KILLING IS GAME DEPARTMENTS PRIMARY BUSINESS November 3 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) killed the alpha female of the Huckleberry Pack and plan to kill other wolves in the pack. In other countries, endangered species are lost due to habitat destruction, over-hunting, and poaching. Here, in addition to the above, we have wildlife agents killing and supporting the killing of endangered species. The Eastern Washington wolves were removed from the federal Endangered Species List, but it was politics at its worst and not science that caused them to be removed. They are still endangered and at risk of extinction, especially with the all-out war on wolves going on. Under Washington state code, the primary mandate for the Department of Fish and Wildlife is to “protect, preserve and perpetuate” our state’s wildlife. Gunning down wolves along with their pups to protect sheep and cattle grazing, especially on state and federal land, is abhorrent, a crime against nature, and goes against state code. Why is the state killing wolves to protect sheep and cattle ranchers, especially when they are already being paid for animal losses and in many cases grazing their animals on state and federal lands for next to nothing? According to the USDA less than one quarter of one percent of cattle are lost to predators, which include dogs. It should be up to the ranchers to protect their animals by using fencing, guard dogs, etc. They should also buy insurance to protect themselves from losses just like every other business. After slaughtering the Wedge Pack, WDFW Director Phil Anderson stated “Going out and killing wildlife is not what this agency is all about.” This comment is disingenuous or he does not have a clue as to what his department does. Unfortunately, killing is what WDFW is all about. They sell hunting and trapping licenses to kill wildlife. They try to recruit more people including women and children to kill wildlife. They raise animals for killing. They “manage” wildlife to increase the numbers of animals to be killed by hunters. Killing is their primary business. Apparently killing the Huckleberry pack is just continuing business as usual.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 16:14:48 +0000