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This is a true story about not giving up! Sometime around Christmas in the mid 90’s I let Kimo outside to do his duty. About 1/2 hour later I opened the door but he wasn’t at the door so I called for him, but he never showed up so I went back inside and waited a little longer. But I thought it was very weird that he wasn’t there. 10 minutes later I called for him again, but didn’t hear anything. As I started to go back inside I heard him yelp very loudly and I knew something was wrong because that was not his nature not to come when I called his name. Anyhow, I ran around the corner of the house and saw him towards the back, half standing, and half crawling. So I ran up to him, and that’s when I noticed he had dragged himself through the snow from way out in our backyard, about 60 yards or so. He just kept going, dragging himself and wouldn’t give up or quit. I believe the wolf instincts in him took over. It was then that I learned never give up no matter what! Yes I know ALL dogs have their basic instincts, but if you knew Kimo, then you’d understand why I said that. A friend of ours had stopped over so he and I laid a blanket down beside him and rolled him onto it and carried him inside – he was so large that it took 2 of us to do it. He seemed to relax a little, even wagged his tail but whimpered ever so slightly. But, it was the way he looked at me (a cold deep wolf type stare), that made me realize 2 things:
1- Just what a special dog he truly was & 2- even he knew it was time to say goodbye. My father took him to the vet because I just couldn’t do it, and had him put to sleep. It was and is still so heartbreaking because he wasn’t that old – about 13. I often wonder if I had just let him rest a little, if he’d be ok but I know deep down inside we did the right thing…RIP buddy! THAT’s why this page is dedicated to him and he is why I love wolves so much. In his honor, I am going to use his name KIMO as my handle on my posts! Too often hunters in general try to prove non hunters are hypocrites. Well, let’s take a look at a couple of their theories and poke some holes in them shall we?
Allow me to once again reiterate that we are NOT anti hunting! Some of us come from hunting families! However, we are against certain aspects and methods used by hunters and organizations, as well as being against the hunting of wild predators! Theory #1. We eat meat so we are hypocrites. Well, I can almost understand this theory. Yes some of us do eat meat – I happen to love meat! Problem is, the meat I eat was raised to be eaten, and that’s its only purpose! This consists of beef, turkey, chicken, pork and fish as the staples. But it could also include wildlife such as elk that are bred and raised for consumption – sorry elk lovers but that is a fact. However, since wolves are not raised for consumption then wolf advocates are NOT hypocrites! Theory #2. We live in houses so we must not respect wildlife thus we are hypocrites? Sorry, but where I live, the building was here before I got here. It was built by people I do not know, long ago. So there isn’t much I can do about it is there? Now yes if it were a new project being erected at the cost of destroying wildlife habitat I could fight it. To be honest I am currently doing against our new police station proposal! I can only do what I can do, the rest is in God’s hands! So, am I still a hypocrite? Theory #3. Hunters contribute more to wildlife than non-hunters do, so we aren’t true advocates. Yes they do contribute to wildlife in a way, but not the way they are claiming. They pay for ammo to use to shoot predators – for sport mind you but they are only funding more of the same. Plus, a lot of so-called funding can be used as a tax write off! Furthermore, we as tax paying citizens also fund some of the same, in a reluctant manner, however! Companies that make ammo or guns also promote killing of predators, yet these same people are NOT officials assigned to do such. We as activists do things in person to help wildlife, not just funding a project! Theory #4. I am just a stupid wolf a boo who doesn’t know what those vermin wolves have done. No, I prefer to think about it as having enough respect, common sense and understanding that predators are the natural law of nature! They are living breathing sentient beings just like you are. They tend to mate for life and remain loyal to their mate, even at the cost of leaving the pack! They experience many different emotions and express their feelings loud and clearly. Theory #5. You don’t know anything about these killing machines. Sorry but yes we do. Predator hunters tend to use/post information from predator hunting websites, where as we tend to use official websites. When they are confronted with hard proof and evidence – whether in person or online – they tend to become arrogant, ignorant or hateful. Theory #6. The only good predator is a dead predator. Fact is, we need them more than they need us. Without the proper balance in the wild, we doom more than just the ecosystem! Plus predators are the law of nature itself! They manage the smaller animal populations – most notably the rodent population, weak/older/injured/sick prey, some times young prey – and can be easily controlled with NON-LETHAL methods. They also are unable to distinguish between what is normal wild prey, and what is livestock. Furthermore, even unsuccessful wolf hunts/kills still manage to harm wolves due to the stress it places on them. Just because they are wild animals doesn’t mean they don’t experience legitimate feelings/emotions! Just like a human, they feel pain physically and emotionally. However, although wolves act on instinct and do maintain memories to an extent, they do not normally act out of revenge or for vengeance! Did it ever occur to you that things are exactly as they are supposed to be? NOTE: Finding and gassing a wolf den is not very humane at all. The end result is still death for the pups and if the female is present and pregnant then, those unborn wolf pups she is carrying are also dead as is she. Collaring wolves to supposedly track wolves for positive reasons actually works against the thought as the collars can become a death sentence for wolves. Baiting wolves or using a Judas wolf shows just how far man has regressed back to barbaric methods and is the most despicable method used. Removing wolves from their natural environment and territory defeats the purpose and just creates newer problems for the next person. Trapping wolves is another extremely barbaric way of controlling wolves and often leads to mismanagement of trapping regulations. It is also very inhumane as well! Sponsoring or increasing a wolf cull will only lead to illegal hunts and poaching of wolves. Those hunts also tend to lead to frequent accidental or wrongful deaths of dogs and or hunters. And why do avid hunters have the right to use a high-powered rifle with a high-tech scope and prime ammunition to be able to shoot predators at great distances? That is extremely un sportsman like and takes away from the true meaning of hunting. Actually, that is not conservation at all, but more like desperation! How many species have already been pushed into extinction because humans thought they were God? How many more must suffer the same fate? Theory #7. You don’t have to deal with them continually killing your livestock. Killing predators to save livestock will not help manage said predator population, nor will it help save livestock. In fact, it actually opens the door for more interactions from other predators, at an increased level! This is why non-lethal methods are encouraged. There are numerous non-lethal methods that are proven cost-effective. What happens when a family pet gets neglected? They tend to become un-trainable and can be extremely aggressive out of fear, especially when it comes to lack of food! So how is that any different from a wolf or any other predator species? Not only that but Elk feeding stations actually encourage more predator encounters due to the nature of it! So the point is the predators act exactly how they are supposed to act, so who are you to feel you need to manage them? Theory #8. Non lethal methods do not work. Sorry but so much research has been done regarding non-lethal methods and/or ways to manage wildlife, more specifically wolves, and they have ALL been found cost-effective and proven to be fairly successful. It’s amazing that some of what is researched was covered in-depth and approved of by the USFWS, yet too many ranchers/hunters don’t use those methods? That furthers the notion that an organization or an agency, is only as good as its leadership is! Theory #9. Hunting for food, and taking a picture of said kill is 1 thing – hunting a predator or exotic animal for sport or a trophy, then taking a photo and exploiting it is a totally different story! It has been documented and proven in so many ways that we can live in peace, but there are some of us that are apparently still blind and deaf! Theory #10. While no one wants to see livestock attacked/killed by other predators (NOT JUST WOLVES) we also do not want to see wolves needlessly slaughtered for no justifiable reason either! There are countless NON LETHAL ways to deal with wolves, as you should be well aware of – but your solution is to eradicate them? Closing remarks: All predators are pursued by poachers, despised by ranchers, hunted/trapped/killed/harassed by so many, despite the fact how essential they are!If you value wildlife, then join our fight against the corrupt people and agencies trying to strip them of their protection again! Besides, why would we want anybody who is against wildlife rights to be in office of an agency that is responsible for their well-being anyway? How many different ways and how many times can they try to water down what’s left of the Endangered Species Act? The United States Environmental Protection Agency is also all but destroyed as well. The USFWS are neglecting their original agenda for personal agenda’s! How can we the people allow them to do it? What will it take for people to wake up and realize what is at stake? When will enough be enough? How many animals must suffer for our mistakes? Instead of blaming wildlife or attacking wildlife, we should be blaming ourselves for letting our wildlife down and leaving it to suffer because of our own stupidity!The ESA & EPA are ALL that stands between COUNTLESS wild animals & their habitats and their destruction including unfortunately extinction!
Think about it… How many different ways and how many times can they try to water down what’s left of the ESA and/or the EPA? How can we the people allow them to do it? What will it take for people to wake up and realize what is at stake? When will enough be enough? It’s time to stand up for the ESA/EPA like never before! Without them in place and NOT adapted (overwritten) from their original formats, we stand to lose so much much more! IN OTHER WORDS: IF PEOPLE DON’T WAKE UP SOON AND TAKE A STAND FOR YOUR WILDLIFE, THERE WON’T BE ANY WILDLIFE LEFT TO PROTECT! THE GOVERNMENT COULD CARE LESS. TRUMP WON’T RAISE A FINGER TO HELP AND ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL FORCES NOW CONTROL BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS! OUR WILDLIFE NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER! IT IS UP TO US TO TAKE A STAND AND FIGHT LIKE NEVER BEFORE! CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND URGE THEM TO OPPOSE ANY AND ALL POISON PILL RIDERS THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF PROTECTING YOUR WILDLIFE! TAKE A STAND FOR THE ESA BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! BLOW UP THEIR TWITTER & EMAIL ACCOUNTS, CALL REPRESENTATIVES AND KEEP ON WRITING THOSE LETTERS! ASK US HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED! UNLESS YOU DON’T CARE ANYMORE! #protectwolves #savewolves #speakforwolves #standforwolves #helpwolves #ForTheLoveOfWolves I am sick of how people try to scare others in regards to wolves when it comes to “interacting” with wolves!FACT: Wolves do not know the difference between livestock or wild prey! Wolves are born to hunt, it’s the law of nature but only 1 in 5 attempts is successful. Recent research is finding that many of the so-called “wolf kills” actually occurred AFTER the prey has already either died, is already close to death, is older/younger, is alone, or has become infected with 1 of countless illnesses! Elk and wildlife feeding lots are making wolf encounters more frequent than they normally would be. The last few supposed wolf kills occurred over a period of several days, not just a single day as originally reported.They are an APEX predator, what do you expect them to do?\
#1. Stop believing fairy tales – normally wolves are not overly aggressive, but again, they are a wild animal and should be considered as such! #2. They do NOT just decide to go on a killing spree! In fact, they RARELY kill more than they can eat – they fend for the entire pack when they hunt! Wolves may only consume up to 80% of larger kills at a setting for good reason. (see #5) They also may return to the site of larger kills to scavenge for left overs! #3. They will NOT just attack unless they are provoked or their pups/den are threatened! #4. When wolves gorge on raw meat and blood, they get what is termed “meat drunk” which actually can incapacitate a wolf. Hence usually after a LARGER meal, wolves will become lazy/lethargic and resort to taking a nap! If they continue to gorge themselves with a full belly, this can lead to serious complications! # 5. Yes there are recorded facts of wolf attacks and even deaths! (see links below) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wolf_attacks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wolf_attacks_in_North_America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_attacks_on_humans This is the ORIGINAL email: Dear Dr. Tuggle, This email is in regards to a petition I initiated a few months ago in an attempt to get Guardian M1396 released back to his mate and pups! There are over 72,000 signatures on it as we speak! It has been featured on several news broadcasts within the Albuquerque, New Mexico area. Please find the url link to the petition itself and the url to the pdf containing the signatures at the bottom! U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has trapped and removed Guardian, the alpha male of a Mexican wolf pack that lives in Gila National Forest. Without his support and leadership, the survival of his pack is in jeopardy. Douglas, a Care2 member and wolf supporter, was so outraged by the actions of USFWS that he started this petition to release Guardian. There are fewer than 100 Mexican wolves living in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico, and the federal reintroduction program to rebuild their population was just starting to show progress. If this pack doesn’t survive, it will be a significant blow to the overall population. The reason Guardian was trapped was because he killed livestock to feed his hungry pups and pack. Now his pack is severely threatened. Ranchers and the federal government hunted the Mexican wolf to oblivion decades ago — which is why this reintroduction program is desperately needed. Ranchers are paid for any livestock that are killed by wolves. Additionally, recent research shows removing alpha animals to reduce livestock depredation might not even lead to fewer dead sheep or cattle. It’s time for the public to speak up for healthy ecosystems and healthy wolfpopulations. If enough of us take action, USFWS will have to respond. Sign Douglas’ petition and urge the USFWS to run the reintroduction program according to science, and not the wishes of ranchers: Let Guardian run free! Thank you for acting for wildlife! GUARDIAN THE NEW MEXICAN MEXICAN WOLF After Feds Trap Endangered Alpha Wolf, Over 56k Sign Care2 Petition for His Release *** http://www.thepetitionsite.com/828/364/049/ *** A Care2 Petition is Pushing Back on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Placing the Alpha Male, Named Guardian, Into Captivity SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO — A Care2 petition is urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to return Guardian, or Wolf M1396, back to his home in the wild after the federal agency captured the endangered Mexican gray wolf, an alpha male, and placed him in captivity. The petition has gathered over 74,000 signatures. VIEW THE CARE2 PETITION HERE: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/828/364/049/ The federal government ordered Guardian to be captured after he killed livestock, but Care2 petition author Douglas Lopes says that because the animal is an alpha male, his removal threatens the entire pack — and potentially, the entire species’ recovery. “Guardian is just the latest example of how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prioritizes the will of ranchers over the needs of wolves,” Lopes told Care2. “Spending taxpayer funds to eradicate wolves is shameful.” According to the FWS, there were 110 wild wolves counted in Arizona and New Mexico at the end of 2014. At the end of 2015, that number had dropped to 97. “The [U.S. government’s] reintroduction program is an important step to right this wrong, but only if wolves are allowed to live freely across wild federal lands of the Southeast,” Lopes said. “Guardian needs to be returned to his pack. Without their alpha, the Luna group is at risk.” Three wolves have already died this year, including two accidentally killed by government traps, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. (PRESS & MEDIA COVERAGE) GUARDIAN THE MEXICAN GREY WOLF KRQE (CBS) Albuquerque, NM (Petition Hyperlink): http://krqe.com/blog/2016/08/17/petition-aims-to-release-mexican-gray-wolf/ KRQE (CBS) Albuquerque, NM http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/23845838?token=82abd5c8-caf5-4c15-8609-e3779f653ee8 KRQUE (CBS) Albuquerque, NM (Cont.): http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/23845834?token=82abd5c8-caf5-4c15-8609-e3779f653ee8 KASA (FOX) Albuquerque, NM: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/23845836?token=82abd5c8-caf5-4c15-8609-e3779f653ee8 |
AuthorDouglas W. Lopes Archives
March 2017
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