The three wolves Utah killed were not symbols or statistics. They were animals reclaiming a fraction of their historic range. <\/p>\n
(Jacob W. Frank | National Park Service via The Associated Press) This Jan. 7, 2018, photo released by the National Park Service shows wolf tracks on Fountain Freight road in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. <\/p>\n
When three gray wolves wandered south out of Yellowstone National Park and into Utah this winter, they were doing what wolves have always done: dispersing, exploring and following instinct rather than invisible lines on a map. For that, Utah killed them<\/a>.<\/p>\n The state\u2019s decision to lethally remove these wolves was not only unnecessary, it was a stark reminder of how aggressively some states are still willing to act when given even the smallest opportunity. In this case, the wolves wandered into an area of the state where they are not protected by federal law because of the delisting of the Northern Rockies population<\/a>. This leaves wolves in this area unprotected in a narrow corner near the Idaho border.<\/p>\n Wildlife, of course, does not understand these arbitrary boundaries. Wolves don\u2019t know when they\u2019ve crossed from a national park into a state or from protected status into a kill zone. What Utah\u2019s action makes clear is that, while wolves are slowly reclaiming parts of their historic range on their own, some states remain committed to thwarting that recovery at every opportunity.<\/p>\n This response is especially troubling because it flies in the face of what decades of on-the-ground experience has shown: coexistence between wolves, ranchers and their livestock is not only possible, it is already happening.<\/p>\n Across the Northern Rockies and the West, conflict between wolves and livestock is far lower than public perception suggests. In states like Montana, confirmed livestock losses from wolves have been trending <\/a>downward<\/a>, even as wolf populations remain stable. This success is not accidental. It is the result of ranchers, wildlife professionals and groups like my own \u2014 Defenders of Wildlife<\/a> <\/a>\u2014 working together to prevent conflict before it occurs.<\/p>\n Nonlethal deterrent tools<\/a> \u2014 such as range riders, guard animals, carcass removal, fencing modifications and sound or visual deterrents \u2014 have proven to be highly effective when used proactively and correctly. These tools don\u2019t just protect livestock; they reduce stress on ranching operations, decrease the need for lethal control and help keep wolf packs intact and stable. <\/p>\n Defenders of Wildlife and other organizations have spent decades supporting ranchers in implementing these strategies. The results are clear: When nonlethal tools are in place and properly maintained, depredations drop dramatically. These aren\u2019t lucky outcomes. They are the product of experience, science and a shared commitment to making coexistence work.<\/p>\n Against this backdrop, Utah\u2019s choice to kill three dispersing wolves looks less like management and more like eradication. There were no reports that these animals had killed livestock. There was no imminent threat to public safety. There was only an opportunity \u2014 and the state seized it.<\/p>\n Wolves play a vital ecological role, helping to keep prey populations healthy and contributing to resilient ecosystems. They also carry immense cultural and economic value. Wolf-related tourism<\/a> <\/a>in the Greater Yellowstone region generates tens of millions of dollars each year, drawing visitors from around the world who hope to glimpse these animals living freely on the landscape.<\/p>\n More fundamentally, wolves are part of our shared natural heritage. Their slow, tentative return to places like Utah is not a threat to be stamped out, but an opportunity to demonstrate that we have learned from the mistakes of the past \u2014 when fear, politics and convenience drove predators to the brink of extinction.<\/p>\n Utah has vast swaths of suitable wolf habitat where the species remains protected under federal law. Rather than undermining natural recovery through aggressive and unnecessary killing, the state could choose a different path: one grounded in science, respect and coexistence. That means investing in nonlethal conflict prevention, supporting ranchers who want practical solutions and allowing wolves the space to reestablish naturally, not thrusting them into an impossible game of Frogger in which there is no way to move through an unprotected region of the state.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t need to choose between ranching and wolves, or between working lands and wild ones. The success stories across the West prove that balance is possible and sentiment is shifting. More ranchers and communities are choosing to collaborate with groups like Defenders to ensure all life on the landscape may thrive. And that demonstrates a remarkable willingness to move beyond outdated playbooks rooted in fear.<\/p>\n The three wolves Utah killed were not symbols or statistics. They were animals reclaiming a fraction of their historic range. Their deaths should prompt serious reflection \u2014 and a renewed commitment to policies that prioritize coexistence over cruelty, and science over loopholes.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not radical. It\u2019s responsible stewardship of a landscape we all share.<\/p>\n (Eric Clewis) Eric Clewis is the Northern Rockies senior representative to Defenders of Wildlife.<\/p>\n Eric Clewis is the Northern Rockies senior representative to Defenders of Wildlife and is responsible for the organization\u2019s wolf conservation efforts in the region. As a wildlife biologist, he has worked across the Rockies and Plains, as well as his home state of Texas to support wildlife management and coexistence.<\/p>\n The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here<\/a>, and email us at voices@sltrib.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah\u2019s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn\u2019t be possible without people like you\u2014individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism.\u00a0 As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.<\/p>\n You can help power this work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The three wolves Utah killed were not symbols or statistics. 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