Free In Idaho!

Wolf delisting happened today.  Wolves as an endangered species is certainly a subject that arouses much emotion, and bitterness for many, on both sides of the issue.

Idaho, Montana and Wyoming now have full control of wolves. The Idaho Department of Fish & Game is drawing up plans for a fall wolf hunt, the Idaho Legislature passed a law Wednesday that makes it easier to kill wolves that attack or harass livestock or pets and environmental groups are gearing up for a court challenge aimed at restoring federal protection of wolves.

My guess is the game isn’t over yet, and this issue will not go away very soon.  My understanding is the wolf population has been increasing at about 24% annually for the last few years (somewhat less in 2007, but the results and the reasons aren’t definite yet).  From the original limited reintroductions in the mid-90’s, there are now nearly 800 wolves in Idaho, and around 1500 in the three state Rocky Mountain region of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (I know personally of sightings in Washinton State as well, in the North Cascades, but those are likely Canadian wolves travelling).  I’ve talked to a lot of hunters and hikers who have seen wolves in the last few years, and I saw one myself last fall.  Anecdotal stories aren’t sufficient though.  I’m willing to give the Idaho Fish and Game the benefit of the doubt, and let them show what they can do as far as managing the population goes.  The idea of a limited hunt is intriguing.   No, I don’t see wolves, or any other animals, as some kind of wonderful, mystical spirit beings.

Slip over to Huckleberries Online for a nifty photograph of an elk chased into the river by a white wolf.

Another loony symbolism over substance display, this time from the Gaia worshippers trying to raise our consciousness about global warming and reducing our carbon footprints

 (CNSNews.com) - Millions of people around the world are expected to turn off their lights for an hour over this weekend in a concerted global dimming campaign meant to draw attention to climate change. “Earth Hour,” an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund, begins in New Zealand at 8 PM local time Saturday, and then moves westward as cities in other time zones reach that hour. In Sydney, Australia — where the campaign debuted last year — municipal authorities have agreed to turn out lights on the city’s iconic Harbor Bridge and Opera House.

Give me a break.  The whole carbon footprint/carbon offsets deal is a scam of ridiculous proportions, but you can count on the usual folks to get behind this one

This year the initiative has been expanded, and 27 “partner cities” are named on the campaign’s Web site, including Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco and Phoenix.

The usual suspects, indeed.  And of course, the other usual suspects are calling BS on the whole thing, and calling for counter-measures

Bloggers skeptical about theories of human-induced global warming are promoting a counter-campaign, urging people to use as many lights and as much electrical equipment as they wish during the targeted time period.

Me…skeptical?  Full glow here boss.