Judge Rules Gray Wolves Be Returned to Federal Protection

On July 18, 2008, Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn wrote:

Such great news…justice comes but sometimes a little too late!

On July 18, 2008, Isis wrote:

Excellent! They should never have been taken off the list in the first place! Gene diversity is paramount to the total Grey Wolf species survival.

On July 19, 2008, Luis A Perez Jr wrote:

It’s good to hear news of this matter that all wildlife be carefully studied and be given the right to live under their natural habitat, and to roam free in a safe enviroment.
All judges should judge with the right that all life on this world has the right to live. And all the neccesary actions to protect us against harm by wildlife or us to wildfire be in place.

On July 19, 2008, Rita Campbell wrote:

At this time in history it seems that too often our last recourse to sanity is found through the courts. Bravo! Excellent ruling. The wolves are vitally important to healthy wild places.

On July 19, 2008, Renee Brillant wrote:

Hurray, any victory for the animals that we’re put here to steward is sweet. Sometimes it’s a long and difficult process to “win” at a fight such as this. I applaud the judge and hope that mankind remembers that the animals were here before us and by virtue of that alone, we should be looking out for them MUCH better than we have.

On July 19, 2008, LINDA MELBOURNE-VAN DYKE wrote:

YAAA,JUDGE! Way to go…

On July 19, 2008, Nancy wrote:

Thanks the Great Mystery someone is listening!!!!!

On July 19, 2008, joni soffron wrote:

This is HUGE, wonderful news and thanks to all who had any involvement in making this happen

On July 19, 2008, Susan Lisanti wrote:

Hip Hip Horray for Judge Molloy!!! They should never have been taken off in the first place…what is wrong with people?

On July 19, 2008, Maryanne Appel wrote:

With all due respect, I don’t believe our human species was put on this earth to steward anything or anybody. We evolved and came into being as everything and everyone else did over the billions of years that preceded our appearance - geologically speaking, a few seconds ago. The earth and the myriad species that inhabit our planet never needed stewards before, and if they do need stewardship now, it is because we, as a species, have distanced ourselves from the natural world, the dire consequences of which we are now experiencing. What the free-living animals need is our respect, and the freedom to live their lives as we would wish to live ours, free of domination and exploitation.

On July 19, 2008, Kelly Ingersoll wrote:

The ruling was a great step forward for the wolves and all those who have played a part in saving them.

On July 19, 2008, Thomas H. Johnston wrote:

I don’t blame the Fish and Wildlife Services, they just want to keep their jobs and their income. I blame Bush and Kempthorne. Bush has consistently ignored the wishes of the majority of the citizens of the United States in favor of Big Oil and Big Business. He has ignored his responsibilities to the public trust. We, the citizens who mistakenly put a reformed drunk in the White House mean absolutely nothing to him. The voting debacle in Florida when his brother was governor is an excellent example of collusion and filthy and sneaky politics.
As for Dirk Kempthorne, Bush’s choice for Secretary of the Interior when it got too hot and rough for Gale Norton, who was an absolute disaster as Secretary of the Interior… Kempthorne is an avid wolf hater and killer. Look at his “record” while he was governor. Given the chance, he’ll be worse than Gale Norton ever thought of being.

Bush is a lame duck and on his way out, but, I promise you he will destroy anything he can as he goes. So will his cabinet.

After all, they’ve already killed off more than 4,000 of our finest young men and women.

Keep a very close eye, folks, on what your elected representatives in Congress and the Senate are doing. Call, fax, write, visit and e-mail them about all the issues that are near and dear to you. make them understand that they are on the firing line too and will be removed from their cushy offices if they do not do as you wish.

Any citizen has the right to start a motion for recall for one or more of their elected representatives.

Please note that e-mails are great, they are fast, convenient and easy for us, the general public. They are also very easy for politicians to ignore.

What they cannot ignore are written letters and phone calls, faxes and visits by their constituants to their local offices. That counts!!

In the meantime, Thank God for folks like Federal Judge Donald Molloy of Montana who have the guts to say “NO! I won’t allow this.” Write Judge Molloy a quick “Thank You,” it’ll mean a lot to him and strengthen his resolve for the fighting of the next round for the wolves.

Thanks folks for listening to me up on the soap-box!

On July 19, 2008, Mary Beth Sasso wrote:

Great news! Finally a judge who is brave and sane enough to know the importance of other creatures in this world. Remember without our animal friends we do not survive.

On July 19, 2008, Karin McKenna wrote:

Yes! Could it be that there is a seachange truly coming our way? Will mercy, intelligence, justice for all sentient beings be relevant again to our government agencies? I hope the judge is recognized for his courage to stand up to the Scalia Rule which has overtaken our justice systems. Congrats to everyone who took the time to make their opinion known.

On July 19, 2008, Nancy A wrote:

Now that’s action that gets results. Let’s keep the pressure on.

On July 19, 2008, Ramona Coyote wrote:

Is there an address to write directly to the Honorable Judge Molloy to Thank Him for his Honor to the Wolves. Some of us have been working for over 15 years starting with the RE-Introduction of Canis Lupus, only to now be watching a death march with De-Listing. Having spent many years on this project due to my love of all things WILD, I have spent many hours asking myself…”You helped set them up for the gunfire and sure death” by becoming involved in what was then THE campaign
SAVE THE WOLF FROM EXTINCTION, but was dollar & politically motivated. Close to 6 Million for those who may not be aware.

Yes, this is a victory for some, but today others will sleep with one eye open!

Thanks go out to all of you, for your endless hours, letters, generous donations and just never giving up HOPE.

WE HOWL FOR YOU

Ramona Coyote

On July 19, 2008, Christy Mattingly wrote:

I am very pleased with this ruling on protecting these magnificant animals. They should be left alone permanently. What could possibly be a logical reason for hurting these animals? God did not place them on this earth for man to kill for his pleasure. Leave them alone as God intented. Any person who would kill a wolf should be so ashamed of themselves. How do they live with themselves and do something like this? I cannot comprehend this at all. Thank you Judge for protecting these beautiful creatures.

On July 19, 2008, Rockie Jacobsen wrote:

The people who are in favor of this wolf act are people
who really don’t know what life is really about. They live in there little glass houses and can not think for themselves. They have to be told every move they make in life. I feel sorry for these type of people. If they decided that some creature could possibly destroy the human they would still vote for the protection of this animal. They do not realize the destruction that can come from bad descisions and don’t really care as long as they can spend our hard earned money to defend such stupid acts. It will soon become time for the people to take this situation into our own hands and make it right. There was never any Timber wolves in Idaho before, even thought they say there was. They will make up stories to get done what they want to achieve. I don’t think there will ever come a day when these type of people will ever think straight. They are raised in a brain washed society and have never been given any proper knowledge of what really goes on in life.

Blog editors’ note: So you hate wolves and make it up as you go along. Heard it all before from a cadre of loopy, angry Alaskans.

On July 19, 2008, Barbara wrote:

This is great news! I hope this signals a turning point in caring for our wild animal friends. All of us who care about wildlife have to keep up the pressure on our public servants.

On July 19, 2008, Chantal Andersen wrote:

Finally, someone with compassion and common sense! Please forward my thanks to this wonderful judge!

On July 19, 2008, Teresa Bettino wrote:

Great ruling Your Honor!

On July 19, 2008, Rockie Jacobsen wrote:

Dear editor, No I do not hate wolves. It’s just sad that they brought them into an environment where someday the only thing left living will be the wolves and then they will die off and then nothing. Our elk and deer herds are depleting so fast it is unbelievable. Since wolves were in New York Central Park area years back why haven’t they put them there also. It only seems fair that those people should have the same opportunity to see them as we do. I realize that these letters do no good because the anti’s can’t see any further down the road than whats directly in front of them and that’s within 1 foot.

[ Blog editors’ note: Nature brought wolves into the environment — not the cows and domestic animals some call food. Elk and deer are shot by the 12.5 million human hunters who haven’t yet evolved enough to stop this grotesque display of domination. If there are too few of these animals, stop shooting them, and that’s just for starters. ]

On July 21, 2008, Greg wrote:

So….Jason’s attempting to say that wolves kill more elk and deer herds than humans, and that wolves destroy so much more livestock than humans that eventually “the only thing left living will be the wolves and then they will die off and then nothing.” And I suppose the Native Americans killed more buffalo than white settlers. Jason—I implore you……go back to school. And no matter what your parents say, stay out of your sister’s bedroom. Didn’t you catch any of the comments regarding the importance of genetic diversity?

On July 21, 2008, Pat T wrote:

Great news!!! Great Victory for animals!!!
Thanks Judge Molloy!!

On July 21, 2008, Marjorie Hass wrote:

They should never have been delisted in the first place. I don’t want wolves to disappear forever.

On July 22, 2008, jason wrote:

you will never understand wildlife mangement because you choose not to greg.

On July 22, 2008, kathy bumgarner wrote:

I’m really happy about this decision.

On July 22, 2008, Nicole wrote:

Lets just all be happy for a decision that is just positive all the way around and not attack each other for our opinions on this page… Do the right thing!

On July 22, 2008, jimmyallen wrote:

and here you go again, editor, on your personal attack on those of us living in alaska. whether you like it or not, we will decide what happens here and your insults only further our alienation from group such as yours. assaults like these weaken your credibility and do nothing but anger people. while most of your posts are based on emotion rather than fact, it is childish at best to resort to assaults on those of differing opinion.
I have and will continue to commend FoA for the work they do, although my views differ.

again, i would like to thank FoA for allowing that my opinion be read.

[Blog editors’ note: Not all people in Alaska have been discussed in this thread, Jimmy. Some are respectful of other animals’ interests.]

On July 22, 2008, Christi wrote:

GREAT! They should’ve never been been taken off the list in the first place.

On July 23, 2008, Ian Kilpatrick wrote:

It’s great that hunters in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming won’t be able to shoot wolves anymore. However, I would raise one small point: The law that is being used to protect the wolves explicitly endorses viewing them instrumentally, rather than recognizing their inherent value as individuals. This is not surprising, but it is unfortunate.

The following is from the Endangered Species Act, section 1531 Congressional findings and declaration of purposes and policy:

(a) Findings
The Congress finds and declares that—

…

(3) these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people; [instrumental value, that is]
…

(5) encouraging the States and other interested parties… to develop and maintain conservation programs… is a key… to better safeguarding, for the benefit of all citizens, the Nation’s herit­age in fish, wildlife, and plants. [italics are mine]

According to the ESA, we’re protecting wolves now so that they will continue to exist for use by humans in the future. I hope that one day we will protect every individual sentient creature because she is valuable as an end in herself, and not merely as a means to human ends.

PS Here’s a link to the ESA in full: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/16/ch35.html

On July 24, 2008, Nancy Wilmink wrote:

Bravo!

On July 30, 2008, Ruth Daskaloff wrote:

It is a sad day for we humans if the ruling goes through to kill these magnificient horses. I would call this genocide. We were angry with the Germans for killing Jews, and now we are doing this to our wildlife here in America. The genocide of wild horses, the Mustangs of the open plains. What harm could they do? How can they protect themselves? Please. Please reconsider this travesty and protect all species. They have every right to remain on this planet-alive, and well. I look forward to the time when I can travel with my grandchildren to view the wild horses galloping through the mountains and valleys. I can smell their warm breath and soft fur. You kill a little of us off each time you lift the protection of these wonderous creatures.

And Bravo to Judge Molloy for standing up for these wonderful creatures, the wolves.

On August 1, 2008, kathleen wrote:

thank GOD !!! they may be safe for now..but i gotta wonder what is this world coming to? it’s insane.and what about the wild Mustangs.? who decides what happens to them now????

On August 7, 2008, Jasmin wrote:

It’s great that it will now be unlawful for hunters to kill wolves. I’m sure there will be those who will still try, but the fight to save animals is a slow process and will eventually changed the minds of all those who inhabit the earth.