORS so respect nature...if those of you dont understand what NATURE is......I suggest you look it up.

Judy, obviously you are lacking a fair amout of intelligence yourself. We as a nation have been growing for centuries and developing on what used to be land that these "beloved" wolves lived on. We have given them as well as thousands of other animals far less land to live on. I'm sorry but people aren't going to move for a stupid little wolf. I'm pretty sure people know what nature is and the fact is that we have and will continue to adapt to it as best as we can. Our ancestors have been hunting for decades and have used that as a way to survive and a way of management. Hunters will continue to hunt and manage our wildlife. I just don't understand what the hell you wolf lovers are looking for. We have far exceed the numbers the government was looking for and it is now (has been for a long time) time to begin to managing them. Fish and Game isn't going to allow them to be killed off. They have made a very reasonable management plan but of course it is still not good enough for all of you wolf lovers.

There are no local wolves in the Chi Town suburbs. Lots of coyotes. When walking our dogs in the Forest Preserve we stay in groups and no small dogs alone because the coyotes are too foxy.
Wolves are good for elk and deer and the flora they all reside in. President Obama, reconsider.

There are no local wolves in the Chi Town suburbs. Lots of coyotes. When walking our dogs in the Forest Preserve we stay in groups and no small dogs alone because the coyotes are too foxy.
Wolves are good for elk and deer and the flora they all reside in. President Obama, reconsider.

I was there in Salmon, Idaho when the wolves were first reintroduced and prayed for by Lemhi-Shoshone at the BLM office. I am a Lemhi-Shoshone descendant and we are still considered less than animals in Idaho. We were removed in 1907. When are we going to be reintroduced? After 12,000 years of occupancy, the last 100 have been pure ethnic cleansing. Read more at the website...

I am so disappointed in Obama, he is allowing the wolf hunt to continue. I really thought he was going to be a more thoughtful caring president. Killing 20% of the wolf population is completely inhumane. When is America going to get a Great President.

when do think there is enough wolves,never.we can not go back a hundred years and live where you figure the population of the wolf was 2ml,make no sense.you think its inhumane to kill 20 percent how about the families that have lost there calves there paycheck thats not inhumane to make us suffer.do you think those calves died without suffering or the ones i had to shoot to put them out of there misery.what the president needs to do is put some control on the humane society,sierra club and others that seem to be above the law.even if you dont like to eat beef thats fine your chioce,thats what america is all about,my choice was to raise beef on my own land and thats been taken away i didnt ask for a pack of 21 wolves on my property you want what left of them on yours

first of all you dont have to live near wolves to not want them delisted. Now all these trigger happy farmers are just going to use this as an excuse to shoot wolves that arent even a danger to them or their farms. Its natural selection, dwarnism, only the strong survive..thats why wolves can kill your fam animals cause it happens. protect your animals better. people who are HAPPY that they can kill innocent animals just trying to survive are ignorant.