Pantheraman
Well-Known Member
When it comes to wolf restoration, we're often told that regulated hunting is or might be needed to make people more tolerant of these animals in their midst. Even some involved in the Yellowstone reintroduction project believe this idea.
But does it really? A while ago now, a scientist named Adrian Treves and colleagues questioned this idea and concluded that legal wolf hunting doesn't increase tolerance, but instead, increases their hatred of the animal. Since then, this has kinda been a back-and-forth issue, ya know, like the arguments paleontologists are known for getting into. Personally, I lean more on Treves side here.
The biggest reason is the events going on out in the western states: Montana and Idaho.
Both of these states have had wolf hunting seasons for years now, and the governors passed legislation that allows people to kill more wolves and people are gladly doing it. Doesn't sound like increased tolerance to me, but the opposite. And now, there's new information from Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin DNR did a new survey on residents both within wolf range and outside wolf range. In general, people like having them around. But there is something that caught my eye.
Wisconsin had wolf-hunting seasons in 2012, 2013, and 2014 before being relisted. So there's been a long period of no wolf hunting. And this is the attitude of people in the state.
PUB_EA_017.pdf
After a long period of no wolf hunting, you see less support for a wolf hunt, not more support. Not something that would happen if wolf hunting did foster tolerance since by that logic, people would be more intolerant and there be an increased percentage supporting a wolf hunt.
But does it really? A while ago now, a scientist named Adrian Treves and colleagues questioned this idea and concluded that legal wolf hunting doesn't increase tolerance, but instead, increases their hatred of the animal. Since then, this has kinda been a back-and-forth issue, ya know, like the arguments paleontologists are known for getting into. Personally, I lean more on Treves side here.
The biggest reason is the events going on out in the western states: Montana and Idaho.
Both of these states have had wolf hunting seasons for years now, and the governors passed legislation that allows people to kill more wolves and people are gladly doing it. Doesn't sound like increased tolerance to me, but the opposite. And now, there's new information from Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin DNR did a new survey on residents both within wolf range and outside wolf range. In general, people like having them around. But there is something that caught my eye.
Wisconsin had wolf-hunting seasons in 2012, 2013, and 2014 before being relisted. So there's been a long period of no wolf hunting. And this is the attitude of people in the state.
PUB_EA_017.pdf
After a long period of no wolf hunting, you see less support for a wolf hunt, not more support. Not something that would happen if wolf hunting did foster tolerance since by that logic, people would be more intolerant and there be an increased percentage supporting a wolf hunt.
