Wolf Management Policy Perspective

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This paper will examine a policy perspective article titled “Pendulum Swings in Wolf Management Led to Conflict, Illegal Kills, and a Legislated wolf hunt” written by Erik R. Olson,Jennifer L. Stenglein, Victoria Shelley, Adena R. Rissman, Christine Browne-Nu-nez, Zachary Voyles, AdrianP.Wydeven, and Timothy Van Deelen published in the Journal of the Society of Conservation Biology in September of 2015. There will be emphasis on the thesis of the article under examination, but the main focus will be the issue of wolf management policy and its effects swinging wolf population densities. Firstly, this paper will present a detailed description of the issue of wolf management. Secondly, this paper will provide a description of the policy perspective …show more content…

There are many stakeholders in wolf management; the general public, conservationists, hunters and farmers. Each of these groups has a different values and perspectives on wolf management. The general public, whether living in rural or urban complexes, may have an environmentalist or cornucopian standpoint, an inherent fear of wolves or desire to see them thrive in the wilderness. Hunters and farmers will generally have a more cornucopian perspective, to protect the animals they have invested in, raised, and hunt, which are the natural prey of wolves. Conservationists will obviously want to protect the wolves and their habitat from extinction. People who experienced wolf damage had significantly more negative attitudes towards wolves than others, so naturally, urbanites will have less negative connotation towards them (Olson 3). Now that we have an understanding of the values and stakeholders involved in wolf management, it is important to consider the elements of good policy in relation to preservation and wolf management and the article under …show more content…

This oscillation of wolf populations have increased the number of illegally killed wolves, the reviewed article cites a direct link between illegal killing and state wildlife management practices. More programs that focus on wildlife management are needed at more consistent levels. To achieve this, this paper outlines several policy strategies that will help achieve more stable wolf management functions. For good policy, the general public must get on board with the unique and varying issues of wolf management regionally, and in times of lowered or increased populations. More funding from non-consumptive users is needed to off-set government and legislative authority of the issue. Finally, greater flexibility and more careful moderation of the listing and delisting of wolves on the endangered species list will curtail any dramatic swings that oscillate the wolf populations. These four policy strategies will help increase perception, initiate multi-level government controls, increase and ultimately help find a middle ground between wolf control and

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