Cheyenne's Howl

Printed in Mountain Messenger on Friday August 29, 1997

Special Interests, Fear Mongering and Destruction

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For millions of years, the Creator and Mother Nature worked side by side and there was balance in this world. Everything worked in harmony and this earth was a paradise for all of its creatures. The air was clean, water was crystal clear and pure. The earth was able to provide all that was needed for survival. Then along comes mankind. While I admit that most people would prefer to live and let live, too many through ignorance, arrogance, greed, prejudice, and just plain stupidity, have decided that they know best. Not only have I witnessed this at local levels, but at statewide, national, and even in the worldwide arena. The attitude that some carry with them is "live for today and to Hell with you and tomorrow." They take what they want without any concern for the effect that it might have on others and they give nothing in return. Why is it that man, who can't even get along with his own kind, decides that he knows what is best for us? Why is it that those who need to be educated, refuse to learn? Why is it that when man doesn't understand something, he kills and gets rid of it? Why does greed play such an important role in the lives of man? Why won't man listen and learn from the other creatures of this world? After all, we have been here a lot longer than you and all was going just fine until you stuck your nose into our business. It is also a shame that many of you who have the chance to inform others of the many benefits of living together in harmony, choose instead to sensationalize, provide half truths, and to use fear for your own personal gain. Today, and in future articles, I will be informing you about some concerns of mine and how they can affect you. I encourage you to listen and take appropriate action before mankind itself ends up on the endangered species list.

Most of my readers have learned about the important part we wolves play within the ecosystem. We create a balance that helps keep the wild herds, such as deer, elk, caribou, and moose, healthy. We cull out the sick, injured, old, and young. This in turn provides more food for each of the remaining members of the herd. We do not, and I repeat, we do not go after the trophy animals that the poachers and hunters prize so dearly. That would be suicide for us. I actually believed that the tide of hatred toward the wolf was changing but I know different. Special interests, misguided ranchers, politicians, and anti-wolf and wolfdog fearmongers are chipping away at any progress being made and senseless killings are again taking place. I just found out from the Defenders Of Wildlife that right now in Alaska, vigilantes are offering a $400.00 private bounty for every wolf killed in an area east of Fairbanks. Alaskan officials are even flaunting their new discounted tag fee of "just $50.00" for foreign sportsmen to come shoot wolves in their state. Even worse, anti-wolf forces in Alaska are now trying to get court action to repeal the historic ballot initiative that ended the same-day land-and-shoot hunting that went on last year. And now a hostile Congress wants to repeal the Endangered Species Act. Why do you humans fight so hard to take forward steps only to allow special interests to knock you back on your butts? More next week.

Cheyenne