Wolf debate between Elk Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife turns contentious
Mike Leahy and Kirk Robinson of Bozeman-based Defenders of Wildlife (DOW) and David Allen, president of Missoula-based Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), argued the impacts of the gray wolf on elk in a pair of open letters sent last week.
Leahy and Robinson accused Allen and the RMEF of distributing “multiple erroneous and misleading information” to the news media regarding DOW’s position on wolves and elk. He said that “doing so has only served to polarize this important conservation issue.”
Allen reply in a letter dated April 8, 2010 “that your organization and others are contributing greatly to perhaps one of the worst wildlife management disasters since the destruction of bison herds in the 19th century.”
At issue was DOW’s reference to RMEF data it used to illustrate a region-wide proliferation of elk populations despite the presence of wolves. Leahy and Robinson argued that the presence of wolves has had varying impact on specific elk herds with respect to “numerous environmental factors.”
Leahy and Robinson said that “basic wildlife biology … teaches us that predators and prey coexist over the long term and across the landscape and have been doing so for centuries,” adding that DOW “fully support wolf delisting and state management so long as the terms ensure a healthy and sustainable regional wolf population over the long term.”
Allen accused DOW of “cherry picking” data to support claims and further their agenda that elk are thriving in areas populated by wolves. He said that elk are being exploited at a high rate by wolves and that elk numbers have suffered since “the introduction of the Canadian gray wolf into Yellowstone.”
Among others sources, Allen cited information on the Gallatin Canyon elk herd assembled by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks that show elk numbers in the canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky dropped from 1,048 to 338 in 2008.
Allen also took issue with the desired goal for wolf recovery, 30 breeding pairs and 300 total wolves when the predators were released into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. FWP estimates wolf numbers in the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Area to be 1,700.
“This is the most disingenuous and deceiving issue relative to the entire Canadian gray wolf introduction and your groups and others perpetuate this every chance you get,” Allen said. “We call it ‘keep moving the goal line’ politics.”
Allen went on to say that DOW has reaped considerable financial gains through donations in its push to keep gray wolves on the Endangered Species List. He said elk herds cannot be maintained as wolf numbers continue to expand and that DOW and other animal right groups aim to marginalize hunting until there is none.
“What is happening now is not sound management, it is simply and assault,” Allen said. “The American sportsmen deserve better respect for all they have contributed to wildlife while groups like yours play games with the system.”
Leahy and Robinson insist that the position of DOW “is not one of opposition to sustainable hunting practices or to the important role that hunting plays in conservation” and said they hope to work with RMEF in the future while accusing RMEF of attempting to benefit from increasing conflict over wolves.
“I invite you to come to my office and let’s resolve this issue for the sake of those responsible hunters and non-hunters you reference,” Allen replied. “Enough of the legal maneuvering and posturing, let’s resolve this now.”
Read Mike Leahy and Kirk Robinson’s letter from Defenders of Wildlife letter to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Read David Allen’s letter from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation letter To Defenders of Wildlife.
Wolf debate between RMEF and Defenders of Wildlife gets nasty
Mike Leahy and Kirk Robinson of Bozeman-based Defenders of Wildlife (DOW) and David Allen, president of Missoula-based Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), debated the impacts of the gray wolf on elk in a pair of open letters sent last week.
Leahy and Robinson accused Allen and the RMEF of distributing “multiple erroneous and misleading information” to the news media regarding DOW’s position on wolves and elk. He said that “doing so has only served to polarize this important conservation issue.”
Allen reply in a letter dated April 8, 2010 “that your organization and others are contributing greatly to perhaps one of the worst wildlife management disasters since the destruction of bison herds in the 19th century.”
At issue was DOW’s reference to RMEF data it used to illustrate a region-wide proliferation of elk populations despite the presence of wolves. Leahy and Robinson argued that the presence of wolves has had varying impact on specific elk herds with respect to “numerous environmental factors.”
Leahy and Robinson said that “basic wildlife biology … teaches us that predators and prey coexist over the long term and across the landscape and have been doing so for centuries,” adding that DOW “fully support wolf delisting and state management so long as the terms ensure a healthy and sustainable regional wolf population over the long term.”
Allen accused DOW of “cherry picking” data to support claims and further their agenda that elk are thriving in areas populated by wolves. He said that elk are being exploited at a high rate by wolves and that elk numbers have suffered since “the introduction of the Canadian gray wolf into Yellowstone.”
Among others sources, Allen cited information on the Gallatin Canyon elk herd assembled by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks that show elk numbers in the canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky dropped from 1,048 to 338 in 2008.
Allen also took issue with the desired goal for wolf recovery, 30 breeding pairs and 300 total wolves when the predators were released into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. FWP estimates wolf numbers in the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Area to be 1,700.
“This is the most disingenuous and deceiving issue relative to the entire Canadian gray wolf introduction and your groups and others perpetuate this every chance you get,” Allen said. “We call it ‘keep moving the goal line’ politics.”
Allen went on to say that DOW has reaped considerable financial gains through donations in its push to keep gray wolves on the Endangered Species List. He said elk herds cannot be maintained as wolf numbers continue to expand and that DOW and other animal right groups aim to marginalize hunting until there is none.
“What is happening now is not sound management, it is simply and assault,” Allen said. “The American sportsmen deserve better respect for all they have contributed to wildlife while groups like yours play games with the system.”
Leahy and Robinson insist that the position of DOW “is not one of opposition to sustainable hunting practices or to the important role that hunting plays in conservation” and said they hope to work with RMEF in the future while accusing RMEF of attempting to benefit from increasing conflict over wolves.
“I invite you to come to my office and let’s resolve this issue for the sake of those responsible hunters and non-hunters you reference,” Allen replied. “Enough of the legal maneuvering and posturing, let’s resolve this now.”
Related posts:
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation calls out motives of wolf groups
- Pass it on: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation video on the importance of conservation
- Hunters, outfitters and conservationists to gather at Wolf Impact Rally in Jackson
- Table Mountain wolf pack spotted along Interstate 15 just 12 miles outside Butte
- Montana PBS airs ‘NOW’ program on wolf controversy in the Northern Rockies
About The Author
Loading ...
Comments