http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/04/wolves-hunting-tourism-montana-idaho-budget-yellowstone-national-park/155666/1?loc=interstitialskip
The wolf issue is at it again. The measure to remove wolves off the federal Endangered Species list, which would open the doors to commercial hunting this fall, is being supported by Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson and Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. Wolves were near extinction before they were put onto this list. Yes, they might have made a comeback, but taking them off the list can send them back into the same fate because everyone will begin to hunt them like crazy. They would not be allowed though to hunt wolves within Yellostone Park territory. The other side however, is more concerned with livestock attacks. They want to protect the livestock and also receive all the money they would get by issueing hunting lisences. Last week, the Idaho legislature approved a bill declaring the state's estimated 800 wolves a "disaster emergency" - akin to a flood or wildfire - and giving the governor broad powers to eliminate them. Personally, I hope this budget does not remove them off the endangered species list because I would hate to see what the declining population of the wolves would do to the rest of the world.
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