Wolves and Bears and Lions, Oh My!

Stephen Capra, Bold Visions Conservation

"We stood by and allowed what happened to the Great Plains a century ago, the destruction of one of the ecological wonders of the world. In modern America, we need to see this with clear eyes, and soberly, so that we understand well that the flyover country of our own time derives much of its forgettability from being a slate wiped almost clean of its original figures."

― Dan Flores, American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains

There is a brick wall of stupidity that lands at the offices of the governors of Idaho and Montana. They and those that control their respected Republican-controlled legislatures seem to hate any animal that is beautiful, smart, and vital to the health of the lands and waters of these two states. That is unless they are deer or elk.

In Idaho, Governor Brad Little is suing the government to get grizzlies delisted so they can be killed. In Montana, the gutting of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks at the direction of the Governor continues, with key personnel running from the agency as they see their life's work undermined by a fool.

Without even consulting with the average sportsman or conservationist, they now have their sights on killing grizzlies and mountain lions following their slaughter of wolves. Bison are being shot at the entrance to Yellowstone, and we again see a river of blood that cascades across the mountains and valleys of the West that less than 200 years ago destroyed native species and people.

Ignorance is hard to stop. Within the ranching community, it is time that maturity and coexistence become the mantra of those that seek to control our public lands rather than share them.

There is a clear path; we must make clear that ranching, like any other business, understands the risk, and part of getting a lease makes clear they can kill no predators-period. These are federal lands, not cow pastures, and less than ½ of 1 percent of cattle die from predation.

Second, we must make Game and Fish agencies enter the 21st century. The Governor should not pick who is on the commission, and no one should ever be allowed to profit from such an appointment. It should be an independent agency that has its members picked based on science, their education, and understanding of wildlife. It should not be to please trophy hunting interests, trappers, or ranching interests. Its focus must be on the long-term sustainability of wildlife.

It is also time our elected officials and wildlife agencies stop and take seriously the fact that they laugh off and try to deny; that wildlife has feelings; they can and do feel pain and suffer the loss of a mate and packmate.

My good friend Norm Bishop, a wolf extraordinaire, who spent many years in Yellowstone, shared this with me. It sums this up with observation, science, and heart.

Dr. Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, interviewed wolf biologist John Vucetich about his book for Psychology Today and comments: John's wide-ranging book goes beyond the lives of the wolves, and he is right on the mark in his unyielding claim that wolves are excellent for forcing us to think about how "compassion-soaked reasoning…may be essential, for favoring fair coexistence with biodiversity."

Vucetich's response included this: "The most important lesson that I've ever learned is difficult to tell in the August pages of scientific journals. But I am free to tell it here in his book Restoring the Balance. It's a lesson that I've known for some time now. Very simply: these animals-the wolves of Isle Royale-they have lives, individual lives like you and I. They know what happened yesterday, they have plans for what comes next, and they have interests. To see that unfold in all its particulars really changes a person's view of nature, all nature. Because if wolves have lives, then it is only a small step to realize that squirrels and robins have lives. All living things creatures we share the planet with—they all have lives. They are not the resources for us to conserve, so much as they are the brothers and sisters with whom to share."

We can move forward, but we must defeat ignorance, greed, and ego. We must do so with compassion but without hesitation, for wildlife needs us now like never before. We must fight the powers that be who see wildlife as a trophy or as a crop in need of harvesting. They should look in the mirror and ask what gave me the power to be God over other species? If religion truly guides them, hopefully they can evolve to show love, respect, and compassion. But that will require an intervention, one we must force. We need not be enemies but work together while understanding the mistakes of the past, to do what is suitable for the species that remain, while ensuring generations to come are as awed as we have been by the presence of wolves, grizzlies, beaver, and fox, all the species, that make life on earth so extraordinary.

Keeping the Howl Alive

Stephen Capra, Bold Visions Conservation

As we move into summer, the wolves and their young are exploring and traveling across the public lands that allow them to thrive. It is a time of joy and even play. Yet outside the boundaries of Yellowstone, the steps they take are far from protected.

Many people ask, what does it take to stop this madness? The answers remain complex but obvious. We need people in positions of authority, like Interior Secretary Haaland, to stop playing politics with wolves. She has had more than enough time to come to the only logical decision she could make-Wolves in the Northern Rockies must be re-listed.

Martha Williams, Director of US Fish and Wildlife, should recuse herself from any discussion on wolves or grizzly bears based on her past support for killing both species while running Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The agency has an obligation to not allow grizzly hunting, and they should be questioning the science used to count wolves-the IPom, which has been shown to not be effective in counting wolves, which I will explain in detail in future articles.

What continues to be lacking when we deal with wildlife agencies is the constant push to allow sportsmen to kill; what is missing is the feelings of these intelligent and vibrant species. What I mean by that is can anyone look into the face of an animal and come away with the notion that they do not display several distinct feelings or emotions such as interest, joy, surprise, anger, grief, or even shyness, for example? They make statements like "Wolves can put up with a 40 percent harvest because they reproduce quickly-Really? What does a pack feel when they lose a member? And it is definitely time to review the science of what actually does happen to the pack when they lose a member, especially an alpha male. What happens when they see a mate suffering in a trap? Is it fair or sporty to use calling devices or place bait at the edge of Yellowstone? Why are so-called sportsmen not being called out for their sick actions?

The reasoning is simple: agencies cover for unethical hunters and trappers tracks and allow the slaughter to continue. At the federal level, it is a disgrace that Democrats allow such brutality to wildlife. Why emulate that which Republican lawmakers have perfected?

Having just spent more than two months lobbying at the state legislature, it is obvious that lawmakers see wildlife much like a corn crop; thus, terms like harvesting are used when in reality, these are living, breathing animals that feel pain and have emotion. Something lawmakers have ridiculed me for even voicing.

We also must push people used to an old-school mentality and understand that wildlife has feelings. Trappers tell me that wildlife cannot feel pain. For many, that is accepted. When I asked one of them if he ever stepped on his dog's foot, he said yes. I asked whether they yelped, but he had no response other than to say, "Dogs are not wildlife."

We must force wildlife agencies and those that hunt and profit from wildlife to accept that some species should never be hunted; wolves and grizzlies come to mind. They are self-regulating and do not need the interference that man forces in their lives. Only then can we stop the destruction elected officials and agencies allow while ignoring the reality that we are now in the 21st century: a time where we must fight for and protect, not execute them, our most valuable and beautiful species.

To win, we must think outside the box; I know we will continue to think with a view of how we change this in our lifetime. Doing all of the above could take generations. But we must continue to make our voices heard and fight like hell.

No Hunting of Grizzlies...Period

Stephen Capra, Bold Visions Conservation

Following another legislative session where Republican lawmakers saw fit to impose their will on wildlife management, we saw the passage of SB-295. Like so many other Republican efforts to privatize wildlife and destroy predator species, the bill is another heavy on rhetoric and light on science.

Grizzly bears have not recovered in Montana. Lawmakers want you to believe they are, but facts do not match rancher and outfitter-infused talking points. What has been lost in this conversation is the fact that grizzly bears should never be hunted, period. At what point is Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks willing to enter the 21st century? At what point is our Governor, who lives to kill wildlife, willing to accept the reality that certain species are so vital, so rare, that Montana has a responsibility never to allow them to be hunted? Such is the case with grizzly bears.

Grizzlies reproduce far too slowly to allow any hunting. Like wolves, allowing our state to manage a grizzly season will result in the wholesale slaughter of this iconic species. The drive to kill wild predator species must be extinguished in our state. Predators are crucial to the health of all species.

The state has proven it cannot manage wolves; they cannot understand that wildlife has feelings, that they feel pain and suffer; rather they continue to cling to an 1880s approach to wildlife management. It is a disgrace and makes our state resemble a backwoods hollow rather than the modern state it has become, where wolf viewing brings more than $80 million to the state annually. Saying no to the killing of grizzlies is not a radical position. What remains radical in the 21st century is allowing species to be trapped, to be killed for prizes, and to allow faux science that allows such slaughters to continue.

Trappers want a trapping season on grizzlies. What world are we living in that would allow such sadism? No, we have reached a tipping point. Martha Williams, who lacks the educational credentials to run US Fish and Wildlife Service, is once again slow walking a response to the grizzly situation; in the past, she was all for a hunting season. She must hear loud and clear: We do not want any hunting season on grizzlies!

We must put down a marker; if wildlife in our state is to have a future, we cannot continue to allow the destruction of such beautiful creatures. We cannot allow outside interests like the Safari Club, NRA, Don Peay, and the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to dictate wildlife management in Montana. Their goal is simple –trophy elk and deer in a landscape devoid of predators, creating a sterile landscape prone to disease.

I have hiked and camped in grizzly country for years. Never have I carried a gun. I have encountered bears within yards and awoke one night with a grizzly sitting on the edge of my tent in Alaska.

Never did the concept of killing a bear cross my mind. Instead, I was awed by their presence, something akin to a spiritual experience. You are a coward if that is your goal.

Montana has made a grave mistake in handling wolves; we have a chance to get it right for grizzlies. To do that means never allowing this great bear to be hunted.

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