http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/11/delisting_wolves_was_a_mistake.html
Delisting wolves
was a mistake
(OPINION)
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30shares
By George Wuerthner
The recent decision by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Commission to delist wolves from the state's
Endangered Species Act protection was based
on faulty science and political expediency. The
biggest problem is with the department's criteria
for delisting — more than four breeding pairs of
wolves for three years in a row— is that it fails to
ensure full restoration of the wolf across the state.
Many outside scientists, including myself, feel the
small population of 80 to perhaps as many as 100
wolves statewide is hardily sufficient to guarantee
a robust and speedy restoration of the species
A hundred or fewer wolves may preclude the
extinction of the species, but it does not restore
the ecological function of the wolf. And restoring
the ecological function of the species should be
the prime goal of any conservation effort. Precluding
extinction is a very low bar and does not serve the
people of Oregon, the wolf or our ecosystems.
Commission to delist wolves from the state's
Endangered Species Act protection was based
on faulty science and political expediency. The
biggest problem is with the department's criteria
for delisting — more than four breeding pairs of
wolves for three years in a row— is that it fails to
ensure full restoration of the wolf across the state.
Many outside scientists, including myself, feel the
small population of 80 to perhaps as many as 100
wolves statewide is hardily sufficient to guarantee
a robust and speedy restoration of the species
A hundred or fewer wolves may preclude the
extinction of the species, but it does not restore
the ecological function of the wolf. And restoring
the ecological function of the species should be
the prime goal of any conservation effort. Precluding
extinction is a very low bar and does not serve the
people of Oregon, the wolf or our ecosystems.
I did an analysis of the potential for wolf restoration
in Oregon back in the 1990s and concluded that the
state could easily support 1,500 to 2,000 wolves.
Others have reached similar conclusions. Restoring
wolves across the state so that they are functional
members of the wildlife community should be the
goal of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
in Oregon back in the 1990s and concluded that the
state could easily support 1,500 to 2,000 wolves.
Others have reached similar conclusions. Restoring
wolves across the state so that they are functional
members of the wildlife community should be the
goal of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
If, hypothetically, elk were the species under
consideration and were protected under the
state's Endangered Species Act, I can almost
guarantee you ODFW would want way more than
100 individuals before they would recommend
delisting. They would want to see elk restored
across the state.
Wolves are in a sense a "keystone" species that
influences ecosystem health. Having a token
population of wolves is not the same as having a
functioning ecosystem member. Wolves not only
eliminate weaker prey individuals but can shift
habitat
use; for instance they can reduce elk and deer
foraging
on aspen, willows and other browse species in
riparian
areas. Wolves can also affect the distribution and
numbers of other species. Where wolves are
present,
there are often fewer coyotes. Coyotes kill the
smaller
Sierra Nevada red fox that is just hanging on
in the
Cascades. Restoration of wolves could thus
assist the
recovery of the red fox.
consideration and were protected under the
state's Endangered Species Act, I can almost
guarantee you ODFW would want way more than
100 individuals before they would recommend
delisting. They would want to see elk restored
across the state.
Wolves are in a sense a "keystone" species that
influences ecosystem health. Having a token
population of wolves is not the same as having a
functioning ecosystem member. Wolves not only
eliminate weaker prey individuals but can shift
habitat
use; for instance they can reduce elk and deer
foraging
on aspen, willows and other browse species in
riparian
areas. Wolves can also affect the distribution and
numbers of other species. Where wolves are
present,
there are often fewer coyotes. Coyotes kill the
smaller
Sierra Nevada red fox that is just hanging on
in the
Cascades. Restoration of wolves could thus
assist the
recovery of the red fox.
The rush to delist wolves is driven by false perceptions
of wolf impacts on livestock and big game populations.
Out of 1.3 million cattle and 195,000 sheep in the state,
only 114 domestic livestock have been confirmed killed
by wolves since the first wolves appeared in the early
2000s. Comparisons between Montana and Oregon
are often made by ODFW. Using Montana, in 2014,
the state's 600 or so wolves killed 35 cattle and six
sheep out of a total of 2.5 million cattle and 220,000
sheep respectively, By comparison, non-wolf losses
accounted for 89,000 deaths. And though six sheep
were killed by wolves, some 7,800 sheep died from
other causes, like weather.
Why do so many Ranchers demonize Wolves?
Wolves are simply not a threat, or even barely a factor,
in the economic viability of the livestock industry.
of wolf impacts on livestock and big game populations.
Out of 1.3 million cattle and 195,000 sheep in the state,
only 114 domestic livestock have been confirmed killed
by wolves since the first wolves appeared in the early
2000s. Comparisons between Montana and Oregon
are often made by ODFW. Using Montana, in 2014,
the state's 600 or so wolves killed 35 cattle and six
sheep out of a total of 2.5 million cattle and 220,000
sheep respectively, By comparison, non-wolf losses
accounted for 89,000 deaths. And though six sheep
were killed by wolves, some 7,800 sheep died from
other causes, like weather.
Why do so many Ranchers demonize Wolves?
Wolves are simply not a threat, or even barely a factor,
in the economic viability of the livestock industry.
The idea that hunting will be negatively affected across
any significant portion of the state is also unlikely.
Between 2009 and 2014, all wildlife management
units (WMUs) of northeastern Oregon with established
wolf packs had increasing elk populations, and two of
the four (Imnaha and Snake River) were above the
established management objectives for elk since
wolves became established (ODFW data).
any significant portion of the state is also unlikely.
Between 2009 and 2014, all wildlife management
units (WMUs) of northeastern Oregon with established
wolf packs had increasing elk populations, and two of
the four (Imnaha and Snake River) were above the
established management objectives for elk since
wolves became established (ODFW data).
A similar situation exists in Montana, where elk
numbers grew from an estimated 89,000 animals
in 1992 (Montana Elk Plan) to 167,000 elk today
(Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks,
2015). If this is what you get with wolf predation,
I think most reasonable hunters would agree we
could use more wolves in Oregon!
numbers grew from an estimated 89,000 animals
in 1992 (Montana Elk Plan) to 167,000 elk today
(Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks,
2015). If this is what you get with wolf predation,
I think most reasonable hunters would agree we
could use more wolves in Oregon!
In the end, ODFW capitulated to mythology and
false fears of hunters and ranchers without
providing context and did not meet its wildlife
responsibilities under the public trust doctrine
to work diligently for full restoration of the
ecological function of the wolf.
-----------------------------------------------------------
George Wuerthner bio:
false fears of hunters and ranchers without
providing context and did not meet its wildlife
responsibilities under the public trust doctrine
to work diligently for full restoration of the
ecological function of the wolf.
-----------------------------------------------------------
George Wuerthner bio:
Ecological Projects Director
Foundation for Deep Ecology
.freelance writer and photographer
No name
River Ranger/biologist
BLM Tok Alaska
Backcountry Ranger
National Park Service
Education
U of Oregon
graduate work, Geography
University of California, Santa Cruz
Master's, Science Communication
graduate work, Range Science
U of Montana
Bachelor, Zoology/Wildlife Biology and Botany
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