A compliment for the fine editorial on welcoming wolves back to the West (July 8). Timber wolf reintroduction is one of those emotionally charged environmental issues that newspapers will write about, but often not take a stand on in public. The Tribune not only presented a nice summary of information surrounding this complex issue but then stated it would be best to expand the wolf population in the West.
The editors could have just as easily used the heading, “Welcoming wolves back to the upper Midwest.” The issue of wolf reintroduction is being played out even closer to home. The latest data from Wisconsin shows there are an estimated 60 wolves in the northern one-third of our neighboring state. Timber wolves are struggling to make a long-term return to a state where they were driven to extinction just a few decades ago. Wolves do belong in the wilds here in the upper Midwest. The long-term viability of the wolf population will depend on continued public education.
The Timber Wolf Alliance is a small, grass-roots organization attempting to not only educate the general public but also work as a networker for the latest scientific information on wolves.
