Pros And Cons Of Protecting The Gray Wolf

The main issue being reported in each article was the concern from environmentalists, governmental employees, and ranchers with taking the gray wolf off the endangered species list, thereby removing hunting protections. These differing opinions have caused significant controversy and years of court-room battling. In each article, the main viewpoints are the people that oppose protecting the gray wolf and the people that want to protect the gray wolf. In the first article written in 2009, the first viewpoints are from the Obama administration and supporters of taking the gray wolf off the endangered species list (nytimes, 2009). The other viewpoint are the environmental groups that were trying to keep the gray wolf on the list by suing or
with other legal actions (nytimes, 2009). Many of the supporters for taking the wolf off the list want to kill the wolves and reduce their numbers for fear of losing livestock (nytimes, 2009). However, states have agreed to make sure that the wolf populations do not decrease past a certain population point (nytimes, 2009). The groups that are against taking the wolf off the list argue that without protection, the wolf will not be able to survive due to low numbers (nytimes, 2009). In the next article, Congress played its part to remove the wolf from the list. The viewpoints are Congress versus the environmental groups that are outraged that a non-science based agency is removing protections (nytimes, 2011). Congress is supporting the groups of people that are afraid of the threat the wolf population causes on deer, elk, and other animals (nytimes, 2011). The environmental groups are frustrated because this is not the first sign of Congress involving themselves in science-related issues (nytimes, 2011). Recently, there have been budget cuts for programs that discuss climate change, renewable energy, and environmental cleanup efforts (nytimes, 2011). In the third article, it discusses how ranchers are annoyed that environmentalists forced the decision to reintroduce the wolf back in the 90s. The viewpoints are the ranchers versus the environmental groups (nytimes, 2011). Environmentalists have tried to get ranchers to peacefully get rid of wolves without killing them (nytimes, 2011). For instance, they have offered money and trained riders to fend off wolves near farming/ranching areas (nytimes, 2011).
The problem with offering money is that some ranchers have accepted it, but used that money to pay hunters to kill as many wolves as possible (nytimes, 2011). Ranchers do not believe that it is necessary to keep wolf populations as high as they are (nytimes, 2011). The fourth article discussed how the court was going to uphold Congress’s act to remove the wolf from the endangered species list (latimes, 2012). The main viewpoints are the agencies that support Congress’s decision to take the wolf off the list versus the environmental groups (latimes, 2012). The environmental groups were arguing that the rider that Congress issued in 2011 was a violation of the separation of powers doctrine (latimes, 2012). However, it was revealed that the separation of powers doctrine was not violated and that states should still get the rights to determine wolf population numbers (latimes, 2012). In the fifth article, state governments versus environmental groups are the main viewpoints (nytimes, 2013). State governments believe that they are the most competent to make decisions about the future of wolves (nytimes, 2013). Reports indicate that wolf populations remain
healthy even with state-authorized wolf hunts (nytimes, 2013). In the sixth article, the federal protections for the gray wolf were officially lifted for Wyoming (nytimes, 2012). Montana and Idaho already had protections lifted a while back (nytimes, 2012). Environmental groups are the main viewpoint again versus the states (nytimes, 2012). Environmental groups are still concerned with overkill with these wolves (nytimes, 2012). Lastly, the seventh article discussed how Wyoming wants authority in the areas near Yellowstone Park over the wolf populations (csmonitor, 2016). The viewpoints for this article is the state of Wyoming versus the authority at Yellowstone Park (csmonitor, 2016). Many people argue that giving the state of Wyoming authority of Yellowstone wolves is too early and that the rebounding wolf population will quickly decline with increased hunting (csmonitor, 2016). The key conflict in these articles is whether or not protections for the gray wolf should cease or be continued. Many people argue that the wolf can handle being taken off the endangered species list, but many more people are worried that with increased hunting of these animals there will not be enough to sustain the wolf populations. These reduced populations can cause prey populations to quickly increase and cause other problems for the surrounding environment. There is also the issue of which government or federal agencies should be allowed to input their opinion on science-related matters. Many people believe that Congress and other agencies do not have enough experience to make decisions regarding scientific concerns.