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The Killing Fields, Brought To You By Cabela’s
The “sport” of shooting wolves in Idaho has hit a new low with the introduction of “predator derbies.” Participants pay a $50 entry free and compete
with other shooters by killing wolves and coyotes for points.
This system could be called a “points bounty,”
where a dead wolf is worth 3 points while a dead coyote will fetch you 2 points. The events are sponsored by two
of the largest retailers that specialize in outdoor gear, Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse.
The camera manufacturer Nikon reportedly withdrew their sponsorship of the event as criticism grew.
If this type of deadly round-up sounds
familiar, then you obviously know your
American West history. A similar campaign
was waged during the 19th century when
hunters were paid a monetary bounty for
killing wolves to the point of
near-eradication from the lower 48 states.
Almost 400,000 animals were killed in a mere
seven years. The bloody reign against wolves
continued until the last known wolf in the
Yellowstone area was shot in 1940. By the
1970s there were believed to be only a few
hundred wolves were left in the American West.
As their numbers dwindled to
near-extinction, the Environmental Protection Agency added the gray wolf to the Endangered Species List, along with the American Bald Eagle.
Efforts to reintroduce the gray wolf in Yellowstone Park has broad support among environmentalists and animal advocates, but hunting clubs like the Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife-Idaho have responded by doing everything in their power to end the program and kill the wolves. Amazingly, the aforementioned predator derby entry fees
pay the salaries of lawyers and lobbyists who
work to keep wolves in Greater Yellowstone off
of the endangered species list. Without the protection that comes with being on the endangered species list, wolves will once again be shot and trapped into extinction.
But why? Why does the presence of the wolf in its rightful, historical home range elicit such a vehement response? Hunters are not the only ones that see the wolf as a pest that needs to be eliminated. Cattle and sheep ranchers have an equal amount of disdain and hatred toward this majestic animal. Both groups see the wolf as
a direct threat. Hunters feel that they threaten wild game,
while ranchers feel that they threaten their
bottom line. The intricate relationship of
predators and prey is an ageless natural answer
to population control. The idea that removing wolves means
that there will be more wild game, like deer and
elk has been proven to be false time and again. Any short-term gain in the number of game available to kill is quickly off-set by the effects of game over-population, including disease and over-grazing. Wolves are a natural part of the ecosystem and play an important part in maintaining healthy game populations.
As long as the demand for beef and wool continues to grow, the more
that wolves will be demonized for killing the cattle and sheep that graze the land the wolves have called home for 40 million years! Our efforts to save the wild cousins of the dogs with whom we share our homes, include
numerous choices. We have to reconsider what we
eat and what our clothes are made of. The accumulative affect of eating meat and wearing wool does make a difference, to the cattle, to the sheep and to the wolves.
We must also use the power
of our voice against corporate sponsors like
Cabela’s and Sportman’s Warehouse when they
support the wholesale slaughter of a magnificent
animal like the wolf. Please take a few moments
to send a comment to these companies so that
they understand that their continued support of
these
predator derbies will harm their companies’
reputation and standing with outdoor
enthusiasts.
“When
we tug at a single thing in nature, we find
it attached to the rest of the world”
– John Muir
Suggested Talking
Points;
Your sponsorship of
the “predator derbies” held in Idaho by
the Sportsmen for Wildlife shows a
shocking disregard for the rights of
wolves to live in their natural range
and for the efforts of outdoor
enthusiasts who want to see the return
of this majestic animal.
It has been proven
over and over that wolves improve the
health of wild game populations by
removing the sick and weak and this
helps to keep disease in check. This
cannot be accomplished by human
management.
By supporting predator
derbies your company is supporting the
eradication of the wolf and a return to
the days when this magnificent
animal was wrongly demonized.
I urge you to withdraw your sponsorship
from these events and instead support efforts to
restore the wolf to the wilds of Idaho and
beyond.
Send your
comments
here and
we'll forward them!
Thank you for your voice!
Make a difference today.
(don't forget
to ask your employer
to match your donation)
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