Grand Canyon wolf was shot and killed in December, feds confirm

[G_j]

By Brooks Hays
Feb. 11, 2015 at 2:45 PM

TUCSON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Federal wildlife officials have confirmed that a wolf that appeared in Northern Arizona last autumn -- the first to appear in the Grand Canyon in 70 years -- was shot by hunter in Utah in December.
Late last year, the northern gray wolf had many local wildlife officials and park rangers befuddled. Hikers reported seeing the wolf for weeks (some capturing long-range photos) before biologists were finally able to confirm the wolf's identity via scat analysis.

When the wolf first showed up in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest -- and before testing confirmed otherwise -- park rangers suggested the roaming creature might be a wolf-dog or a coyote.

A coyote is what a hunter in Utah mistook the animal for in late December, when he fired on the wolf with a hunting rifle. Upon realizing the fatal mistake, he contacted Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources.

"It's heartbreaking that another far-wandering wolf has been cut down with a fatal gunshot," Michael Robinson, a conservationist with the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, told the Tucson Sentinel. "This female wolf could have helped wolves naturally recover in remote regions of Utah and neighboring states."



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2015/02/11/Grand-Canyon-wolf-was-shot-and-killed-in-December-feds-confirm/5341423681295/#ixzz3RTEMxP28

[shenmue]

1. ...

[cwydro]

2. Damn. nt

[closeupready]

3. Sad, but I'm encouraged that long-term, wolves have bounced back,

and that this kind of migration happened (in her case), when there was a time when I honestly thoughts wolves were going to be completely exterminated.

[G_j]

5. Actually, they are under significant threat

http://summitcountyvoice.com/2015/02/09/not-much-love-for-endangered-species-in-obamas-budget/

Funding for entire endangered species program is less than the cost of a single F-35 fighter jet

Staff Report

FRISCO — The Obama administration talks a good green game, but when it comes to putting money toward endangered species protection, it’s business as usual. In fact, according to environmental watchdogs, the total amount of money allocated to endangered species is less than in 2016 when measured on a per-species basis.

That’s partly because 140 plants and animals have been added to the endangered species list in the past four years without an increase in spending, which means many conservation programs will underfunded once again this year.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed budget for endangered species is less than the government spends on a single F-35c fighter jet,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “As a nation, we have to put a higher priority on recovering endangered species. The meager increases proposed this week will make no difference to the hundreds of animals and plant species with little to no funding for their recovery. This is a travesty that needs to be fixed,” Greenwald said.

In a press release, the Center of Biological Diversity explained that, when adjusted for inflation, Obama’s proposed budget for the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is essentially flat

The administration, for example, requested approximately $23 million to list and protect highly imperiled species under the Endangered Species Act — a small increase from last year, but roughly the same amount of funding received in 2010, even though hundreds of species are waiting for decisions about their protection.

[ChazII]

4. A great loss for all. n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. Magnificent anmals

Let's hurry up and build reality simulation software like a holo deck so hunters can get off without actually killing something this priceless.

[Octafish]

7. Terrible loss.

I hope this tragic accident raises public awareness of Nature's plight and the actions needed to create a sustainable planet.

[G_j]

8. USDA's Secret War on Wildlife

"EXPOSED: USDA's Secret War on Wildlife"
http://www.predatordefense.org/exposed/

December 2014 - We're thrilled to announce our film "EXPOSED" just received a wonderful review from none other than Jane Goodall. It also won the award for Best Wildlife Activism at the New York Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, the premier wildlife film festival in N. America.

In "EXPOSED" you'll see three former federal agents and a prominent Congressman blow the whistle on the USDA's barbaric and wasteful Wildlife Services program and expose the government’s secret war on wildlife.

An agency within the USDA called Wildlife Services—a misnamed entity if there ever was one—has been having their way for almost a century, killing millions of wild animals a year, as well as maiming, poisoning, and brutalizing countless pets. They have also seriously harmed more than a few humans. And they apparently think they are going to continue getting away with it.

But in our new documentary, EXPOSED: USDA’s Secret War on Wildlife, whistle-blowers go on the record showing Wildlife Services for what it really is—an unaccountable, out-of-control, wildlife killing machine that acts at the bidding of corporate agriculture and the hunting lobby, all with taxpayer dollars.

Our call for reforming this rogue agency is getting serious attention. A teaser of EXPOSED was just featured on CNN Headline News and is slated for an upcoming special segment. We’re also working to get a CBS “60 Minutes” exposé.

In 2015 we plan to kick off a nationwide film screening tour. Whistleblower Rex Shaddox will attend some of our screenings and we hope to have other speakers tour with us if we can raise enough funds.

[Octafish]

9. For the sick in spirit, killing is its own reward.

Thank you for writing about Wildlife Services, G_j.

The FBI is not nice to tree huggers, I've noticed, but I had no clue such an office existed. I look forward to the film.

America Today: All Orwell, All the Time.