Reader responds to Clay's wolf claims

I would like to refute some outrageous claims Dennnis Clay has been making about wolves in this paper. He says he is looking forward to wolves in our state being removed from the "endangered" list. Mr. Clay states that wolves are a threat to elk herds. This is a patently false accusation, as elk herds can be strengthened by wolf predation. They cull the weak and diseased of the herd. Wildlife scientists have found bone disease in some wolf-downed elk. Additionally, any threat to ranchers is minute at best and just an excuse to hunt wolves. I assume Mr. Clay is "looking forward" to taking his grandkids on one of these "fun" hunts of his.

In Idaho the wolf hunt was expanded into June so hunters could pick off mother wolves who just had their pups. A collared wolf travelled 1,500 miles from Canada into the wild top of Idaho's panhandle looking for a mate. He was shot dead. I guess he was na illegal with no passport. I thnk this wolf bloodlust is akin to trapping bears in large steel traps. Wow are humans scary!

Jon Ruth