“Truth is violated by falsehood, but it is outraged by silence” (Henri Frederic Amiel)

Federal wildlife biologists have taken much criticism lately for their sins of commission—falsifying lynx evidence where there were no lynx. But even more disastrous than their sins of commission, are their sins of omission. Former MT House FWP Chairman Dan Fuchs has obtained hard evidence of the following:

1. The Feds have known since 1997 that elk calf ratios were being totally decimated in areas of high wolf concentration.
2. When MT FWP personnel attempted to release this evidence to the public, the Feds  aggressively barred MT FWP from doing so.

When MT FWP biologist Tom Lemke and others made written request for permission to release this data to the public; the Fed response to suppress it was swift, aggressive, and sustained. On 2/18/99, Yellowstone Supervisory Biologist Glenn Plumb wrote: “It is my position, after reviewing Ms. Schaefer’s investigation, that her raw data do not warrant full distribution to the public” On 3/18/99, in an interoffice Memo, Plumb again denied the request: “Regarding your request for elk classification data generated through Carrie Schaefer’s ongoing research … we were remiss in presenting Ms. Schaefer’s … data in the Yellowstone Wolf Project Annual Report.” And they were able to hide this striking wolf predation in the annual reports because they only gave averages for the entire northern herd – when the 0 calf ratios in high wolf areas were averaged with the 46 calf ratios from elsewhere, the average was still up near the 30 calf ratio needed to sustain herd viability.

Of course, the Feds rationalized their suppression by saying that Schaefer’s study was just raw data and still ongoing. Yet even after her report was completed the Feds never publicized nor (to our knowledge) ever gave permission to MT FWP to release the information. In fact, one MT FWP biologist who is directly involved with decisions related to Yellowstone elk has stated that the data was so well suppressed that he hasn’t even seen it. Rep. Fuchs only got a copy of Schaefer’s study and the related inter-agency letters after aggressively demanding copies of all documents related to the incident.

Last winter when Fuchs, myself, and other officials did our own elk calf survey we discovered the calf ratio had plummeted. The initial response from amateur wolf advocates and some professional biologists was, “These guys are hacks and don’t know how to count”. After the official elk census came out and totally substantiated our claims, they changed their tune. They said, “OK, they’re right about the drop, but we can’t prove it’s due to wolves. It could be drought or hard winters, etc.”

Yet the Schaefer study strongly implicates wolves as the significant factor in two different ways. First, geographically – during the course of the same winter, she observed alarmingly low calf ratios in high wolf areas even while calf ratios remained above average outside high wolf areas. This mitigates against the notion that the low calf ratios are caused by drought or hard winters.

Secondly, when coupled with current data for the entire Northern Yellowstone elk herd; an alarming pattern is revealed. In 1997 and 98, the low calf ratio was confined to areas of high wolf concentration – the Lamar Valley, etc. In this last year or so, as dense wolf populations have reached critical mass across the entire northern Yellowstone Range; we “surprisingly” see the area of low calf ratio also expand to encompass the entire herd.

Let’s cut to the chase (pardon the pun). Our ancestors realized long ago that the wolf is a unique critter – a killing machine and a breeding machine all rolled into one. Alaskan studies reveal wolf population increases of 34% annually, even while being aggressively hunted. Data from the first few years of our Tri-state wolf experiment also verify this same 34% annual increase. It doesn’t take a CPA (or a professional wildlife biologist) to figure out that this rate results in a 1000% increase in population size every 8 years!

If the Feds continue to break promises, suppress evidence, and drag their feet for 3-5 more years; our wildlife and livestock may need to be placed on the Endangered Species List by then (never mind our pet dogs, llamas, and small children). 

I repeat – we are not calling for eradication of wolves. We are simply saying that NOW is the time for the Feds to move immediately to de-list the wolf; so that MT, Wyoming, and Idaho state Fish & Game Departments can manage wolves like any other species. It’s time for the Feds to make up for past sins (of commission and omission) by turning over wolf decisions to more trustworthy managers.

(Joe Balyeat is a member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing HD 32 in the Gallatin Valley. He is Chairman of the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee and a member of the Legislative Audit Committee. He also serves as a Director of the Montana Shooting Sports Association.)