A Few Thoughts About Wolves....
by Mia Mona Amore
The debate over wolves continues to rage. As we have said numerous times, we feel the wolf is unduly singled out for persecution. Not all wolves kill for pleasure, although there are certainly those that do. Not all wolves feed on livestock, although there are those that do. What would we expect when humans are continually encroaching upon their territories and those of their natural and habitual prey? Wolves have an important place within the natural ecosystems of this planet.
As we have advocated, there are many other species that pose a much more significant risk to humans than wolves. One is much more likely to die from a bee sting, spider bite, snakebite, or by human hand than a wolf attack. In the last hundred years, there have been only 27 confirmed wolf attacks on humans. Two of these were fatal. This compares with more than 70 fatalities from grizzly bear attacks. Black bears have killed more than 50 people in the last hundred years. Mountain lion attacks number 95 with 25 of those fatal. Coyotes average 10 or more attacks every year. Twenty to thirty people die each year as the result of domestic dog attacks.
It is clear that the chances of risks to humans from wolves is rather slim comparatively speaking. Livestock is another story, but losses are also attributed to grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, even eagles who were also hunted almost to extinction. Again, when natural prey is not available due to controlled populations or lack of habitat, these predators have few other choices but to take down livestock in order to eat. Yet, we do not see movements to persecute or eliminate these other predators such as we do for the wolf. Even the grizzly and the black bear - deadly to humans and livestock in addition to being very destructive to homes and property - get a “three strikes rule”. These predators are allowed three incidents of “nuisance behavior” with livestock or property destruction allowing the more humane treatment of being trapped and relocated before they are terminated after the “third strike”. He offspring of bears that have to be put down are not killed, but are taken to a zoo of one sort or another to live out there lives. Wolves get no such consideration.
To some people, especially those who follow Native American spiritual practices, the wolf is a strong and highly valued totem. The wolf teaches us to value family through Strength, dedication, and Love. Beautiful and mystical in nature, wolves have many lessons to share for those who would hear them.
Whether we agree on wolves or not, there is one element that must be considered above all else. It is the one thing that we must all agree on. The right to Life for wolves is not a right that is given by human hands or minds. Wolves were given Life by a Higher Power - Creator, Wakan Tanka, God, or whatever name one wishes to use. They have the right to live just as much as human beings or any other species does. It is not our place or our privilege to deny them Life. It is one thing to Protect oneself, one’s family, and one’s livelihood from any predator – two-legged, four-legged, six-legged, eight-legged, finned, scaled, etc. It is quite another thing to conduct oneself as if he or she is that Higher Power with absolute authority over which species shall thrive, survive, or perish. Wolves have a place in our world. It is not our place to take it from them. We must learn to live together Peacefully. For those who live in wolf country, this means learning to live Harmoniously with wolves. It’s their home, too. Humans must to learn to be part of the ecosystem and not see themselves as the sole benefactors and controllers of nature at large and the planet herself.
As we have advocated, there are many other species that pose a much more significant risk to humans than wolves. One is much more likely to die from a bee sting, spider bite, snakebite, or by human hand than a wolf attack. In the last hundred years, there have been only 27 confirmed wolf attacks on humans. Two of these were fatal. This compares with more than 70 fatalities from grizzly bear attacks. Black bears have killed more than 50 people in the last hundred years. Mountain lion attacks number 95 with 25 of those fatal. Coyotes average 10 or more attacks every year. Twenty to thirty people die each year as the result of domestic dog attacks.
It is clear that the chances of risks to humans from wolves is rather slim comparatively speaking. Livestock is another story, but losses are also attributed to grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, even eagles who were also hunted almost to extinction. Again, when natural prey is not available due to controlled populations or lack of habitat, these predators have few other choices but to take down livestock in order to eat. Yet, we do not see movements to persecute or eliminate these other predators such as we do for the wolf. Even the grizzly and the black bear - deadly to humans and livestock in addition to being very destructive to homes and property - get a “three strikes rule”. These predators are allowed three incidents of “nuisance behavior” with livestock or property destruction allowing the more humane treatment of being trapped and relocated before they are terminated after the “third strike”. He offspring of bears that have to be put down are not killed, but are taken to a zoo of one sort or another to live out there lives. Wolves get no such consideration.
To some people, especially those who follow Native American spiritual practices, the wolf is a strong and highly valued totem. The wolf teaches us to value family through Strength, dedication, and Love. Beautiful and mystical in nature, wolves have many lessons to share for those who would hear them.
Whether we agree on wolves or not, there is one element that must be considered above all else. It is the one thing that we must all agree on. The right to Life for wolves is not a right that is given by human hands or minds. Wolves were given Life by a Higher Power - Creator, Wakan Tanka, God, or whatever name one wishes to use. They have the right to live just as much as human beings or any other species does. It is not our place or our privilege to deny them Life. It is one thing to Protect oneself, one’s family, and one’s livelihood from any predator – two-legged, four-legged, six-legged, eight-legged, finned, scaled, etc. It is quite another thing to conduct oneself as if he or she is that Higher Power with absolute authority over which species shall thrive, survive, or perish. Wolves have a place in our world. It is not our place to take it from them. We must learn to live together Peacefully. For those who live in wolf country, this means learning to live Harmoniously with wolves. It’s their home, too. Humans must to learn to be part of the ecosystem and not see themselves as the sole benefactors and controllers of nature at large and the planet herself.
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