You seemingly can’t get away from the increasingly escalating discussion about wolf management these days.  With the probable delisting of the wolf coming in February of 2008(?), the discussion will pick up steam even further.  Here’s a sampling of some of the more thoughtful articles and posts that we’ve seen in the past few days. 

Jason Kauffman writing for the Idaho Mountain Express in Ketchum has written a pretty comprehensive summary of Idaho’s wolf management plan which includes hunting wolves to control their ever expanding population - read the full article here. 
 
From Ralph Maughan’s Wildlife News, Ralph’s commentary on a recent article that made the rounds, with a fascinating array of comments from his blog readers. 

Tom Remington has written a thoughtful piece highlighting the recent comments of Dr. Rex Rammell,  a vetrinarian and rancher from Rexburg who’s running for a Senate seat in Idaho.

The wolf has been a lightning rod of controversy in the West for decades, and will likely be so for decades more.   We continue to feel that there are valid argument points on both sides of the debate, and will share interesting comments we come across as we read about the battle that seems to be focused very much in our backyard.

We’re perhaps most impressed with the emotionalism expressed by the parties involved in this debate;  as in most debates those who resort to shrill rants, name calling, and misrepresentations ultimately end up damaging their credibility and that of their cause.   The wolf has been adopted by many as a symbol of the struggles we face as a nation in preserving a bit of the West and our wild heritage, though the wolf is by no means the only barometer of such. 

Whatever the eventual outcome - we’d like to see those demanding respect for their opinion (whatever side they’re on) demonstrate the same. 

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