Illinois "rewilding".

[Dave N]

@Nick87 sent this to me and I think we're both thinking the same direction. I remember other states recently using the terms "rewilding, apex predators and keystone species" in their language. Not sure I like it. We never even heard about this bill and now it's signed by our fat governor.

Illinois to implement rewilding strategies under new Ventura law, revitalizing ecosystems statewide

SPRINGFIELD – To support ongoing efforts aimed at protecting and revitalizing local landscapes and ecosystems, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Anna Moeller partnered on House Bill 2726 to give the...

www.senatorventura.com

 

[Treeshark]

Sounds like a trapping ban in disguise.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

@Nick87 sent this to me and I think we're both thinking the same direction. I remember other states recently using the terms "rewilding, apex predators and keystone species" in their language. Not sure I like it. We never even heard about this bill and now it's signed by our fat governor.

Illinois to implement rewilding strategies under new Ventura law, revitalizing ecosystems statewide

SPRINGFIELD – To support ongoing efforts aimed at protecting and revitalizing local landscapes and ecosystems, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Anna Moeller partnered on House Bill 2726 to give the...

www.senatorventura.com

Yep, “rewilding” is a clever repackaging of the anti-hunting movement. The rewilding folks are the ones pushing hunting bans in states like Colorado and Washington. Within a “rewilding” strategy there is no active wildlife management and definitely no consumptive use. No more multi-use mandate or recreational use, citizens are barred from the land. Seems the cancer is spreading quickly.

 

[Birdbander]

Maybe Washington can send some wolves to Illinois.

The word choice to me is an indicator of their thought process.

 

[Nick87]

Everyone here confirming exactly what my initial thoughts were. Great.

 

[Dave N]

Everyone here confirming exactly what my initial thoughts were. Great.

Yup.

 

[buckbull]

Interested in knowing what apex predator they plan on introducing. We have a rogue mountain lion or bear come through but really dont have the habit sine the big ethanol push and farmers planting every last inch they can.

 

[Dave N]

Maybe Washington can send some wolves to Illinois.

The word choice to me is an indicator of their thought process.

We definitely have had them. Years ago there was a bounty on wolves. My grandfather claimed it on the last one with enough wolf percentage to count, I was told.

 

[Nick87]

farmers planting every last inch they can.

Farm bureau will be on board with anything that would remove another deer or rabbit etc.

 

[Dougfirtree]

I don't want to dismiss your concern, as some of your fears may by on point, but when I hear "re-wilding", I think of landscape restoration. I think of creating more wild spaces, which sounds good to me. In a state like Illinois, that could end up being a good thing for access to wild land and for various species that struggle with habitat fragmentation. I don't know Illinois well, but are you really worried that they'll be reintroducing wolves or lions there?

 

[Nick87]

I don't know Illinois well, but are you really worried that they'll be reintroducing wolves or lions there?

Is there any reason you feel they wouldn't?

 

[Dave N]

I don't want to dismiss your concern, as some of your fears may by on point, but when I hear "re-wilding", I think of landscape restoration. I think of creating more wild spaces, which sounds good to me. In a state like Illinois, that could end up being a good thing for access to wild land and for various species that struggle with habitat fragmentation. I don't know Illinois well, but are you really worried that they'll be reintroducing wolves or lions there?

Not REAL concerned about wolves, but it's a thought. We already have a law banning the killing of bear, lion, etc. even though there isn't a season or anything calling them a game animal. More concerning is the term "keystone species". I've seen it elsewhere that groups were trying to rule that "no harm shall come" to them. Deer sure do seem to fit the description! It's just strange that this has slipped through so quietly without hearing a word about it. Restoration is one thing. We have some river bottom ground here that was converted back to wetlands. If, and I mean IF, they try to slip through something about protections of game animals it will get ugly. We already are getting hosed with our gun laws.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Is there any reason you feel they wouldn't?

Just that it would be a hard case to make that the habitat exists for them there. Not to mention a level of conflict with ag beyond anything we've seen before. Again, not trying to dismiss the concern, it all just reads differently, to me.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Not REAL concerned about wolves, but it's a thought. We already have a law banning the killing of bear, lion, etc. even though there isn't a season or anything calling them a game animal. More concerning is the term "keystone species". I've seen it elsewhere that groups were trying to rule that "no harm shall come" to them. Deer sure do seem to fit the description! It's just strange that this has slipped through so quietly without hearing a word about it. Restoration is one thing. We have some river bottom ground here that was converted back to wetlands. If, and I mean IF, they try to slip through something about protections of game animals it will get ugly. We already are getting hosed with our gun laws.

I think of "keystone species" as one that has a disproportionately large effect on the ecosystem it lives in, usually referring to apex predators like wolves, or to species that are "gluing" together an ecosystem, like salmon do on the west coast. I hope it's not an avenue to attack hunting, as you fear.

 

[Nick87]

Not to mention a level of conflict with ag beyond a

I dont think ag would fight that part all that hard at all.

Just that it would be a hard case to make that the habitat exists for them there

The bottom third/quarter of the state definitely has the habitat. Pretty sure all the way up the west side and into the northwest corner does as well.

Not a hater of wolves at all for the record, but after seeing how a lack of management has unfolded with our neighbors to the north and how much worse our state fumbles those kind of things. I will oppose at all costs for the time being.

 

[Gellar]

Farm bureau will be on board with anything that would remove another deer or rabbit etc.

Farm bureau is conservation!

 

[Nick87]

I dont think ag would fight that part all that hard at all.

The bottom third/quarter of the state definitely has the habitat. Pretty sure all the way up the west side and into the northwest corner does as well.

Not a hater of wolves at all for the record, but after seeing how a lack of management has unfolded with our neighbors to the north and how much worse our state fumbles those kind of things. I will oppose at all costs for the time being.

Edit to add i would oppose the apex predator part we were talking about. Not reclamation of wild lands.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Who the heck comes up with these damn terms like "rewilding"? I think they need to go back to school and/or quit trying to cover things up.

 

[Dave N]

I think of "keystone species" as one that has a disproportionately large effect on the ecosystem it lives in, usually referring to apex predators like wolves, or to species that are "gluing" together an ecosystem, like salmon do on the west coast. I hope it's not an avenue to attack hunting, as you fear.

I've found multiple instances calling whitetail deer a keystone species. Who knows? There has to be a reason this specific item was brought up and signed into law.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

It would be great if the “rewilding” advocates were singularly focused on protecting and restoring landscapes. However, a quick search on the rewilding institute shows they are much more interested in diminishing the role hunters play in wildlife conservation and taking up every effort to eliminate hunting and trapping, particularly mountain lions, black bears, and wolves.

Rewilding

For A Wilder World

rewilding.org