51,200 Dead Oregon Cows Not Killed By Wolves! Where’s The Media?
by Nabeki
Slated to die. Alpha Male Imnaha Pack 2009
Ok, 51,200 cows died in Oregon in 2010 from non-predation causes. (NASS 2010) This should be front page news, right? When wolves are involved in miniscule livestock losses they make the front pages of local media. So what about those 51,200 cows that weren’t killed by wolves?
ODFW is planning on killing the alpha male (pictured left) and another wolf from the Imnaha Pack, for tiny livestock losses. Yet huge numbers of cows drop dead in Oregon every year and all we hear is “crickets”.
So here we are, two wolves facing a death sentence. Apparently they are being tracked right now.
“A department hunter is looking first for a member of the pack not collared with a radio transmitter, Morgan said. Then he will go after the alpha male, which goes by the number OR4 and sired the first pups in Oregon since wolves began moving back into the state from Idaho in the 1990s.”
The alpha female and her pup of the year will be left to face the winter alone, with no help to bring down prey.
Here is B-300 (see video) better known as “Sophie”, crossing into Oregon in 2008. She would later become the alpha female of the Imnaha Pack. Look at her scampering along, beautiful and healthy. Little did she know what she was getting into.
In protest of ODFW’s egregious intention to slaughter two perfectly healthy Imnaha wolves, leaving just the alpha female and her pup of the year, two Portland Animal Defense League protesters, Stephanie Taylor and Justin Kay, chained themselves to the ODFW headquarter doors with bike locks.
Two arrested during protest against wolf killings
September 27, 2011
By Brian MacMillan
SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
For nearly an hour and a half Tuesday morning, protestors took over the front entrance of the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Salem.
“We’ve tried everything from phone calls to the governor, phone calls here, letter writing, protests. Finally today, it ended with an act of civil disobedience,” said Tim Hitchins, with the Portland Animal Defense League.
The sad news is this is probably the end of the Imnaha Pack.
“ODFW has been under really intense pressure from the cattlemen,” Pedery said from Portland, Ore. “This is really a kill order on the pack. It is very unlikely the mother and her pup will survive the winter unless they feed on gut piles (left by deer and elk hunters), which puts them at risk of poachers, or feed on livestock. They really have little hope of bringing down a deer or elk by themselves.”
Oregon had 1,300,000 cattle at the beginning of 2011. Wolves apparently were responsible for 14 cow losses in 1.5 years. But thousands and thousands of cows were keeling over in Oregon from all manner of things, not wolf related.
Digestive problems — Respiratory problems — Metabolic problems — Mastitis — Lameness/injury — Other diseases — Weather related — Calving problems — Poisoning — Theft (NASS 2010)
Why aren’t ranchers squawking about this? Those losses COULD affect their “bottom line”, not 14 supposed wolf depredations.
Isn’t it time to call this situation what it is. If if looks like a duck, quacks like a duck then it’s a duck. Plain and simple intolerance of wolves is ruling the day in eastern Oregon. Apparently ranchers don’t want them there and that’s what’s driving this train. The wishes of Oregon’s wildlife advocates and others, who would enjoy seeing wild wolves, apparently don’t count. The scapegoating and hysteria that plague the other wolf states has apparently taken hold in Oregon. Shame. This has completely altered my view of the state.
51,200 dead cows not killed by wolves. Where’s the media??
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Wolf kill order could spell end of Oregon pack
Please continue to call Oregon’s Governor Kitzhaber (503-378-4582) to protest the kill order on the two Imnaha wolves. Ask why wolves are being treated like criminals, collared, tracked continually, when obviously these losses are ridiculously miniscule.
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37 Comments
On September 28, 2011, Rosemary Lachance wrote:
Ignorant, dark souled idiots………………….
On September 28, 2011, Marilyn wrote:
It’s an outrage, but don’t we all know by now that the government doesn’t need a reason to kill animals. They do it for the pleasure. Animals are part of nature and we can’t possibly keep nature alive. Did they look into why/what killed the cattle? Most likely not, because then it would look REALLY bad when they kill all of the wolves and any other animals.
On September 28, 2011, Martha Milne wrote:
This is insane and unspeakable! What can be done? It’s hard to believe that the Obama administration and their cowboy Interior Secretary made this possible with the sneaky support of Sen. Tester and Simpson’s revolting wolf-kill rider, and their continuing promotion of this tragic travesty. I volunteered and donated and voted for this? Not in a million years. It was the last thing I expected. I thought the environment and wildlife finally had a friend after the eight disastrous years of Bush. How wrong I was. These guys are just as bad and worse. I am so deeply disappointed and dismayed. What can we do for the wolves? Have the other wildlife groups deserted them? I just wonder what I can really do right now.
On September 28, 2011, Raina spaziani wrote:
What has become of this country and why aren’t we stopping these people? Isn’t it our money that supports these cretins??
Time to get mad and fed up here folks. Call every elected official you know and tell them they will NOT be reelected if they sit back and watch this crap happen!!!
Just called and spoke to Megan at Gov office. She said Fish and wildlife is just carrying out what they decided was “management” of the wildlife 10 YEARS AGO!!! Can you imagine???? I told her we don’t kill wolves here in CT just because a wolf is doing what is natural to him. She said she would register the call and tell the Governor!! CALL CALL CALL and let him know this will be his last term in office, ANY office for that matter if this isn’t changed!!!
On September 28, 2011, P. Ridley wrote:
Stop blaming wolves for killing livestock … and stop killing wolves for no good reason! This outrage needs to be stopped immediately. There aren’t that many wolves in the U.S. that could kill this many cows … stop the lies and the slaughter!
On September 28, 2011, Stephanie Calcavecchio wrote:
leave the wolves alone they don’t deserve this kind of treatment. They didn’t kill the cows!
On September 29, 2011, Jules T wrote:
I do not understand heartless people.. Those who think animals are useless and do not need to exist in peace and love.. Most people are rotten (IMHO)
On September 29, 2011, Ellie Maldonado wrote:
I think we also need to question the lifestyle that supports the cattlemen who have convinced legislators to kill wolves. If we eat cow flesh and/or drink milk, use leather, or support rodeo even by watching it on TV, we contribute to this industry and the power it holds on legislators.
On September 29, 2011, Lee wrote:
Can we start a petition to stop them from killing the wolves?
On September 30, 2011, Jodie St Jean wrote:
Another uneducated decision made my uneducated individuals who have no insight into what is actually going on.
On September 30, 2011, Delma S. Fleming, Ph.D. wrote:
Abusive, cruel murderer! You should be hanged from the mast
On September 30, 2011, Bridget W. Irons wrote:
Wolves being wolves. It’s as nature intended. It’s not to be meddled with. Back off! Sadly, once again, we have wolves vilified by blood thirsty fanatics calling for their immediate destruction. This assault on these majestic animals is shameful. It’s been said, “Until we stop harming all living beings, we are still savages.” The war on wolves is unjust and must end.
On September 30, 2011, Anna wrote:
I just made a call to the number provided and voiced my concern about this dreadful attack on wolves.
I hope many more people call and also voice their concerns.
Anna
On September 30, 2011, Tara Souther wrote:
Perhaps, if beings are to be destroyed because they act in accordance with their nature and instinct, we should begin with humans as they have the greatest capacity for evil of any creatures on earth.
On September 30, 2011, Ruth wrote:
Animals have brains but no understanding of knowledge, Humans have knowledge but no brains, if they (Humans) did have brains they would not do all the horrible things that they do!
On September 30, 2011, Marian wrote:
In what a world are we living????
This is very bad
On September 30, 2011, Salix wrote:
As usual, I recommend a shoot-on-sight policy for federal officials; Gods know we need less of them.
This mindless slaughter of magnificent wolves must end. As predators, they’re just doing their jobs by picking off weak and sick animals, but if thousands more are dying from non-wolf causes, we should blame the Farmers for not taking adequate care of their livestock. Wolves as a general rule will not overpopulate, they will only breed what the ecosystem will support. It’s people that are far too numerous.
So if you’re weak, sick, or just plain Stupid, please do us all a favour and go lay in a forest somewhere until your friendly neighborhood wolf pack can come make good of your useless carcass.
On September 30, 2011, Cynthia wrote:
This is the kind of specious logic used in the Middle Ages. To determine whether a woman was a witch or not, the locals would tie rocks to her and throw her in the water: if she didn’t drown (duh), she was a witch. As here, if the cattle are dying, the wolves must be killing them. People don’t choose to look (or think) further than their own noses. It’s more probable in this case, as in so many other cases in which wild animals are demonized, that the truth is known but dismissed in favour of a powerful industry. It’s tragic. We have such a heavy hand on this planet.
On September 30, 2011, Phil wrote:
I never fail to wonder about the gap that exists between people who want to protect and care for animals and those who hate and exploit and kill them. What a shame.
On October 1, 2011, Pati Lucaroni wrote:
It seems to me that the Tea Party mentality is spreading without control. We have the same problem in Northern Italy with the Lega (kind of Northern Fundamentalists who actively promote indiscriminate shooting of birds, even those of species protected by the European Union - in fact I can hear the shooters as I write). I studied Animal Science in the UK, specialised in wolves and their re-introduction in the environment. I so wanted to come over to the USA to work as volunteer but never could. A big part of me died reading this article.
On October 1, 2011, Linda French wrote:
Why are we so disconnected with nature. I find it disgusting that these lovely creatures are being so persecuted. Blame the wolves for everything! Even if they did not do the killing they get nailed for it anyways! disgusting
On October 1, 2011, Jeanne Whiteowl -Davis wrote:
Putting the Alpha to death will change the pack forever. The pack will suffer disorientation and may be unable to feed themselves. We humans are incrediable. First we put wolves on the endangered list protect them then as soon as we take them off we start shooting the very cannines we protected, we are so bi-polar, or moranic. We claim to be adults….huh…really?
On October 1, 2011, Marre Prestigiacomo wrote:
This is such a crime!! I cannot believe how callous people are concerning wolves and uneducated!!
I pray this does not happen! It makes my heart so sad!
On October 1, 2011, Jana Daniel wrote:
What a shame, planning to destroy such a small pack of Oregon wolves!I am deeply deeply disappointed in Obama and his administration, allowing this insane cruelty!! What can we do to prevent this brutality and insanity ? How can we still save the wolves? If you know how, please help us help the wolves!!!!
On October 1, 2011, Donald Mulak wrote:
This whole situaton is getting completely out of hand. Those of us who truly care about the creatures we share this planet with are being conned by the very people we have placed our trust in to do the right thing. And I don’t know about the rest of you out there, but I’ve had enough of the rancher mind set, the hunter mind set and the National Rifle Association. We need to make a positive impact, and now! We have lost part of our collective soul, and it is time to take it back. The wolves belong to all of us, not to to idiots like Palin, and we must insure that they are not at the whim and fancy of politicallt motivated special interest groups. And if the pinhead politicians that run the Western States as if this was 1860 don’t understand, “then it’s time to run ‘em out of Dodge on a rail”. We need a Lennon-esque mentality, not “Kill ‘em and grill ‘em Nugent.
On October 1, 2011, Jacob wrote:
There’s no justification for hunting and killing these wolves! Those cattlemen have no right to complain. the wolves have far more right to be here then they and their cows. There are far too many cows out there and far too few wolves and other valuable wildlife.
On October 1, 2011, Karen wrote:
THIS ASTROCITY, SO-CALLED GOVERNOR, KITZHABER, MUST STOP NOW. GROW UP YOU BIG MAN, GROW SOME HAIR ON YOUR CHEST AND STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT.!!!!!
On October 1, 2011, Anne DiNucci wrote:
If Katzhaber wants to kill the last few wolves, if he hasn’t already, apparently he wants his state to be boycotted. Already some large companies are in financial trouble. Harry and David are in financial trouble. I will not order from them any more, neither will my friends or my friends’ families. We used to order the huge gift baskets for all occasions. Probably came up to an easy couple thousand dollars. Beaverton is a merchandise town in Oregon. Do not buy anything from them. In fact, before you buy anything, make sure it does not come from Oregon. We will bleed them dry as they did the wolves. Let’s see how some people are able to feed their families. Let them know what the wolves went through.
On October 2, 2011, Bridget W. Irons wrote:
Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess once said, “There is a basic intuition in deep ecology that we have no right to destroy other living beings without sufficient reason.” Wolves have an intricate family dynamic and social structure which must be preserved. Killing them destroys these vitally important systems, putting them at great risk. Who do they think they are? They act as if they’re the only species on the planet. I do know that humans are the most dangerous and destructive animals here. Those feeding the illogical hatred of wolves must be stopped.
On October 2, 2011, Donald Mulak wrote:
I think Ms. DiNucci may have a valid point in her post of October 1st. If these politicians are not going to listen to the greater majority, let’s do to their state(s) what we have done in the past to Alaska, B-O-Y-C-O-T-T. Anything and everything from Idaho (potatoes, anyone?), Wyoming, Montana and Oregon……and this should include their beef. The fastest way to get someone’s attention is through their pocketbooks. It worked with the Tuna/Dolphin safe labeling, and it should work this time as well. These clowns cannot be allowed to continue killing wolves…..period.
On October 3, 2011, Mary Alice Pollard, Cornwalls Voice for Animals wrote:
They wipe out the last remaining wolves - because of … WHY ? - farmers! It is time these farmers had their what is too obvious, powers over the land, taken away from them and leave the wolves alone !
On October 4, 2011, dove bitler wrote:
please leave these wolves alone, if we all stand for this and protect them we can stand for anything and get things done with country….. we need the equal system in this world, every creature was put here for a reason let them be and all will equal out.
On October 4, 2011, liz wrote:
They would take from so many of us something of real meaning for the sake of a few cows, a fraction of normal business loss. Our spirit is being sold out and destroyed for what relatively amounts to a few bucks. However much I like beef, I can’t be a part of this sort of thing any longer. I pray for those wolves.
On October 6, 2011, Breanne W. wrote:
The wolves being exploited, demonized, and murdered will be in my heart and prayers! everybody, please pray that god will give these heartless men that believe this is right the good sense to realize it’s wrong….
On October 9, 2011, sherrymartin wrote:
shame on them there will soon be no wildlife left’ our children and grandchildren will have to look at pictures and use their imaginations to connect with all nature if that is even possible. if there is no tolerance for gods creatures soon there will be none for the most devastating species on the planet;mankind! pray for all gods creatures.
On October 10, 2011, Heart wrote:
“If the wolf is to survive, the wolf haters must be outnumbered. They must be outshouted, out financed, and out voted. Their narrow and biased attitude must be outweighed by an attitude based on an understanding of natural processes.” -L. David Mech
On November 29, 2011, Linda wrote:
Why not drop food to the wolves like they have for elk herds in the past? Then maybe they’ll loose even less cattle, and maybe none at all.. The wolf was here before the cattle or cattlemen! How can they let this happen? Why on Earth did they go to the bother of letting them repopulate the area and now want to kill them! Sick and sad!