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Wolf Removal
Madison Waechter
CAP 9
Green Group
5/3/14


























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The Department of the Interior must halt the reintroduction of wolves into
National Parks and farm land so as to stop the destruction of livestock, increase the
productivity of land and time use by ranchers, decrease government control of the West,
and eliminate the competition for hunters. Wolves had peacefully been a large component
of the North American ecosystem in the years preceding modern civilization, at a time
prior to the first European settlers. The modernization of the U.S. has led to a constant
battle between driving off and eradicating wolves to reintroducing them to some parts of
the country. In present times, it is necessary to stop reintroduction of wolves and keep the
majority of them out of American borders and National Parks, such as Yellowstone.
It is not a lie to say that wolves have been greatly mistreated in the past, in a time
before there were serious environmentalists and biologists to fully understand the
ecosystem and interconnectedness (National Parks Service) of wolves. Although
Native Americans believed in mans brotherhood with the wolf (Mission: Wolf), early
European settlers attacked wolves using dangerous pits, traps, and poisonous liquids to
kill off wolves in their natural habitat (Wolf Web). As the first European Americans
moved west into the Great Plains, the wolves main food source, buffalo, was killed off,
as well as the wolves themselves (Wolf Web). Over a century ago, the U.S. government
began to execute wolves, as they were known as pests that posed a threat (National
Parks Service). In 1906, after a meeting between President Roosevelt and biologist
Vernon Bailey, the Bureau of Biological Survey encouraged that the government should
begin making plans for the destruction of wolves (PBS). Almost all wolves were
exterminated by the middle of the 1900s, and it was not until Congress gave the gray
wolves protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1973 that the wolf population
started to slowly increase.
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In the mid 1990s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Canadian
biologists, captured and released wolves from Canada into Idaho and Yellowstone
National Park. They were guarded in penned areas with little human contact; the
biologists found this practice to be a success. During the early stages of the wolves
reintroduction, scientists said that wolf recovery would lead to more biodiversity in the
Yellowstone ecosystem (National Parks Service), but others are skeptical of this
statement, even today, as the results from the preliminary reintroductions show. Today,
there are 8,000 to 11,000 gray wolves in Alaska, and 5,500 in the rest of the U.S.
(International Wolf Center). Their current population trend is increasing, and their legal
status is a mixture of Federal protection, with exceptions including state management
(International Wolf Center). The wolves are currently protected under the Endangered
Species Act; however, there is strong opposition to this Act. There have already been a
variety of lawsuits to stop restoration, some of which had almost been approved, but
always overridden by environmentalist groups. The legal status of wolves has
complications; they may be managed by the state, tribal, or federal agencies, while
national parks and refugees are guided by existing authorization and legislation (National
Parks Service).
Although environmentalists are glad to see the once nearly extinct gray wolf back
to a large number, many see that their reintroduction into the United States has caused
problems. The first major issue wolves cause is their savage destruction of livestock, the
main victims being cattle and sheep. In 2012, wolves killed 337 sheep in Idaho, more
than double than the year before, only 147, and more cattle were killed in 2012 than 2011
in Idaho (The Wildlife News). James Whittaker lost nine cows over the course of three
years to wolves on his Idaho farm, but that was nothing compared to the 45 calves he lost
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in one summer due to the wolves, raising his annual loss rate to three percent (Beef
Magazine). Farmers may get remunerated from the government, or from institutions such
as the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODFW), for their losses if they can show
evidence of a wolf attack to a wildlife officer, but often, Whittaker says, the wolf has not
left any evidence of the attack or part of the carcass, making the loss even harder for the
farmer. Farmers with large ranches often find it extremely difficult to survey their land
for wolves, and even when they are scared off, another wolf will always come back.
From the attacks of the wolves, cattle get nervous when grazing, and are very unsettled.
Because of this, the farmers have found that they cannot use their entire range allotments,
making it hard to use the full advantage of their land. They also spend hours each day on
the lookout for wolves, wasting valuable time, and money, especially when a wolf kills
one of their cattle. Farmers also have to put money aside to invest in traps, and they often
feel the need to take their gun with them everywhere they go, in order to protect the cattle
(Beef Magazine).
The government control of the West has greatly increased due to the
reintroduction of wolves. There are specific zones in each state; there are delisted zones
where it is okay to kill wolves, and zones where it is forbidden. In delisted zones, for
example, in a specific zone in Utah, wolves are not endangered, but everywhere else in
Utah, wolves are considered an endangered species, and are under federal control (Utah
Wildlife). In the delisted areas, although they are not endangered, wolves are still only to
be killed if they are harassing or killing livestock, but the wolves need to be killed within
72 hours after a livestock death (Utah Wildlife). The reintroduction of the wolf has had a
negative impact on hunters as they create competition for harvestable game. When wild
game herds migrate to hunting areas, wolves can reduce the harvestable game up to 50%
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(Abundant Wildlife Society). The prey is not able to withstand so many predators, and
hunting in these areas may even come to a complete stop. A decrease of hunting would
affect the economy of the state.
In order to stop these growing issues, the Department of the Interior must halt the
reintroduction of wolves. For many, the wolves are no longer considered endangered, and
their species is killing livestock, negatively affecting farmers, increasing government
control of the West, and escalating competition among hunters. There are currently two
rules for wolves in Idaho, 10-J rule, for areas south of I-90, and 4-D, for areas north of I-
90. The 10-J rule gives flexibility in removing wolves and relocating them to different
area, and the 4-D rule fully protects wolves (Beef Magazine). According to the results of
a lawsuit to halt wolf-population management, these rules may change again, and it is
necessary that they do, and not just in Idaho (Beef Magazine).
In 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that either the entire
region of wolf population must be listed as endangered, or the wolf should be removed
from the endangered list completely in all states. He stated that the designation couldnt
be different for every state (Beef Magazine). The idea of having wolves protected in only
some areas does not make sense; there is no need for protection anymore, and they are
causing harm in a variety of areas. The Department of the Interior should immediately
stop relocating wolves into the U.S. as to stop any future problems among livestock,
farmers, hunters, or government control. If they were to do this, the wolves would
reproduce on their own, and their numbers would most likely not decrease. If the
Department of the Interior does not want to completely stop the reintroduction of wolves,
then it is necessary to instate laws that would allow the killing of wolves when one has
injured or killed a farmers livestock, in all areas, instead of just certain zones.
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Without these measures, wolves would continue to kill livestock, abuse farmers,
increase hunting competition, and increase government control. If wolves continue to be
reintroduced, it will not come cheap. It is an on-going expense for federal and state
governments to help relocate wolves; estimated between $200,000 to $1 million per wolf
to relocate (Abundant Wildlife Society). As for benefits once wolves are relocated, there
are few. To see a wolf in the wild is extremely rare in national parks. Relocating more
wolves would not increase tourism directly correlated to wolves. With respect to viewing
animals, tourists in national parks would see fewer animals, because wolves are pure
hunters, and eat prey such as elk (Abundant Wildlife Society). Without the halt of
reintroduction, many more problems would arise.
The Department of the Interior must stop the reintroduction of wolves into the
U.S. Wolves are harmful to the livelihood of livestock, they cause harm to farmers and
their land, they increase government controlling and zoning, and they are competition for
hunters.










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Annotated Bibliography
Cole, Ken. "Idaho Year-End Wolf Population Declines 11% to 683. Livestock Losses
Increase." The Wildlife News. Wildlife News, 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
http://www.thewildlifenews.com
The source was used to provide insight on the history of Yellowstone wolf restoration
and the statistics of wolf livestock kills.
"Frequently Asked Questions about Wolves in Oregon." Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife. ODFW, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 3 May 2014. http://www.dfw.state.or.us
This website was helpful in answering my questions as to who pays farmers for cattle lost
in a wolf attack.
Hoyt, Bill, and Rod Childers. "Wolves Vs. Cattle: Ranchers' Losses to Predation Draw
Little Notice." Oregon Live. Oregon Live, 7 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
http://www.oregonlive.com
I used this website to gain an understanding on the statistics of how much ranchers have
lost because of wolves, and how they are not getting the attention needed.
"Interior Announces Next Steps in Protection, Recovery, and Scientific Management of
Wolves." U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. Department of the Interior, 4 May
2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.doi.gov
This website helped me gain knowledge about how the government controls wolf
restoration in the U.S.
International Wolf Center. International Wolf Center, 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
http://www.wolf.org
This source provided information about why people wanted to take wolfs off the
endangered species list.
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"In the Valley of the Wolves Reintroduction of the Wolves." PBS. PBS, 2013. Web. 24
Feb. 2014. http://www.pbs.org
This source was used to gain information on the Bureau of Biological Survey and how it
impacted the destruction of wolves in the early 1900s.
Mader, T. R. "Fact Sheet- Wolf Reintroduction in the United States." Abundant Wildlife
Society of North America. Abundant Wildlife Society of North America, 19 Aug.
2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.aws.vcn.com
This source provided information as to how wolves impact harvestable game and
competition to hunters.
Melissa, Barton. "Restoration or Destruction: The Controversy over Wolf
Reintroduction." Journal of Young Investigators. Journal of Young Investigators,
Sept. 2005. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. http://www.jyi.org
By reading this article, I got views about wolf restoration that were not bias toward either
side.
Smith, Brian. "Conflicts Rise Between Idaho Ranchers, Gray Wolves." Magic Valley.
Twin Falls Times-News, 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://magicvalley.com
This cite gave me information on the conflict of ranchers and wolves.
Thomas, Heather Smith. "Western Ranchers Fight The Curse Of Introduced Wolves."
Beef Magazine. Penton, 10 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
http://beefmagazine.com
This source provided information on, and stories from specific people who have been
impacted by the restoration of the wolf.

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White, Annie. "A History of Wild Wolves in the United States." Mission: Wolf. Mission:
Wolf, 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.missionwolf.org
With this cite, I was able to interpret how wolves have been treated throughout U.S.
history.
"Wolf conflicts: What a livestock owner should know." Utah Wildlife. State of Utah,
2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. http://wildlife.utah.gov
This source provided information on the delisted and endangered zones for the wolf, as
well as the government control of the west.
"Wolf Facts." Wolf Web. Wolf Web, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.wolfweb.com
This source was used to gain knowledge about the early European removal of wolves and
what caused the wolfs extinction in the US in the mid 1900s.
"Wolf Restoration." National Parks Service. National Parks Service, 2014. Web. 24 Feb.
2014. http://www.nps.gov
This source was used to learn about the basic history of wolf restoration into Yellowstone
National Park and how the restoration was proposed, the results, and the legal status of
the wolves.
"The Wolf That Changed America." PBS. Educational Broadcasting, 2014. Web. 29 Mar.
2014. http://www.pbs.org
This cite was helpful in telling me more of the history of wolves.





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Works Cited
Cole, Ken. "Idaho Year-End Wolf Population Declines 11% to 683. Livestock Losses
Increase." The Wildlife News. Wildlife News, 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
http://www.thewildlifenews.com
"Frequently Asked Questions about Wolves in Oregon." Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife. ODFW, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 3 May 2014. http://www.dfw.state.or.us
International Wolf Center. International Wolf Center, 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
http://www.wolf.org
"In the Valley of the Wolves Reintroduction of the Wolves." PBS. PBS, 2013. Web. 24
Feb. 2014. http://www.pbs.org
Mader, T. R. "Fact Sheet- Wolf Reintroduction in the United States." Abundant Wildlife
Society of North America. Abundant Wildlife Society of North America, 19 Aug.
2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.aws.vcn.com
Thomas, Heather Smith. "Western Ranchers Fight The Curse Of Introduced Wolves."
Beef Magazine. Penton, 10 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
http://beefmagazine.com
White, Annie. "A History of Wild Wolves in the United States." Mission: Wolf. Mission:
Wolf, 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.missionwolf.org
"Wolf conflicts: What a livestock owner should know." Utah Wildlife. State of Utah,
2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. http://wildlife.utah.gov
"Wolf Facts." Wolf Web. Wolf Web, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. http://www.wolfweb.com
"Wolf Restoration." National Parks Service. National Parks Service, 2014. Web. 24 Feb.
2014. http://www.nps.gov