Wyoming Wolves, Holiday Season Past and Present
“We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes. I realized then, and have known ever since, that there was something new to me in those eyes—something known only to her and to the mountain. I was young then, and full of trigger-itch: I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters’ paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view.”
— Aldo Leopold. A Sand County Almanac, 1949
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Wyoming Untrapped’s history, the wolf was the inspiration which led to the founding of our organization. Only a few years ago, wolves were delisted from protected status and were transformed overnight to a status of vermin to be hunted, trapped, snared and killed in almost any manner. Due to increased numbers of wolf traps on the landscape, dogs and pets were reported caught, injured and killed by traps and snares. As we learned more, the reality was that every single wild animal in our state was exposed to traps and snares, and thousands of animals, target and non-target, were being caught each year. The truth was shocking, and the truth mattered. WU hit the ground free and untrapped, and we haven’t slowed down since.
WU is remaining vigilant in our effort to reform trapping and to ensure that our wild furbearers of all sizes will be a balancing force in the ecosystem and a symbol of resilience in Wyoming. We need YOU to walk with us, show up, and speak loudly through our Take-Action alerts as we seek effective, sustainable solutions to value all of Wyoming’s wildlife.
We wish you a peaceful holiday and a new year filled with hope and action,
The WU Board and Staff
Wolf Image: Thanks to Wyoming photographer, Loi Nguyen from Silver Gate, WYOMING!
Give for the Holiday:
wyominguntrapped.org/
Read full Holiday newsletter greeting:
bit.ly/
Sign up for newsletter:
wyominguntrapped.org/
Read our Wyoming Game and Fish Public Comments this year stating that wolves can be managed without trophy hunting, written by Wyoming biologist WU Advisor, Dr. Franz J. Camenzind:
bit.ly/
To call or email Wyoming wildlife management agencies, visit our Take-Action:
wyominguntrapped.org/
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The making of this wolf image by Loi Nguyen:
“On this cold winter day, we had word that the Wapiti pack had taken down a bison yearling not far from the road. The carcass lied near a thermal hot spring and a gentle breeze was blowing. The steam from the hot spring rose upward, blown by the wind, obscuring our view of the carcass much of the time. Several adults came to feed. Then a black pup approached, hesitated, then turned back. I felt so guilty – we denied him a meal I thought. The carcass, however, proved irresistible, so when his Mother came to feed, he took up the courage and followed her, taking advantage of the thick steam cloud to hide himself. He just stood there and studied us, partially obscured by the thick cloud of steam. I could barely breathe, praying for a breeze, which, as if on cue, appeared, lifting the steam cloud and revealing just the pup’s head and its shining eyes. This image, to me, conveys both the beauty and the mystique of the wild wolf in a winter wonderland that is Yellowstone.”
Loi Nguyen