Det går att hålla får och vargar isär utan att tillgripa dödliga metoder

Keeping peace in the mountains

Proactive effort seeks to keep sheep and wolves apart


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By JASON KAUFFMAN
Express Staff Writer
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005131395


Rick Williamson, Idaho wolf management specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, tests for a spark on an electrified sheep enclosure on the North Fork of the Big Wood River in June 2008. For the third year in a row, the portable “night pens” will be used this summer in the upper Wood River Valley to help keep grazing sheep safe from roaming wolves. Photo by Chris Pilaro




In the upper Wood River Valley, a dedicated group of sheep ranchers, conservationists and state and federal officials are quietly redefining what it means to live and work in wolf-occupied Western lands.

On the morning of June 13, the first sheep bands of the summer will be released onto Sawtooth National Forest lands above Ketchum. These lands—in the western shadow of the Boulder Mountains—are also occupied by the Phantom Hill wolf pack.

Since their discovery in spring 2007, the Phantom Hill wolves have attracted quite a lot of attention, both positive and negative. The pack's first notoriety came when they were implicated in a sheep-killing incident.

Thirteen domestic sheep died on national forest land near lower Baker Creek during a single night in summer 2007. Officials initially considered lethal removal of the pack, but relented after the rancher—Gooding sheep producer John Faulkner—agreed to see if non-lethal methods to keep sheep safe from wolves could work.

The result of those talks and follow-up negotiations between three main ranching outfits, the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, USDA Wildlife Services and the Sawtooth National Forest resulted in the Wood River Wolf Project. Across the West, people have taken notice of this unique blending of interests all dedicated to one thing: keeping sheep and wolves alive.

"This project is very much a model project," said Jesse Timberlake, manager of the Wood River Wolf Project for Defenders of Wildlife.

The only major incident since the project began was the deaths of 12 sheep last August when miscommunication left a sheep band unattended in Baker Creek for a night. Other than that, the loss of just one sheep—of about 13,000 that graze the area each summer—has been tied to wolves.

Whether the project's successes can be replicated elsewhere remains to be seen. Participants use several methods to repel wolves that venture too close to sheep, including loud air horns, .22-caliber starter pistols and radio-activated guard boxes that set off loud noises and strobe lights when triggered by radio-collared wolves.



They also herd the bands into electrified pens at night. Hanging off the wire in regular intervals is bright-red ribbon called fladry, which shimmer in the darkness when blown by a slight breeze. These pens have proven to be quite successful at repelling wolves.

Collaborators in the joint venture—which enters its third year this summer—hope to prevent deadly interactions between the thousands of domestic sheep that graze the forest's rural grazing allotments, which stretch from Lake Creek north to Galena Summit. Defenders of Wildlife spent $30,000 of its own money last summer on the project. Blaine County has also donated funds to Wildlife Services for the past two years for the project's non-lethal efforts.

This summer, Defenders of Wildlife will have four field staff sticking close to the grazing sheep bands to make sure none are lost to wolves. They spend many nights out in the field sleeping under the stars and listening to their radio telemetry receivers for the distinctive pings that signal the approach of radio-collared members of the Phantom Hill pack. They also work closely with the herders that tend to each of the ranching outfits' sheep bands.

In addition to Faulkner, the other two ranching outfits involved in the project are Carey-based Lava Lake Land & Livestock and brothers Mike and Mark Hensley of Plateau Farms in Hagerman.

Mike Stevens, president of Lava Lake Land & Livestock, said they've received an overwhelmingly positive response to their efforts from customers, many of whom are locals. He said they appreciate the company's efforts to live in harmony with wolves.

Stevens said they've taken the proactive tools used to deter wolves in the Wood River Valley and replicated them with similar success on wolf-occupied lands they graze outside of the valley.

"These methods work," he said.

Jason Kauffman: jkauffman@mtexpress.com



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badger – hailey 05/20/10 - 20:09Let`s put bear bait up ever canyon before the sheep (and cattle) come to really make it interesting.

kdub63 05/20/10 - 08:57Red dog has his facts right people. So BACK OFF.

Wolf Wars....you bet. seems some of you commoners forget history. We took it out once and will do it again for the sake of our native wildlife. This wolf was not the native wolf that once roamed our region. PERIOD. No one and let me repeat, NO ONE can prove that this 'Canadian' grey wolf was put here other than for one purpose. To eliminate Sport Hunting. The ecosystem is sustaining far greater damage with the intentional spread of the diseases it caries.

Professional bio's such as Dr. Val Geist, and Will Graves warned USFWS (namely ED BANGS) that this specie of wolf was wrong for the region. Yet Bangs and his wolf loving followers overlooked the warnings. (Intentionally). We have this proof on files now and intend to use it to bring charges against these people and there organizations. Mr. Rockholm has said it right. "We will be the FIST".

link to his vid....
www.youtube.com

Common sense tells us to investigate corruption. Mr. James Beers, you are a class act by exposing this to the public. Rockholm, you are a class act for getting it into the eyes of the people. Thanks to you both.

Reply to kdub63
Ton 05/20/10 - 19:57Rockholm and his joke of a organization have no credibility what so ever. Canadian grey wolves are native to Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, etc.
Jerry Blacvk 05/20/10 - 08:36Anyone with info.........
Are any such efforts by "Defenders"on-going in Montana at this time?

Red Dog 05/19/10 - 14:33THE $30,000 Thee Defenders Spent Was NOT There MONEY ;PEOPLE,That MONEY came from TAX PAYERS That THE DEFENDERS FRAUDULENTLY BILKED FROM THE PUBLIC.I hope There saving some of it for there CRIMINAL DEFENCE, ITS COMING SOON some say.I HOPE THERE ALL HAPPY about THE 100 YEARS OF BIG GAME CONSERVATION that has been ALMOST COMPLETLY DESTROYED IN SOME AREAS.I belive the public has the exclusive wright to determine wheather a non-indiginious apex preditor has a place in OUR WILDS not an orginization that has admitted alterior agendas and that uses public money to expand there agendas.You can only hope a decision is made soon because every day that goes by ther are hundreds if not thousands of elk ,deer, antalope,sheep,cows,dogs and everything that comes in contact with these apex preditors will be gone.The possibilty of dieseas these wolves spread becomes a greater concern everyday that goes by.Think about all the possibilites and the ramifications if this animal culled way back,real soon.I would hate to see a real life wolf war.Consider history and practical science and you will find common sense.

Reply to Red Dog
Donna Riddle 05/19/10 - 15:22I think you might benefit by watching the film: "LORDS OF NATURE" which details the positive effects that large predators, including wolves, have on the environment.
Reply to Red Dog
Sawtooth Rider 05/19/10 - 18:33Donna, although I am not sure what red dog is talking about, concerning funding, I agree with most of the rest of it, that said I was wondering who produced and directed the film you shared.. Was it Walt Disney Corporation ?
Reply to Red Dog
Anon 05/19/10 - 19:42This is a guy I want to join sides with. Can't spell, can't form complete sentences and thinks we're headed for a "real life wolf war", whatever that is.

Please educate yourself (on a few levels).
Reply to Red Dog
cc 05/19/10 - 19:52which public. that land belongs to the united states of america not the people of idaho.
Reply to Red Dog
Bad Dog – Arco, ID 05/20/10 - 08:09The boy who called wolf. Give me a break. Wolves and elk coexisted for a long time. Give the elk some credit for their ability to survive with large predators for thousands of years. What's so different now?
really? 05/19/10 - 11:32Sounds like a great effort! Hope it works out for the ranchers! The Defenders of wildlife must have deep pockets. I still think bullets are cheaper than electric fences and man hours spent in the field at night to shoosh wolves away from sheep. To the ranchers buy me a 22-250 with a night scope I'll protect your sheep. contact me @ defendersofsheep.beer

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Vargen-del av naturen?

David Attenborough uttalar vid ett tillfälle i sin naturfilm "Vargen som förändrade USA" att den traditionella uppfattningen i USA var att vargen inte tillhörde eller var del av naturen. (sänd i TV2 2 maj 2009)
Jag förstod inte honom då men efter att ha läst CEFOS Rapport 2010:2 börjar jag fatta vad det handlar om.
Jag saxar ut CEFOS rapporten:
"Genom beslutet att jaga varg uppfattar jägarna och flera av de intervjuade
representanterna för intresseorganisationerna att en mera balanserad syn på
vargens plats i naturen kan uppnås. Tidigare studier visar hur lantbrukare och
jägare ser vargen som stående utanför naturen för att istället uppfattas som en del
av samhället. Genom insatser syftande till att stärka vargstammens vitalitet och
utbredning stimulerades tillskrivningar av vargen som en del av det mänskliga
samhället (Sjölander-Lindqvist 2008). Marvin (2003) lyfter i sin studie av den
brittiska rävjakten en liknande problematik. Precis som i fallet med varg i det
svenska jordbruks- och skogslandskapet förstås räven som ett djur inkräktande i
den sociala, samhälleliga sfären. Genom att jaga djur som av lokalsamhället, och i
det här fallet även politiker och beslutsfattare, förstås kunna ha negativ betydelse
för landsbygden, söker man således återställa ”ordningen” (Marvin 2003). Med
jakten ”blir vargen ett djur som alla andra” och vargen återbördas, med hjälp av
jägaren till dess rätta plats – i naturen. Det framstår ur de intervjuades perspektiv
som grundläggande för att möjliggöra en större acceptans för vargens plats i den
svenska faunan. Jägarnas verkställande av licensjaktens genomförande kan
därmed sägas situera idéer om naturens rätta ordning."

Överhuvudtaget förekommer en del märkliga slutsatser om demokrati i CEFOS-rapporten som det borde vara en angelägen uppgift för bevarandeorganisationerna att granska.

Att jaga varg
En studie av 2010 års licensjakt i Sverige
Annelie Sjölander-Lindqvist
Marianne Karlsson
Serena Cinque
CEFOS Rapport
2010: 2
ISSN: 1653-1264

http://www.cefos.gu.se/digitalAssets/1306/1306652_cefosrapport-2010-2.pdf

Ang. dokumentären "Vargkriget"

Varför inte slå två flugor i en smäll och utreda inte bara nätverk som bedriver illegal vargjakt utan även hela jägarlobbyn. Krav om detta har framförts tidigare. Se t.ex. Jinge



Det är och förblir anmärkningsvärt i en demokrati att vissa statsråd och riksdagsledamöter stöder sig på eller går i väpnade gruppers ledband. Om det dessutom
finns inslag av kriminella nätverk blir bilden ännu allvarligare. Blir ungefär som om
de håller sig med en privat milis och härleder sin makt av denna.

Att det finns ett nätverk av personer som systematisk bedriver illegal jakt på varg är känt hos polisen.
Men det är mycket svårt att komma åt tjuvjägarna.
- Ingen törs anmäla eller vittna, säger Christina Brunell, chef på polisens ekorotel.





Redan 1999 avslöjade NWT:s dåvarande lokalredaktör och vargexpert Sven-Erik Karlsson att det fanns ett nätverk som bedrev omfattande illegal vargjakt med sofistikerade metoder.

Ang. brutalisering av landsbygden...

Brutalisering av landsbygden och våld i förorten 30 Apr 2010 : 08:48

Uppenbarligen tycks det som om den svenska landsbygden har brutaliserats i takt med att samhället hårdnat, privatiserats och marknadifierats. Utanförskapet på den svenska landsbygden och bland de allt mer marginaliserade center/moderatväljarna tycks leda till att dessa tar till allt våldsammare metoder i sin kamp mot inkräktare och invandrare. I alla fall upplevda sådan, oavsett om det är invandrade bönder från Nederländerna eller invandrade vargar från öst.

Förmodligen är det ett resultat av den borgerliga politiken som skapar ökade klyftor och som sliter sönder sammanhållningen i samhället, som ställer utsatta grupper mot varandra och som orsakar en ökande fattigdom. En fattigdom och en utsatthet som leder till marginalisering av olika grupper i samhället, som förortsinvånare i storstäderna och som landbygdsbor.

Grupper som uppenbarligen tar till desperata åtgärder för att synas och för att visa på eller påverka sina upplevda och/eller verkliga problem. Där förortsinvånarna tar till våld och stök riktade mot allt och alla men samtidigt mot ingen så tar landsbygdsbefolkningen till mer fascistoida metoder och ren uträknad brottslighet av maffiatyp eller organiserad på det viset. Som när det gäller den olagliga jakten på varg och när maskerade män hotar och överfaller invandrade bönder. Denna utveckling är ett resultat av att staten försvagats och att förtroendet för staten sjunkit. Det är en mycket negatov utveckling.

Som tur var är den borgerliga politik som orsakar försvagningen av staten och sönderfallet i samhället inte så populär. Samtidigt som problemet är att den politik som företräds av den socialdemokratiskt ledda oppositionen inte är radikalt annorlunda. Vilket gör att man kan misstänka att den negativa utvecklingen mot ett allt mer sönderfallande samhälle kommer att fortsätta även efter ett regeringsskifte. En fortsatt utveckling mot försvagad stat genom mer och mer privatisering och avreglering, fler nedskärningar och omfördelning av pengar från fattiga till rika kommer att innebära att vi får se fler kravaller i förorter och mer våld från marginaliserade landsbygdsbor med högersympatier. Bägge sakerna är symptom på samma sak.

Intressant?
Bloggat: Röda Malmö, Jinge1, 2,
Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om Rosengård, Förortsupplopp, Skånemejerier, Mjölkbönder, Vargjakt, Olaga vargjakt, Fascistmetoder, Mjölkbönder, Nederlädneran, Överfall, Hot, Maffiametoder, Varg, Bönder, Skåne, Privatisering, Brott, Social välfärd, Social rättvisa, Regeringen, Socialdemokraterna, Oppositionen, Politik, Samhälle


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Read more: http://www.zaramis.nu/blog/2010/04/30/brutalisering-av-landsbygden-och-vald-i-fororten/#ixzz0mfWbggb9
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial