Lamar Canyon yearling male poached in Gardiner, MT
According the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks site, “Poaching is a growing problem, one that occurs statewide and year-round. Poachers take some of Montana’s biggest and best game specimens, robbing law-abiding citizens of opportunities to see and legally harvest those animals.”
Sure am glad that they added, “opportunities to see…” along with legally harvest because, I, personally, have a difficult time with the idea that wildlife is strictly for the harvest purposes of the hunters.
More and more, as the numbers of hunters decline, the numbers show that wildlife viewing is by far the preferred wildlife activity. For instance, in 2005 it was estimated that the presence of wolves in Yellowstone increased revenue for the local economies and the park by 35.5 million dollars!
The numbers of people coming to Yellowstone in hopes of seeing the wolves are on the rise and the economy of wolf viewing is soaring.
Yet, in one Yellowstone gateway community, some residents, it seems, have failed to recognize the economic benefits of the wolves in Gardiner, MT. The North Gate to the park, in Gardiner, provides the only year around vehicle access to the park and out to Lamar Valley where visitors have the best chance of seeing the wolves.
Each winter hundreds of people book rooms in Gardiner and eat in local restaurants during their visits to see Yellowstone wolves. Without the wolves Gardiner would be a ghost town during those cold months when all of the other gates are locked tight, except for over snow travel. The year after 06’, the Lamar Canyon alpha female was legally killed by a hunter, business was down in Gardiner as fewer people came to see the wolves, because there were not many to be seen.
Without wolves, I would not be here.
For six months every fall and winter, those of us who care about the wolves and their continued existence, wake up every morning with a cloud of fear over our heads, wondering if any of our favorite wolves had been legally killed by hunters the day before. One day last winter five wolves were killed, filling the quota of 3 in one section north of town. Two wolves were killed in the adjacent section, which would have filled that quota also but one was counted as a predator. Which meant that we lived with the fear of one more wolf being killed for the entire six months.
And, so, on March 15, you would think that we could breathe a sigh of relief and move on, simply enjoying the wolves for a few months until the next hunting season. Unfortunately, due to poaching this is not the case.
Each year, since I have been here, wolves have simply disappeared. While some might be killed during wolf on wolf conflict, or while hunting, many are the victim of SSS, shoot, shovel and shut up. For the most part, we do not know the fate of the wolf if it was not collared.
Only, with the recent poaching of a Lamar Canyon yearling a mile from the park boundary, in Gardiner, MT, the poacher left the wolf to be found, leaving one to wonder if they wanted us to know the fate of our yearling male.
Hunting season is hard enough but it is legal and we all must respect the law, even when we don’t like the laws. But, to have people, who most likely live in a community that benefits greatly from the existence of these animals, go out and illegally kill a park wolf, is unconscionable. Unspeakable emotions surface as we attempt to grapple with the sort of hatred that kills animals just because they can pull a trigger. I have never understood the man or woman who could pull a trigger on a wolf – an animal that is so much like their own dogs, but try not to judge what is done legally.
The Lamar Canyon yearlings, all six of them, dispersed from their mother after their father, Big Grey, 925, was killed during an attack by another pack. The yearlings could not handle the fact that their mother soon took up with the rival males that had had a part in Big Grey’s death and so they left and stayed together until the illegal shooting of their big brother, the largest and quite possibly the glue amongst them. Unfortunately, the yearlings had found what they thought was a quiet, peaceful spot right outside of the park where the elk and deer were plentiful and they should have been allowed to exist without human interference. But, at least one person decided to take the law into his own hand and to pull the trigger illegally.
And, now, once again, people want lists of businesses in Gardiner whose owners do not care for the wolves. No one wants to add to the local economy of a town that doesn’t appreciate the benefits of the wolves – not only from an economic standpoint but also because of the healthier eco-system that is giving hunters much healthier elk.
The poaching and the hatred of wolves in Gardiner, MT puts a blight on the entire town as word sweeps around the world of another wolf illegally killed. It is time for the citizens of Gardiner to come together and speak out against this type of illegal activity. And, it is time for people to become educated with the true facts about the wolves, that dispel many of the stories that are told in an attempt to raise the fear and anger of those who don’t know any better.
Poaching – the illegal killing of a wolf or any other animal – should not be tolerated outside of the gates of Yellowstone, or anywhere for that matter, where thousands of people come to visit the park and see wildlife. We need stiffer penalties for poaching incidents that include high fines, jail time and loss of hunting privileges. And, we need to all come together for the common benefit of the park, its wildlife and the community to stop this from continuing to happen.
To make a donation to the already generous reward by Wolves of the Rockies please visit their Facebook page and use the donation tab – it is quick and easy. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wolves-of-the-Rockies/166227613433097?fref=ts
Or, mail a check to:
Wolves of the Rockies
P.O. Box 742
Stevensville, MT
59870
Please make sure to mention
“towards rewards Yellowstone wolf”.
Thank you for caring about Yellowstone wolves.
Also Deby, Colleen is looking for any photos of 302M, and will pay whatever for them,
My friend, Colleen Sorensen gave a check of $1000.00 towards the reward. What a wolf advocate!!!! Can you give a list of anti wolf businesses in Gardiner & Cooke City for us to avoid as we visit every 2 months?
I spent money in Gardiner and Cooke City last year and the reason was to see wolves! I did not like the feel of either location and although I am not familiar with who supports wolves and who doesn’t the prevailing attitude, to me, was not supportive of the wolves. For Towns that are dependent on tourists they don’t show it.
I hope the POS poacher is caught but even if they are I don’t believe they will receive anything more than a slap on the wrist. Stronger laws need to be passed and this behavior should not be tolerated.
Deby, well said! Can I forward with full credit, you words tonight to my wolf page or should I do a post about you and the Yellowstone Daily so people can come here, read this and possibly sign up for full access? Which ever you prefer. Just let me know.
I am so upset that a person did this and blatantly displayed that precious animal that it would be found! Do you think there is a person that we are not aware of,that reads these boards with all intention of finding where the wolves are traveling and they follow those leads? It makes me so sad.
Ok, thanks again and I will watch for your answer on which way to proceed. ShW
How ever you want to do it Shelley. Just important that people get the message about this poaching and what it does to everyone. It is also important that people know that Wolves of the Rockies donated $2000 for the reward of capture of the poacher and that people should help increase this amount by making donations to them. Unfortunately, another individual decided to be a hero and start her own fundraiser for the reward, instead of giving credit where it is due. This new fundraiser is not for any existing fund because the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks was not offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person, so not sure what will happen to any funds that are collected. At any rate, if they truly cared about the animals they would be working with Wolves of the Rockies instead of trying to take credit for someone else’s idea and hard work. I am sure that people do follow different sites, which is why I am always careful with public information.
Very well said Deby – I wish people would really listen. So many sad days. I wonder what has become of the gorgeous 778, he has just disappeared. And was concerned when YR mentioned 712 was not with the Canyon Alpha. Hoping 755, his new lady & family stay in the park. But we must not give up hope – ever – we are their only voices!!
Very sad, but very well said! I haven’t added up our expenses for our 2 nights in Gardiner and 2 days in Yellowstone at the end of April this year, but it certainly wasn’t cheap! Our family of 8 rented a cabin for 2 nights, shopped, bought gas and ate out in Gardiner and Cooke City. We came to Yellowstone with one main goal, seeing the wolves, and we suceeded, but if the wolves go away, so will a lot of the people. I realize a lot of the locals hate the wolves and the “tourons” (most of us are TOURISTS and follow the guidelines), but I wonder if they even stop to think about how their jobs depend on them. I really hope the poaching stops and we can all continue to enjoy what God has blessed us with!