Opposition to Wolf Reintroduction in the Northern Rockies

The government's reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 sparked opposition from ranchers, farmers, and hunters that continues to this day. Ralph Maughan, PhD, draws upon his background as a political scientist to cut through the rhetoric of these groups and to propose the real sources of their opposition. This video is an excerpt from a longer interview with Maughan, the complete transcript of which is contained in WESTERN TURF WARS: THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC LANDS RANCHING. See http://westernturfwars.com for details.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• American West
• cattle
• educational
• elk
• environment
• grazing
• hunting
• Idaho
• interview
• Mike Hudak
• Montana
• public lands
• Ralph Maughan
• ranching
• Rocky Mountains
• Western Turf Wars
• wolf
• wolves
• Wyoming
• Yellowstone National Park

[jonahansen]

Excellent video - thanks for posting it. It's nice to see an objective meta-analysis of what is going on and motivating people. I doubt that many people on either side ever stop to consider why they have the right to judge themselves more (or less) important than wolves in the overall scheme of the ecology. I personally hold a live and let live viewpoint - we should let them do whatever they do to some point that balances human needs (genuine) with the costs.

[yummybird]

i live in eastern oregon and i support wolves in oregon. i agree that "value" conflicts are harder to resolve, so perhaps the key is to turn it from a "conflict" into merely an "issue" where both parties can have understanding of each others positions, and find some harmonious middle ground... at least as a start. i was happy to hear him reference the increased visitors in southern montana towns, due to the draw of wolves. i believe wolves could be a big boost for the economy in oregon as well!

[SLCBob1]

Excellent video. We need wolves back in Utah.