Wolf Toleration

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

I think it is interesting that 74% of Montanans tolerate wolves, but an exact same proportion of Montanans (74%), still support lethal control.

As someone who believes it's perfectly fine to hunt and trap wolves, I would wager that the percentage of those who tolerate wolves would be quite lower if not for our ability to manage them. Not because wolves would be running roughshod, but because a state having agency over a species helps a western populace to not look at a species as something the "damn feds" are thrusting upon them. I don't view it as great that only 36% of Montanans approve of trapping them, but mostly think it is a product of an uphill PR battle trapping exists in no matter what, no matter the species.

I think that a big part of the animosity from folks in Oregon and California comes from feeling like they have no agency in the issue. I like to clown on people here, and really across the nation, that every time wolves colonize a new area the residents act like it's a fresh new tragedy that nobody has ever experienced, but I get that part of their trauma is that they feel like they have no power in the situation.

Rural folks would likely feel better if they had some legal tools, but simultaneously we'd likely be farther along, at least in Oregon, if a couple dozen wolves hadn't been poisoned and poached over the last decade.

 

[SAJ-99]

I think it is interesting that 74% of Montanans tolerate wolves, but an exact same proportion of Montanans (74%), still support lethal control.

I don't think everyone has the same definition of tolerate in this case and consequently the poll is as useless as wet toilet paper.

 

[rogerthat]

Ranchers are just a small part of the equation. Id rather not watch wildlife agencies spend a million dollars in 3 months to haze wolves then kill them anyway, when a rancher can do it in 5 minutes for a few bucks. Literally happened here in CA with the cdfw, and they even shot one that wasn't eating cows lol. We can have wolves and eat beef too... that million dollars was better spent on conserving land because habitat destruction destroys all wildlife.

The ranchers I know aren’t good at killing anything besides maybe grasshoppers and Canada thistle once in a while. But that’s what happens when you let your gun ride in the feed truck all year and never check zero.

 

[Lota lota]

Well, put me down for being a little more for nature and a little less for ranching for targets

Who do you think puts food on the table of American families? Are you vegan?

 

[TOGIE]

I would wager that the percentage of those who tolerate wolves would be quite lower if not for our ability to manage them. Not because wolves would be running roughshod, but because a state having agency over a species helps a western populace to not look at a species as something the "damn feds" are thrusting upon them.

This is why, as a big proponent of the "i want to see all the species back on the landscape" movement, if you will, I am not sure I will ever be able to "tolerate" wolves in colorado.

They were thrust on us due to the successful campaigning of anti hunting organizations while our wildlife agency was/is simultaneously seeing an unprecedented shift in political weaponization at the hands of our executive who is listening to the same anti hunting organizations.

Because of that, I can feel confident that wolves will never be managed here. At least never by hunters. Due to that, I am, and probably always will be, an individual that expressly and adamantly will not "tolerate" them.

I sure hope to be wrong though.

 

[SAJ-99]

Who do you think puts food on the table of American families? Are you vegan?

Argentinian ranchers.

Joking obviously but not entirely untrue as of late. And also, it ain’t charity work.