Oregon Woves Part Two
Yesterday I told you about wolves that would rather dine in rancher's back yards instead of in wild, remote country where they should. I'm Jeff Keane; today I'll discuss what happens to those wolves now.
Over two nights in early April wolves came and killed 19 lambs within 200 yards of an Oregon ranch house. This is not what proponents of wolf reintroduction convinced followers and legislators would happened if wolves were turned loose in the wild. Ranchers knew better, but their concerns fell on deaf ears. What happens to these livestock killers now? Well, these are some of the options state and federal game officials have to work with under the rules of the Endangered Species Act. First padded leg traps can be used to capture the predators and fit them with radio collars. These collars flash lights and make noise if the wolves come close enough to a special radio transmitter. That's cool - now every sheep can run down to the local Radio Shack and purchase a protective transmitter. I hope they come in designer colors. The wolf collars can also be used to track down the killers and eliminate them if they still continue to order livestock for snacks. This option only happens after all nonlethal prevention methods fail to show the wolves the error of their ways. Defenders of wildlife will compensate the rancher at market value. I think this group and their followers should join hands around national parks and keep the wolves contained. Oh, I know that's silly, but maybe they could patrol and guard ranchers' animals then they could be called Defenders of Livestock. That would be neighborly. I'm Jeff Keane.
