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30 local business owners who operate in and around Yellowstone National Park sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland urging her to once again list the gray wolf as an endangered species after numerous wolves were killed just outside the border of the park.
Recently passed laws in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho have authorized more methods to hunt and trap wolves. The Associated Press reported on January 6 that 20 wolves from packs residing in Yellowstone National Park had been shot and killed, 15 in Montana alone. After wolves in the Northern Rockies came off the endangered species list in 2011, Montana put a low quota (no more than five) on the number of wolves that could be killed in hunting districts adjacent to the park. In August, the members of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission appointed by Governor Greg Gianforte eliminated the quotas.
In September, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it would review the wolf’s status to determine if relisting the species is warranted, though advocates worry about the time required for such a review. Yellowstone Park superintendent Cam Sholly asked Governor Gianforte to stop hunting and trapping around the park after three wolf pups were killed in September, though the governor deferred to the will of his hand-picked commission.
Chris Hoff, a photographer and the owner of Yellowstone Wild the Gallery says, “Wolves are not just essential to my business but make up 70% of my sales as a wildlife photographer and gallery owner. My customers travel from all over the world for a chance to see a wild Yellowstone wolf. The current slaughter of Yellowstone wolves will be detrimental to my livelihood.” Visitor polling consistently places wildlife viewing in the top three reasons people want to visit Yellowstone. Park visitation almost doubled to more than 4.4 million visitors in 2021, and the economic impact on the region is about $80 million annually.
It’s been 26 years since the first wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park. As the park prepares to celebrate its 150th birthday, the killing of so many wolves is a black eye on the celebration.
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To be effective, the atlas should focus on tangible, clear, meaningful and durable conservation. The atlas must measure not just the amount of area of concern, but also the positive outcomes for species, habitat, nature, and services to people and climate. The most important aspect of this atlas is that it becomes a measure of progress, not merely an accounting exercise."
