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A Majestic Menace
By Joshua Jones
The ongoing legal battle over state’s rights to manage their wolf populations exemplifies how
critical organizations such as Safari Club are in conservation and protecting the rights of hunters. A few years
ago wolves were removed from the Endangered Species list in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming the three states in
which they were reintroduced. However, although wolf populations half far surpassed the initial goals for
restoration, groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) continue to file lawsuits
attempting to stop states from implementing management strategies which include the use of hunting as a
conservation tool. Opponents of the delisting were recently defeated in district court but they will certainly
appeal to higher courts. With the looming threat of a continued legal battle the facts need to be reviewed; facts
such as the sustainability of current population estimates and the affect of wolves on other game species.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not hate wolves. In fact I have always found them to be a beautiful and
majestic symbol of the American West. As a child I revered wolves and would gladly spend my allowance on
wolf books and photographs. I can even remember the joy I felt when I first heard of wolf recovery programs.
But now as a dedicated conservationist I recognize the need to control their population size and the best way to
do this is through regulated hunting. This, however, was not possible while wolves were listed as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act.
Wolves were first delisted in 2008 but litigation forced them to be relisted. They were again
delisted in 2009 except in Wyoming. Ever since the latest delisting anti-hunting groups have been at war with
state conservation departments and SCI. However these groups base their case purely off emotional arguments
instead of science based conservation. In reality there is no reason why states should not be able to manage their
own wolf populations.