Tough Times for Wolves

As wolf advocates, we are haunted by the photo of a helpless wolf with duct tape wrapped around her mouth; most advocates couldn’t watch the video.  The hero in the case is the bar patron who reported the incident. And, now because of this outraged person, the world knows wolves and other predators can legally be chased down, run over and tortured in Wyoming and elsewhere. The bar room patron had the courage to speak up and be her voice.

In every state where wolves exist, whether federally protected or not, the law mean nothing to those who practice “Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up”.  Wolves have been shot and poisoned and prosecutions are rare. Judges and prosecutors are elected officials and the accused is entitled to be judged by a jury of peers. In the Rocky Mountain States, wolves are hunted and trapped relentlessly. Even Yellowstone wolves are not safe. They can be baited out of the Park to be gunned down – for trophy.

Wolves are sometimes caught in legal coyote traps and if “lucky” released alive with a painful foot injury and others with permanent injuries. Wolves are blamed for just about everything from poor deer hunting seasons, lower elk and moose numbers and even low property values.

PHOTO CREDIT: STEPHANIE PERRY