2007-05-15 01:11:28 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Conservation
By the time wolves were finally protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, they had been exterminated from the lower 48 states, except for a few hundred that inhabited extreme northeastern Minnesota.
2007-05-15 01:18:53 · answer #1 · answered by wizjp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The population reduction began in the late 1900s until by around 1930 they couldn't be found. Eradication in the United States was almost complete. Right or wrongly, ranchers hate the wolf.
About twenty years ago, with some husbandry and education they have started somewhat of a comeback, however, the Grey Wolf is still listed on the Endangered Species list.
2007-05-15 08:38:54 · answer #2 · answered by SteadyUnderFire 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wolves became endangered in the early 1970's in the USA. Canada still had wolves. Now the wolves were reintroduced into the Northern parts of the US especially, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho. They have been multipling over the last 20 years and now there are healthy numbers.
But the biggest problems is the hatred of the Ranchers for the wolf. The wolf has always been hated by pioneers, farmers, ranchers, and the like. Back in the old days they were shot and even hunted down and killed and poisoned.
A wolf is smart and a terrific hunter. He can travel long distances for food. He is quite resilant and his main enemy has been man.
The ranchers in the Northern States have lost too much livestock to the wolf and that means money. These ranchers are quite wealthy and they can afford to group together, change legislation to ban the wolf. They lost out in the 70's but are fighting even harder today to rid their area of wolves. Wolves kill sheep, and cattle for food. The pack can kill several in one day taking out many in a week. One steer is worth $500-$1,000 and one sheep is worth $300-$400. It is all about money.
The wolf is making a comeback and now the government is being pressured to remove all restrictions against killing them. If the laws are reversed, you will see a steep decline in under 5 years. This is not the answer. Ranchers need to use modern technology to keep the wolves out of their fields and ranches. The products are there and the costs are coming down. Wolves are part of our environment and they have a place in the Ecosystem and Circle of Life.
Lets keep them protected.
2007-05-15 14:10:38 · answer #3 · answered by Nevada Pokerqueen 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you ask me, the wolves really became endangered when the whites came and took the Native Ameicans' land! They came in with their dogs and started overhunting the wolves' prey; so starvation and loss of habitat probably hurt them first!
Wolf conservation went at its peak in the 1960s-1970s, because of these two statements (above), and overhunting as a major factor.
2007-05-17 20:12:46 · answer #4 · answered by Dragonheart 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were listed in March of 1967. Gray wolves were probably endangered long before they were ever listed.
2007-05-15 19:06:56 · answer #5 · answered by fieldworking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And the governor of Iowa is going to allow the slaughter of grey wolves now that populations in his state have stabilized. Our tax dollars at work. There is an online petition to prevent these murders....here is an article.
http://siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/01/12/news/latest_news/b1139d550ae6766e86257261001b7fb1.txt
2007-05-15 08:22:22 · answer #6 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because the ranchers were trapping them and killing them because they were killing their cattle and other animals. they put a price on their skin and everyone started hunting them for money. Only after a long time did everyone realize that the wolf was needed to keep the sick and maimed deer and other animals in line. and so they reintroduced the canadian wolf into the US
2007-05-15 18:03:32 · answer #7 · answered by Nora G 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cuz no one really likes wolves
2007-05-15 08:43:41 · answer #8 · answered by Death N 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋