Oct 25 2008
Family Farmers Fall Prey to Predators
Great Lakes wolf
population is reinstated to the endangered species list
Citing an ambiguity in the 1973 Endangered Species Act, a federal judge nullified the authority of state governments in the Great Lakes Region to control a thriving population of wolves. On September 29th, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman acquiesced to animal rights activists and reinstated wolves to the endangered species lists, making criminals out of law-abiding citizens in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.
In 2007, the Fish and Wildlife Service agreed with state officials in the Great Lakes Region that the wolf population had become robust, with populations rising at nearly twice the anticipated rate. As the wolf numbers continue to rise, so do the attacks on livestock. The ruling effectively overrides the state laws allowing farmers to shoot wolves that are harassing livestock. Now, farmers who shoot wolves are committing a felony. With his ruling, Friedman jeopardized the future of family farmers in the Great Lakes Region.
“This really takes away our ability to implement our management plan,” says Brian Roell of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Although the wolf population in the Great Lakes Region has grown beyond expectations and is now on the brink of over-population, Howard Goldman of the Humane Society of the United States insists,”In our judgment, this is an animal that deserves protection.”
The ruling effectively nationalizes agriculture
policy, giving liberal urban ideologues control over regional policy. Goldman’s statement illustrates the degree of separation between political agendas and the realities on the ground in rural America. As the cost and availability of quality animal feed continue to plague small-scale family farmers, the last thing they need is to suffer further financial strain due to wolf attacks. Get more news from rural America at RFD America.
