Recovering Wolves' Territory, Ecological Integrity & Societal Balance Within Nature

by Asante Riverwind

Across the western U.S. the integrity, balance, and sustainability of natural ecosystems requires the recovery of native species whose presence has been diminished or extirpated. Within natural ecosystems predators are essential in maintaining the inherent checks and balances necessary for ecological viability. Wolf recovery throughout the west remains an ecologically necessary but as yet unrealized objective. Despite the best of intentions stated by various federal and state agencies and political representatives, the track record of recovery efforts to date has yet to evidence the levels of successful wolf establishment requisite for the recovery and viability of this species. There remains a foundational need for the objective inclusion of relevant scientific "Winter Wolf" by Asante Riverwind research as well as ecological wisdom on wolves, natural ecology, and wolf recovery. There remains the imperative need for responsible education throughout the affected regions where historic wolf territory still carries potential for renewed habitation. Entrenched archaic attitudes originating in domineering aggression against nature, and the imposition of myopic anthropocentric beliefs in contravention with the realities of natural ecology have resulted in a continued onslaught threatening the recovery and viability of wolves seeking return to their historic lands and roles. Contemporary "wolf management plans" and resultant harassment and lethal actions taken towards wolves are scientifically unsound and ecologically harmful. Wolf plans are fatally flawed, undermining wolf recovery by repetitiously authorizing the killing of wolves as they attempt to meet sustenance and safety needs while exploring the region to locate suitable territory. Absent a prolonged grace period, that reasonably compensates responsible ranchers while allowing wolves to explore and forage without harmful repercussion, wolf recovery will remain an elusive, unrealized goal. Caught-in-the-act permits: misnamed "wolf plans" (which more aptly should be referred to as "welfare ranching plans") provide for 'caught in the act permits' allowing lethal take if a wolf is seen in the act of attacking, which in the Oregon Wolf Plan for example is defined as biting, wounding, or killing. This and other language, such as that which allows the lethal take of wolves for simply chasing and harassing, significantly jeopardizes the fragile recovering gray wolf population, undermining the potential for eventual wolf recovery across the region. The recovery of former territory where wolves have been absent for a number of canid generations, where there exists no feasible pack memory or established pack patterns, will

require considerable time. In pioneering new territory, wolves require sufficient time and safety to discover suitable locations. Returning wolves are a mix of solitary individuals and small close knit groupings, not yet formed as functioning packs. In forming relatively stable packs and territory, wolves need sufficient time to establish pack protocol among compatible newcomers, including the rearing of new pups in reasonable safety. To achieve recovery objectives, provisions must be made to minimize disturbance activities in remote areas with the best wolf territory potential, while recognizing the sustenance needs of wolves must be met during this period. Allowance of, and adequate compensation for, wolf predation must be made during this recovery period for the region's various wolf plans to meet their purported recovery objectives. Ongoing scientific research must be incorporated into plan provisions, including intergovernmental cooperative regional agreements helping guide wolves towards suitable interconnected territories. For example, Oregon's eventual wolf recovery is dependent upon wolf populations in the region's adjoining states. The current harassment and killing of wolves in Idaho and Montana threatens the recovery of wolves in Oregon. For the visible-term future, until wolf recovery across the western U.S. has been demonstrably sustainably accomplished and returning wolves have grouped into varied packs with well established territories, there should be no allowance for lethal permits (with the possible exception of addressing verifiable instances of rabies presence or human habituated repetitious malevolence by a rare individual wolf). Compensation program: Achieving the goals of wolf recovery in the western U.S. politically likely requires the establishment of a compensation program with sufficient funds and process for the timely compensation for lost livestock. Oversight agencies and the conservation aware public must continue to advocate that state legislatures, in cooperation with federal agencies and vested interests, create programs that both initiate proactive measures to minimize livestock loss, and provide reasonable compensation for such loss due to returning wolves. It is important that sufficient provisions be developed in compensation programs that preclude incentive for misuse and avoid unwarranted conflict. Affected agencies should develop programs that compensate producers who have taken recognized management measures to prevent and/or minimize wolflivestock conflict prior to loss. numbers: Current management figures portending to reflect wolf recovery population levels are in reality little more than contrived formulations manipulated by artifice of political ranching interests. Instead, recovery must be founded upon the incorporation of relevant scientific research recommendations, verifiable evidence of well established propagating wolf packs with defined home territories, sufficient abundance of varied wolves across the region requisite for genetic diversity, and the measurable sustained achievement of wolf recovery objectives over time.
Recovery

Confirming depredations: It is imperative that claims of depredation be meticulously and professionally investigated. It can be difficult at best

to ascertain whether a livestock carcass that has been foraged by wolves was already deceased and only subject to scavenge, or instead succumbed to wolf predation. Further, the absence of effective measures taken by affected ranchers to proactively thwart wolf predation of livestock; such as the accompaniment of wolf repelling guard dogs, the presence of herders, and the grouping and location of livestock during vulnerable periods; represents gross negligence on behalf an affected rancher, concerning which such poor behavior should not be rewarded with either undeserved compensation or action against suspected wolves. Assessing and evaluating claimed wolf depredations must be the exclusive job of objective professionals absent vested interests, such as wolf research scientists and wildlife biologists. Assessments should not be conducted by Wildlife Service agents, as this agency is comprised of dubious professionals versed primarily in lethal predator control measures, with an ignomious track record of unwarranted lethal actions based upon the disreputable misuse of contrived science, and the manipulative distortion of factual realities. Depredation and lethal permits: Current depredation measures fall short of recognizing the inextricably interconnected role of all involved. Livestock producers within potential wolf territories or travel routes must responsibly take proactive measures to protect livestock and minimize opportunities for predation. Federal agencies managing suitable wolf territories must avoid pro-longed management disturbance actions in remote locations, and within wildlife travel routes likely to be utilized by wolves as they seek new territories. Currently, management disturbance projects on federal lands plays a largely unrecognized role in pushing returning wolves towards areas where livestock conflict is likely, rather than encouraging migration towards more suitable territories. Politically independent objective scientific oversight must judiciously review these interconnected circumstances, identifying reasonable measures that can be taken to facilitate the continued migration of the wolves involved to suitable territories and to better protect affected livestock. All such measures should be responsibly taken with sufficient time allowed for effectiveness, well before any irretrievable actions are considered. Remaining proactive to reduce depredation: Innovative, solutions-oriented actions respective of the inherent rights of wolves and wildlife, and the ecological integrity of natural ecosystems, will be key to reducing livestock depredation and attaining successful wolf recovery. Proactive efforts must be effectively pursued and adequately funded. Cooperative community conservation efforts must be initiated, addressing oversight needs in regions where public wildlands and private ranchlands intermesh. The removal of livestock grazing on public lands in the near vicinity of known and suitable wolf territories should be enacted. Recovering Human Societal Balance Within the Integrity of Nature: Ultimately, recovering wolves successfully is inextricably interwoven with recovering the latent wisdom, humility, respect, and awareness of nature and the inherent connection of our species as part of nature. Humans have exceeded whatever natural checks and balances once kept our populations within sustainable balance. Human avarice and aggression have wrought havoc with geophysical ecosystems across the Earth, with a litany of devastated cultures, impoverished lands, and extinct species left in humanities wake across time. Contemporary human societies have brought this litany full circle, imperiling numerous species and the future quality of life for all across the globe. Current government and rancher plans calling for renewed killing of wolves represents a harmful return to archaic, aggressive, unsustainable, imbalanced anthropocentric delusions. Such unwarranted arrogance defies nature itself, of which we all are ultimately part. Today, political

will remains in thrall to the corrupt manipulations of financially vested ranching interests in contravention with nature, reason, and science. The plight of wolves behooves those aware of our place within nature's balance, respectful of the inherent right of all species with which we coevolved to exist, to rise up in defense of wild imperiled nature. Together we can help educate and empower the populace. Together we can remove from power the entrenched corrupt politicians who have proven incapable of perceiving nature's wisdom, and repeatedly pushed abhorrent plans calling for the killing of wolves, including even wolf pups. Together, we can hold corrupt politicians, aggressive ranchers, and lethal agencies such as "Wildlife Services" accountable for their heinous policies that violate the letter and intent of the federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act, and which violate the higher laws of nature, of which we all are part. Together, we can help ensure that wolves, and all imperiled species, have a safe place and viable future across our public wildlands. Awakening...
by Asante Riverwind Wolves and Coyotes as all wild nature not something to be 'man-aged', tamed manipulated, controlled shot, trapped, poisoned darted, harmed radio collared, harassed studied, researched categorized, labeled; as if the naming and 'expert' conclusions give real understanding beyond presumptuous delusion... the untamable breath of life flows through us all wolves, coyotes, humans, phytoplankton all our relations throughout living Earth... spirit dreams beyond knowing flow like a wild river through all beings... creation's energies dance within star sparked eyes rhythmic hearts and galactic spiral cores across the multi-verse of unknowable reality... the wisdom of humility the wonder of exploration and the magic of kinship await within the gift of human awakening which none may gift us but ourselves...

"Night Wolf Returns" by Asante Riverwind