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Ranchers vs. wolves
#1
There is a real problem in the north west USA between cattle ranchers and the wolves. Environmentalists have taken up the cause of the wolves. Wolves are being killed because they supposedly kill cattle. One ranch in particular is responsible for many wolf deaths. The rancher refuses to take any other precautions to protect his cattle. The state wildlife agencies are not protecting the wolves. They are working for the ranchers. They will come in and kill wolves, but they won't insist that the ranchers take other preventative measures.

Environmentalists defending the wolves  insist that they are essential to the well being of the ecosystems. Apex predators actually stabilize deer and elk populations and improve biodiversity. They claim ranchers could protect their cattle without killing wolves. Killing wolves goes against principle of conservation. 

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-ranch-wolv...chers.html

This may seem to be a conflict between human groups, but ultimately the wolves are the ones that suffer. It is short sighted to kill off the predator that stabilizes your ecosystem. Maybe it is time to stop grazing cattle on federal land. That land should be protected and it should be a place for wildlife to thrive. The real reason why cattle are allowed to graze on federal land is the money the ranchers pay for the grazing rights. Sadly as long as ranchers pay, wolves will be killed. I don't know what the solution is, but it probably lies in educating ranchers about ecology, ecosystems, the need for biodiversity and the critical role wolves play in all of this. 
Good like getting one particular rancher to listen.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

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