Overcoming Fear and Rumor

Rumors have been flying rampant about wolf populations being out of control, creating an environment of both paranoia and fear. The pro-wolf supporters and the ranchers, farmers, and hunters all have legitimate concerns when it comes to either the protection and, or the control of gray wolves. Rising amid these different party’s views there’s been an ever increasing amount of untruths and rumors. Rather like children’s disagreements that escalate when adults get involved, nature is quite capable of managing itself until humans become overly involved. Predators in nature are a necessary albeit unpleasant fact. Ecosystems are complex in nature and the over saturation or removal of any particular species will cause an imbalance that can take years to rectify, if ever. There are no easy answers, but concerns from both sides need to be addressed through whatever measures are taken to restore equilibrium in this volatile issue. Environmentalists need assurances the gray wolf will not be driven to extinction, while farmers and ranchers need to be able to protect their livestock from wolf depredation. Somewhere amid the muckraking lies the solution.