Color me confused...

[nobleplatypus]

So now that the wolf population in Minnesota has recovered sufficiently to warrant them losing federal protection, it's time to start shooting them again, right?

I find this genuinely baffling. If the wolf population/distribution has been stable for the past ten years (controlling itself nicely, it seems), why do we need a wolf season? Or are we playing a new game in which we push a species to the point of needing federal protection, let it recover, and then drive it to the brink again, repeat ad nauseum? SOUNDS FUN.

/sarcasm


[appropriate icon is appropriate]

Comments

[artekka.livejournal.com]

"The wolf population has been fully recovered in Minnesota for many years," said Dan Stark, the DNR's large carnivore specialist. "Our hunting and trapping season approach will be designed to keep it that way. No one wants to see this species needing federal protection again."

...?

how does that even make sense? "we don't want to reduce the population. so to keep from reducing the population, we're gonna let people kill 'em." O_o

[nobleplatypus]

"Because if we don't shoot them, the population will skyrocket in much the same way that it totally hasn't over the past ten years!"

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

because the current generation of conservative politicians are a bunch of wholly-owned effwads, and the current generation of liberal politicians are inept effwads. GRRRrrrRRRRrrrr

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

What is most egregiously annoying? is that the cash bounties for replacing wolf-killed cattle have gone largely unclaimed.
Yeah.
They're NOT attacking your goddamned sacred cows!BUT WE WANNA KILL SOMEFIN!

[nobleplatypus]

My parents raise many small, tasty animals, and while we don't eat them, other things have. A year doesn't go by without us losing a few birds to predation. But when that happens, we don't throw a shitfit and try to kill the predator responsible (as if another wouldn't take its place, anyway); we check the fence.

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

Yah.
Grumble.
BUT WE WANNA LET OUR COWS WANDER ON FEDERAL LAND THAT WE DON'T HAFTA PAY FOR! FENCES BAD!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Livestock protection.

So, basically - yes, to answer you.

[nobleplatypus]

Speaking as someone who has lost livestock to predation (less than a foot from my face, no less)... shit happens. And if you don't want it to happen again, you don't shoot the predator--you build a better fence.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I'm just citing the ostensible reason. But similar things happen with deer - they're hunted or left alone depending on density. Something about balancing nature out, I think.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Don't you understand??? The only reason why they wanted to raise the level of the wolf population was so they could have an excuse to start shooting them again!!!

It's the Homo Sapiens way... Destroy, get a guilt trip, destroy, and so on. Ad nauseam...

Don't worry - the badgers'll be getting it over here soon!

[nobleplatypus]

I will never not be disgusted by trophy hunting. Get back to me when you're killing the wolves with your bare hands; then I might consider being impressed.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I had a debate with an 'unting/shooting/fishing type once: when he tried telling me how rewarding it was to outwit an animal in its natural habitat, I pointed out that it shouldn't be that difficult. I mean, we're the planet's ultimate superpredator: how hard can it be to outthink something with a brain the size of a walnut or an apple? And we've got the benefit of technology on our side.

Arm the wolves etc. with Ouzi nine millimetres, then let's see how things pan out....