What About the Wolves? Formerly Endangered, not Big Bad...

 

PHOTO CREDIT: 
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wildlife/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem/

Wolves are, in fact, at the top of food any chain throughout their many global habitats and subspecies. In historic times the many and varied cultural tales about BIG BAD WOLVES were cautionary tropes to keep little children alert (and to train shepherds to cry WOLF to get attention on a bored afternoon?). After marking EARTH DAY yesterday and in prior posts this week, it was particularly heartbreaking to see how aggressively various state legislatures are authorizing massive "kills" of their re-emerging wolf populations. 

IDAHO has passed a law that is being copied in many Republican-controlled state houses. All are tragic in their intent and mindless focus on agri-business-hunting lobbies rather than on the truth and value of the role of wolves within ecosystems. The numbers alone should get your attention in the IDAHO legislation:

"BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation that could lead to killing up to 90% of the wolves in Idaho continued its speedy trip through the Statehouse on Thursday.

The bill introduced just two days earlier cleared a House panel after already sailing through the Senate. It could be voted on in the House as early as Friday." Source in link to Idaho law above.

Note, that Friday mentioned is today, as I type this. This is coming to pass during EARTH WEEK, no less. Perhaps they prefer to ignore the facts about the impact of wolf restoration on open spaces, which benefits all levels of plant, water, and animal resources  within their range. Even if you've viewed the video  about Yellowstone National Park previously, do yourself a favor and view it again here.

I hope you'll also click and read  an earlier post about restoration of wolves, featuring  books written by environmental activist JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE and  illustrated by Wendell Minor. Jean died in 2012 and would have been one hundred years old in 2019. She dedicated her entire life to the celebration and preservation of nature, and her books continue that process. 

Many of her picture books were illustrated by Minor, a  longtime family friend and also a devoted naturalist.  I These  titles celebrate the slow, steady, but satisfying success of restoring American endangered species to their natural settings.

The imminent extinction of so many species had triggered the original EARTH DAY and environmental movement fifty-one years ago. Then, yesterday, Idahoadvanced the process of a massive reversal of that success, actions that will undo a half century of progress unless the rest of us take up the cause and resist in every possible way. In this case, the state legislation was made possible when wolves were removed from the endangered species list. Must we wait for legislation like this to generate their imminent extinction again to stop this destruction? If you live in IDAHO, you can speak out. Or in MONTANA. Or in Wisconsin. Or follow the progress of such efforts in your own states. 

Please.