OT: Idaho Govenor wants wolves dead - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-12-2007, 09:14 AM

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By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN, Associated Press Writer
Thu Jan 11, 10:46 PM ET

BOISE, Idaho - Idaho's governor said Thursday he will support public
hunts to kill all but 100 of the state's gray wolves after the federal
government strips them of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter told The Associated Press that he wants hunters
to kill about 550 gray wolves. That would leave about 100 wolves, or 10
packs, according to a population estimate by state wildlife officials.

The 100 surviving wolves would be the minimum before the animals could
again be considered endangered.

"I'm prepared to bid for that first ticket to shoot a wolf myself,"
Otter said earlier Thursday during a rally of about 300 hunters.

Otter complained that wolves are rapidly killing elk and other animals
essential to Idaho's multimillion-dollar hunting industry. The hunters,
many wearing camouflage clothing and blaze-orange caps, applauded
wildly during his comments.

Suzanne Stone, a spokeswoman for the advocacy group Defenders of
Wildlife in Boise, said Otter's proposal would return wolves to the
verge of eradication.

"Essentially he has confirmed our worst fears for the state of Idaho:
That this would be a political rather than a biological management of
the wolf population," Stone said. "There's no economic or ecological
reason for maintaining such low numbers. It's simple persecution."

Wolves were reintroduced to the northern Rocky Mountains a decade ago
after being hunted to near-extinction. More than 1,200 now live in the
region.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to start removing federal
protections from gray wolves in Montana and Idaho in the next few
weeks.

A plan drafted by Idaho's wildlife agency calls for maintaining a
minimum of 15 wolf packs - higher than Otter's proposal of 10 packs.

Jeff Allen, a policy adviser for the state Office of Species
Conservation, said 15 wolf packs would allow "a cushion" between the
surviving wolf population and the minimum number that federal
biologists would allow before the animals are again considered
endangered.

Allen said Otter and state wildlife officials agree on wolf strategy
and will be able to reach a consensus on specific numbers.

"You don't want to be too close to 10 because all of a sudden when one
(wolf) is hit by a car or taken in defense of property, you're back on
the list," Allen said.

Now there's some real "progressive" thinkin'

Jimbo(san)

01-12-2007, 09:20 AM

Jimbo(san) wrote:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Ahh nice to see the old pre-historic fears and misconceptions about
wolves still run rampant. Butch isn't the smartest tool in the shed I see.

01-12-2007, 09:43 AM

"Jimbo(san)" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1168625655.807040.291720@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN, Associated Press Writer
> Thu Jan 11, 10:46 PM ET
>
>
>
> BOISE, Idaho - Idaho's governor said Thursday he will support public
> hunts to kill all but 100 of the state's gray wolves after the federal
> government strips them of protection under the Endangered Species Act.
>
>
> Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter told The Associated Press that he wants hunters
> to kill about 550 gray wolves. That would leave about 100 wolves, or 10
> packs, according to a population estimate by state wildlife officials.
>
> The 100 surviving wolves would be the minimum before the animals could
> again be considered endangered.
>
> "I'm prepared to bid for that first ticket to shoot a wolf myself,"
> Otter said earlier Thursday during a rally of about 300 hunters.
>
> Otter complained that wolves are rapidly killing elk and other animals
> essential to Idaho's multimillion-dollar hunting industry. The hunters,
> many wearing camouflage clothing and blaze-orange caps, applauded
> wildly during his comments.
>
> Suzanne Stone, a spokeswoman for the advocacy group Defenders of
> Wildlife in Boise, said Otter's proposal would return wolves to the
> verge of eradication.
>
> "Essentially he has confirmed our worst fears for the state of Idaho:
> That this would be a political rather than a biological management of
> the wolf population," Stone said. "There's no economic or ecological
> reason for maintaining such low numbers. It's simple persecution."
>
> Wolves were reintroduced to the northern Rocky Mountains a decade ago
> after being hunted to near-extinction. More than 1,200 now live in the
> region.
>
> The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to start removing federal
> protections from gray wolves in Montana and Idaho in the next few
> weeks.
>
> A plan drafted by Idaho's wildlife agency calls for maintaining a
> minimum of 15 wolf packs - higher than Otter's proposal of 10 packs.
>
> Jeff Allen, a policy adviser for the state Office of Species
> Conservation, said 15 wolf packs would allow "a cushion" between the
> surviving wolf population and the minimum number that federal
> biologists would allow before the animals are again considered
> endangered.
>
> Allen said Otter and state wildlife officials agree on wolf strategy
> and will be able to reach a consensus on specific numbers.
>
> "You don't want to be too close to 10 because all of a sudden when one
> (wolf) is hit by a car or taken in defense of property, you're back on
> the list," Allen said.
>
> Now there's some real "progressive" thinkin'
>
>
> Jimbo(san)

It amazes me how ignorant people can be, especially politicians. I'd like
to be first in line when they declare politicians free game.

I'm sure it's more about the cattle industry losing a few strays than the
effect on large game animals whose population is varying more due to yearly
climate changes than wolf attacks.

Gary

01-12-2007, 11:16 AM

GeeDubb wrote:
> It amazes me how ignorant people can be, especially politicians. I'd
> like to be first in line when they declare politicians free game.
>

Yeah, only I'm going to be using a fully automatic M4 and not a single
shot 30/30.

> I'm sure it's more about the cattle industry losing a few strays than
> the effect on large game animals whose population is varying more due to
> yearly climate changes than wolf attacks.
>

Thank you Al Gore. Come to Denver and I'll show you global f%cking
warming!

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot (Al Gore is wrong) o-o-o-o
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01-12-2007, 12:42 PM

Jimbo(san) wrote:
>
> Now there's some real "progressive" thinkin'
>
>
> Jimbo(san)

It still amazes me that in supposedly intelligent, civilized societies there
are still people who cheer at the thought of killing animals. Usually
either the over-paid with little else to do or inbred country folk with
images of the dark ages still haunting their red vision. I pity anyone who
is so low in their feelings of self worth that they find killing animals
makes them feel good.

But then i didn't intend to bite and i did - damn.

01-12-2007, 02:07 PM

"Ride-A-Lot" <mitchell@[NOSPAM]schnauzers.ws> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] ...
> GeeDubb wrote:
>> It amazes me how ignorant people can be, especially politicians. I'd
>> like to be first in line when they declare politicians free game.
>>
>
> Yeah, only I'm going to be using a fully automatic M4 and not a single
> shot 30/30.
>
>> I'm sure it's more about the cattle industry losing a few strays than the
>> effect on large game animals whose population is varying more due to
>> yearly climate changes than wolf attacks.
>>
>
> Thank you Al Gore. Come to Denver and I'll show you global f%cking
> warming!
>
I said nothing about global warming. It's a known fact that variations in
weather greatly affect herd sizes from year to year, drought being one
factor, harsh winters being another.

but since you brought it up.....GW has the effect of causing severe
localized weather according to some scientists, you can do the google
work.....

then there's the other scientists that insist GW is a figment of our
imagination

then there's me that thinks notta...........unless I get paid!

Gary

01-12-2007, 02:09 PM

"Coyoteboy" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Jimbo(san) wrote:
>>
>> Now there's some real "progressive" thinkin'
>>
>>
>> Jimbo(san)
>
> It still amazes me that in supposedly intelligent, civilized societies
> there
> are still people who cheer at the thought of killing animals. Usually
> either the over-paid with little else to do or inbred country folk with
> images of the dark ages still haunting their red vision. I pity anyone who
> is so low in their feelings of self worth that they find killing animals
> makes them feel good.
>
> But then i didn't intend to bite and i did - damn.
>

I don't think Jimbo was trolling, just trying to make sure the word got out
that Paladin better put his shootin' irons back on and go kick some
government butt.....then again, Paladin may feel just the opposite!

I think it's about the oil......

Gary

01-12-2007, 04:19 PM

> Ahh nice to see the old pre-historic fears and misconceptions about
> wolves still run rampant. Butch isn't the smartest tool in the shed I see.

Who knows? I'd say just about every guy in an orange hat would vote his
way. And wolves can't vote.

Thre's something wrong with the world when state laws can run so opposite to
natural laws.

01-12-2007, 04:31 PM

GeeDubb wrote:
>
> "Ride-A-Lot" <mitchell@[NOSPAM]schnauzers.ws> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] ...
>> GeeDubb wrote:
>>> It amazes me how ignorant people can be, especially politicians.
>>> I'd like to be first in line when they declare politicians free game.
>>>
>>
>> Yeah, only I'm going to be using a fully automatic M4 and not a single
>> shot 30/30.
>>
>>> I'm sure it's more about the cattle industry losing a few strays than
>>> the effect on large game animals whose population is varying more due
>>> to yearly climate changes than wolf attacks.
>>>
>>
>> Thank you Al Gore. Come to Denver and I'll show you global f%cking
>> warming!
>>
> I said nothing about global warming. It's a known fact that variations
> in weather greatly affect herd sizes from year to year, drought being
> one factor, harsh winters being another.

Remember too Mitch, that *really* cold on the Front Range this time of
year is -20F.

This should warm you up ;-)
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Shawn

01-12-2007, 04:46 PM

G Wood wrote:
>> Ahh nice to see the old pre-historic fears and misconceptions about
>> wolves still run rampant. Butch isn't the smartest tool in the shed I see.
>
> Who knows? I'd say just about every guy in an orange hat would vote his
> way. And wolves can't vote.
>
> Thre's something wrong with the world when state laws can run so opposite to
> natural laws.
>
>
I wear camo and an orange hat during the hunting season so don't
generalize just like not all mountain bikers aren't pot smoking red
legged frog killers not all hunters are mindless rednecks.I like to hunt
and yes to kill game to eat it or wear it,my choice.that doesn't mean
that I or most hunters would support the views of that moron governor.