Wolf Symposium held in Oregon

All

This message was forwarded to be by Ed Medvetz, MY-T Enterprises:

For those of you that attended the May 12, 2012 Wolf Symposium I think you will support the views listed below.  For those that missed it I hope it is informative.

The plan if for another Symposium in Central Oregon in May of next year.

Thanks to the Chapters in the mid west region and others that supported this symposium.

Joe Ricker

Mid West Director

OHA

Subject: FW: Wolf Symposium Overview
Importance: High

 This from a friend and fellow OHA, SCI member, Dan>
> To all:
>
> Just a follow up note to summarize the information presented at the Oregon Animal Damage Management Council's Wolf Symposium held in Albany on Saturday, May 12th. It was a very well organized and informative meeting with approximately 250 people in attendance. Participants ranged from the anti-hunting groups to ranchers, outfitters, sportsman, hunters, state police, county sheriff, and others from Canada, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho & Montana.
>
> It is hard to relay 8 hours of information in an email that would do just to those dedicated individuals who are attempting to inform Oregonians of the coming storm regarding wolves in Oregon. I will try to relay the most significant and meaningful topics and issues that were discussed.
>
> As far as the individual speakers and their presentations were concerned, I was most impressed by David Allen, the President of RMEF. He is a very down to earth guy who spoke, not from a prepared speech, but rather from his gut. In a nutshell, he stated the following regarding wolves in the lower 48:
>
> 1) They are here.
> 2) They are not going away.
> 3) The future is now.
> 4) They are wildlife just like elk.
> 5) Their primary prey or food preference is elk and each wolf will consume an average of 25 elk per year.
> 6) In 1995, all parties involved in the reintroduction were aware and agreed to there coexistence with other wildlife. However, at that moment and place in time, science and honesty prevailed in the agreements and consensus that the maximum number of wolves would be 15 breeding pairs and 150 total wolves. There is no longer any integrity or respect among the original partners.
> 7) There is no attempt, desire, or intention to control the wolf expansion by the USFWS. The only hope for curbed expansion is for local state control.
> 8) Dr. Davis Mech, Wolf Biologist, estimates in 2008 there were over 2,000 wolves in the tri-state area.
> 9) They expand their numbers by approximately 30% every year.
> 10) They will/can travel up to 43 miles in a 24 hour period looking for a food source.
> 11) The world famous Northern Yellowstone Elk herd numbered 20,000 in 1995. (1 year prior to wolf reintroduction). The winter 2012 count posts a staggering decline with only 4,100 elk left!
> 12) The famous Bitter Roots herd has been reduced over 80% with devastating future consequences of an aging herd with little or no calf and yearling survival.
> 13) The Lolo herd in northern Idaho has been decimated to less than 20% of its 1995 level.
> 14) The once famous moose numbers from Jackson Hole, WY to Butte, MT are gone.
> 15) The next battle is Grizzly bears.
>
> Dr. Val Geist of the University of Calgary had the following to say:
>
> 1) Refusal of American scientists to review the historical knowledge of wolves and why they were eradicated, greatly reduced in many parts of the world in the past may lead to severe disease outbreaks or other catastrophic problems.
> 2) Problem wolves must be immediately discharged to prevent any abnormal human-wolf conflicts.
> 3) France had approximately 3,000 people who indirectly died from wolf related disease and illness.
> 4) The Utopian view of the modern wolf, being a loving social creature who lives only in the deep dark forest, is the result of the Walt Disney movie generation.
> 5) Wolf related disease is currently held in balance due to Alaska and Canada's aggressive predator control measures.
> 6) Wolf scat that is near or in the vicinity of domestic activity raises grave concerns of humans contracting tape worms that can lead to fatal brain cysts.
> 7) Humans have historically been on the menu of wolves.
>
> The ODFW's Directory Roy Elicker had the following to say:
>
> 1) The Oregon wolf plan is the single biggest program in the Department has worked on. I am guessing that means their biggest expenditure item also.
> 2) The wolf budget is currently at $608,000 and is continuing to outgrow funding.
> 3) There are 29 "known" wolves in Oregon.
> 4) Wolves have been spotted in 9 different Northeast Oregon GMU's.
> 5) There are currently 4 established packs: Wenaha Pack, Imnaha Pack, Walla Walla Pack & Snake River Pack with possibly 2 other packs forming in the Minam River area and the Umatilla River area.
> 6) Currently there are no known breeding pairs. The Oregon wolf plan ultimately calls for 14 breeding pairs. This is the alarming part: Without documented 3 year period of established multiple breeding pairs we cannot manage their numbers.
> 7) The Wehana GMU elk numbers are currently 1,800 and way below the MO of 4,250.
> 8) The Wenaha GMU is referred to as the "predator pit" by ODFW personnel.
>
> Mr. Casey Anderson of the Ox Ranch in Idaho had the following to say:
>
> 1) Only 7% or 10% of wolf livestock depredation is documented and/or compensated.
> 2) They have GPS collar data that shows wolf/cattle harassment on a continental and escalating basis.
> 3) One wolf pack had a 210 square mile area that they would roam and patrol.
> 4) Every known wolf needs to be captured & collared to allow 100% tracking and data collection of all wolf expansion & activity.
>
> Mr. Steven Mealey, retired director of Idaho Fish & Game and acting Vice President of the Boone & Crockett Club, had the following to say:
>
> 1) The North American Wildlife Conservation model as we know it is in jeopardy.
> 2) The universities are now graduating biologist with an interest in wolf conservation and expansion and moving from a consumptive to a retention based regulate management style.
> 3) RED FLAGS:
> a) Declining hunter participation
> b) Declining deer & elk populations
> c) Increasing predator population
> d) Overstressed winter ranges
> 4) Two must-do's to protect collapse of the NAWC model:
> a) We must recruit more young hunters.
> b) We must maintain healthy and plentiful ungulate populations to encourage hunter participation.
>
> In conclusion, I am convinced that this is only the beginning of our troubles in Oregon. We already have a top heavy predator problem with just cougars and bears. Throw approximately 250 to 500 wolves in the Northeast corner of the state and we can predict what will happen. One expert was quoted as saying that within 4 to 7 years we will have wolves harassing the elk preserve in Jewell.
>
> For myself in this regard, I will continue to recruit and support youth participation in our hunting heritage and traditions. Also, I intend to write letters to all of our legislators, hunting associations and others to ask for and promote funding to expand the GPS wolf collar program. The closer we monitor these buggers the further and sooner we will be able to push them back. I appreciate your concern in this manner and look forward to future hunting adventures and memories. Please consider joining and/or supporting the following associations who are all working together to continue to provide hunting opportunities in Oregon. OHA, SCI, RMEF, FNAWS, OCA.