Rethinking Wolves

Rethinking Wolves

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
A federal lawsuit recently ruled in favor of the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services and against a group of environmentalists. The suit was intended to stop this federal agency from killing wolves. This is a long and controversial subject that very much has separated parties concerned about how wolves predate on livestock and big game, such as elk, and environmentalists who believe that wolves should be left alone to behave in whatever way nature takes them. I picked up the phone and called Todd Grimm, who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services. I wanted to address the hunter's point of view. (Sparks) "You hear from a lot of hunters that elk numbers are down. We hear that a lot from people who know Yellowstone. And of course they are pointing the finger at wolf predation. (Grimm) I rely on fish and game to tell me where elk numbers are down and where they are up. There are certain areas where they are up and that can be tied to wolves too. The wolves are driving elk into agricultural fields and causing more problems because the elk are afraid to go up in the mountains because they know what is waiting for them."
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