After my comments to a question by Cowboy State Daily after the Travel Recreation Wildlife Committee meeting in Cody regarding the recent wolf issue in Western Wyoming, I have received barrage of hateful and nasty phone calls and emails from all across this country.
As a result, I thought I should try to clarify a few things and put this issue into perspective.
I have been involved in the wolf issue from the beginning as a Wyoming Outfitter. I attended most of the original public meetings held in Wyoming and Montana in the 1990’s.
We were actually told during these meetings prior to the introduction that “the wolves would not leave Yellowstone National Park.” Most folks do not remember how this all came about, nor do they understand the impact on Wyoming and adjoining States.
Not many have seen what is left of animals (wildlife, lambs, calves) attacked by wolves – half eaten and left to die or hamstrung and unable to walk again. They are a predator.
The Wyoming Livestock industry is experiencing this everyday where their historic grazing range is found in the State and where they must deal with this apex predator.
This species of wolf was introduced by the Clinton Administration before even trying to recover the native timber wolf. Also, the Canadian wolf was introduced at least a year before the release was scheduled.
The timber wolf population was low but there were some still found in the backcountry. I know that for a fact. The native timber wolf is now extinct because of this introduction.
The Canadian wolf is much larger than the native wolf and as a result, the timber wolf has been inbred or killed. It is illegal to introduce a foreign species into an ecosystem like what was done to the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The population of Shiras moose has all but been eliminated in Yellowstone Park and the adjoining Thorofare area because of this large and efficient predator not to mention the displacement of many elk populations.
I want to be clear, I in no way condone what was done to that wolf in western Wyoming; however, I don’t think we should crucify the perpetrator of this act. He and his family have received death threats as well for their animals.
Hunters do not approve of any of this, and it was not predator control as referenced by the Game and Fish Department. This issue will be addressed in the Legislature with Wyoming values in mind – what is right for Wyoming.
It is important to maintain what Wyoming has already accomplished on managing the wolves.
Representative John R. Winter
Wyoming House District 28
