Wolves in the Northern Rockies Lose Important Protections

Namaste' FYI . The following release is pretty straight forward, the USFWS wish to now slaughter *half* of the *still protected* wolves in the Northern Rockies, not only will this upset family/pack balances/dynamics as wolves are very sensitive to such things, but what was the purpose of coming up to Canada, taking wolves for reintro, only to then as soon as *humans* deem the numbers to be satisfactory to turn around and then slaughter them? Although I understand the *nice* word to use is *management*. My bad *sigh*


For Immediate Release
http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/press_releases_folder/2008/01_24_2008_northern_rockies_wolves_lose_important_protections.php

January 24, 2008
Contact(s) Suzanne Stone, (208)424-9385 (office), (208)861-4655 (cell) Cat Lazaroff, (202)772-3270
Wolves in the Northern Rockies Lose Important Protections
New rule could allow more than half the region’s wolves to be killed
BOISE, Idaho – The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released an updated rule Thursday governing the management of gray wolves in the northern Rockies. The rule dramatically broadens the circumstances under which these wolves may be killed, significantly reducing protections for this endangered species. The rule is separate from a current proposal to delist wolves from the Endangered Species Act, and instead governs how wolves will be managed while they remain on the federal list of threatened and endangered species.
The following is a statement from Suzanne Stone, northern Rockies wolf conservation specialist for Defenders of Wildlife regarding Thursday’s announcement.
“This is a giant step backward. Under the rule finalized today, more than 750 wolves – over half of the region’s wolf population – could be killed, even though this wolf population is still protected by the Endangered Species Act.
“Stripping away protection for our wolves is entirely unjustified. Elk and deer populations in all three northern Rockies states are at or near record highs, and nonlethal, proactive methods are helping to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock. There is absolutely no reason to begin a wholesale slaughter of the region’s wolves. Yet that is exactly what the federal government is willing to allow the states to do: wipe out hundreds of the wolves our nation has worked so hard to recover.
“This is a scheme based on backdoor politics, not science, and it goes too far. Wolves in the northern Rockies have only recently neared a point where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service could consider removing federal protections from them. In finalizing this rule, the Service is ignoring its responsibility to ensure the long-term survival of the region’s wolf population.
“We need to work together to reach recovery. We can only do that by creating balanced wolf management plans that ensure a stable population of wolves in the future. Unfortunately, the threat to wolves posed by this new rule leaves us no choice but to involve the courts and file a legal challenge to put a stop to this plan.”

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.

In The Eyes Of A Child

Namaste' fellow Earth Aliens! on Dec. 27th 07 a new friend (artist) Judy Wood came out to the Ranch, I am always very excited to meet new people, so much so I can't sleep for a couple days prior in anticipation. Which is also funny because deep down within I am still that INCREDIBLY shy little girl.

Even better she was bringing along her grandson Mark, whom she was quick to point out that he was big for his age. These days though I walk into elementary schools the kids are bigger than my 5 foot 1 frame. ;0) So I expected a giant.

I couldn't wait to meet him! so I plastered him up a cast of one of the ambassador wolf's front paw print for him to remember his visit by. I tell people they are able to distinguish between a wild canid print and a domestic dogs print in the wild mainly through the single tracking. Wolves, foxes, and coyotes all single track meaning the back foot is placed in the front tracks. Dogs tracks are staggered (uneven and unsteady gait/movement) Thus their tracks will not appear as a single track. A Dogs chest is proportionally larger than a wolf's is, and the width of their stride is greater thus a dogs hind feet are placed beside their front.

(Pics of tracks made by one of the wolf's here.)

After Judy became lost in the county side, and after I broke a key off in the padlock that locks the front gates to the land (thank goodness for cell phones) she managed to finally find me, although I was locked in for the moment, so I had them come across and pile into my truck to drive them through the bush to the cabin. I fell in love of course with this precious child but then again I fall in love on a daily basis with so many things/people/ etc. and yup for being ten, he was pretty darn big. Think future line backer, that kid is drinking his milk!

I do not operate a conventional outreach, I grew up with my parents allowing me to *experience* life, they did not protect me from all the possibilities of simply living. I can say however I think they feared what orphaned or injured animal I would drag home next. At the same time they allowed me to be me, I loved ants, and frogs, grasshoppers, dragon flies, and name it didn't matter what type of animal or insect, I felt this overwhelming desire to touch it and understand it. To embrace it and it's fascinating world, so contrastingly different from my own.

(Pic taken of a doe by Sky)I knew what it was like to hold and bottle-feed a baby tiger, and bear when I was younger than Mark, the natural world was one I not only observed *but connected* with on a very deep emotional/physical and spiritual level. I got down at it's level and *participated* so it became a part of me.

(Pic taken of part of a lake/beaver dam that backs my land) The older I became the more society aound me tried to influence how I viewed such thing, by telling me spiders would bite me, that grasshoppers are pests, that frogs and toads will give you warts, snakes would kill you and on and on...but I have never walked a path someone else wanted me to, I realized early on that what I experienced was pure and I was not going to allow anyone no matter who they were, to *break* that connection and spirit shared.

I have a rule out here of certain age/height requirements, as to who may be able to interact with any of my friends, while also listening carefully and respectfully to the wolves themselves, for like people they will either like someone upon meeting them or they won't, sometimes they take awhile to think on it. I do not allow little kids in with any adult wolves, young children do not yet understand themselves yet, or how to control their own actions , let alone understand what a wolf may be saying to them.

But every child is different. One thing I am good at is understanding how the wolves feel at any moment in time through observing , their whiskers, their ears,their eyes, their lips, their tails, there is not one part of a wolf's body that is not communicating at *all* times. Their thoughts/intent/feelings are easily read. (Even in the wild if I am able to observe pack interaction I know what they are saying to each other, pretty wild )

(Pic taken by Sky of Dharma Windsong and Northern Lights Legend at WEV) If you understand wolf ecology they are easier to read than any human being, as humans have created various masks for themselves over time in different situations and circumstances as to not portray their true intent/feelings.

I am very protective and caring not only of the wolves but also any visitor and new friend I have ever met. If someone comes out and one of the wolves doesn't like the person, that is immediately known and also respected. Some feel sad that a certain favorite may not like them, but they are their own individuals and have their own reasons for this, reasons known only to them. I simply listen to them.

I have never forced the wolves here to be anything other than what they are ...wolves.

I do not try and make them into my dog , nor would that be right.

I allow them as pups to grow and explore and be themselves I do not discipline them for acting wolf.

(Pic taken by Sky of Legend in the fall trying to blend in with the furniture. ;0) Legend is an Arctic wolf, and though all wolves (minus the red wolf and ethiopian wolf) are classified taxonomically as *Gray Wolves* Legend is the subspecies canis lupus arctos. They are a rare subspecies in captivity, and are at risk in the wild. For more information on this special subspecies and all about arctic wildlife and wolves please visit my friend legends page on one of my main sites http://www.wolfechovalley.com/)A friendship that is built on respect and trust very early on is established.

(Thanks to Judy Wood for capturing these pics of me, without me knowing haha and my boy legend while here)

I know that what I do comes with criticism, such is life, no matter what one chooses to do there will be someone out there to criticize. I long ago accepted that this comes with the territory and work. But still it is quite rude when someone says " So why do you do this?" and it is the way it is said, as if they are alluding to something, (what did I say about people wearing many masks to hide intent? ;0) This is like me saying to someone who is a waitress or a lawyer "So why do you do this?"

Mark reminded me of a child not yet overly exposed to stories about wolves in a negative manner, he was very open and one of the most relaxed kids I have ever had out here. What a NATURAL sense of being around wildlife, in a way that cannot be taught.

For example I give everyone that comes out here guidance, to follow my direction at ALL times, and I stay close to them, it is but one reason I do not have large crowds out here because the intimacy is needed. My concentration cannot be on some person acting out not within my immediate site and control that could cause problems out here. Such a special meeting is not granted to everyone, it depends on many factors. But I know for those who have, they are changed in *some* way, unique and special to them.

(Thanks to Mark's Grandma Judy Wood for capturing me with Mark and legend.)

There are some that that despite given the right direction, are just not *natural* being around animals period, and this means even dogs and such. The wolves pick up on a persons body language very quickly whether they are comfortable or not, and these are the kinds of people I also do not allow to get up close and personal with the animals. I also want any visitors to observe the connection *I* have with these guys so they *trust* me and my expertise. I believe people feel this immediately upon meeting me.

I know were I to visit another facility doing what I do (and I have in the past) if the person is ignorant (lack of knowledge) lets just say no amount of coaxing could convince me to touch even a cat at their place. I believe in building bridges with people and to do that I simply come to the table with who I am and accept all that I meet in a caring manner.

The simple act of taking anothers hand, allows energy to communicate. For us to meet each other.

Mark experienced something that allowed him to connect with a particular animal, not common to connect with on such a level, thus not only did he walk away better educated, but also with an appreciation, reinforced openness and sensitivity to the plight of such a creature out in the wild. He will be the type of boy that grows into a man, whom will not hold a pre-conceived prejudice, when this occurs, so does magic.

Monks,Wolves and Bears Oh My!

Namaste' Fellow earth aliens, I am sorry to report Patti's brothers body was found not a few days after my last blog. I as well as Patti believe it was at least a small blessing he was found. We think his young son who also drowned years prior, helped in that recovery. The night before he was found, we were sitting with the monks during a nightly meditation get together, prayers were sent and all I felt was *peace* the entire time...and then a huge rainbow came out amidst a storm that had been occurring that day.

I took a picture of this and placed a picture of Tibet howling on it and I put (In the Midst of A Storm Look For theRainbow) I know at times in all our lives it is very hard to see through the pain, tears, and turmoil, but the miracles are STILL occurring, the blessings are still touching us, if we allow them to. I honestly believe we are all energy and spirit carried by precious vessels, our body, for whatever time is gifted to us, and that Patti's brother is definitely still among us.

The relationship is still there, but is just *different*now, than the one we may have known so well before, the more physical parts of any relationship where we can hug, and feel, and touch another. But we can still talk to our loved one, we can still laugh with our loved one, we can still continue to live and laugh with, and for them.

July was one of those months where temps. never seemed to go below 30 degrees HOT for here. Lets just say the monks when they arrived at WEV they were as white as one can be, but when they left...they looked to be of another color altogether , lets hope their moms recognized them hahaha ;0) As far as words to describe this experience, some things in life have no words,and July was one of those things with the monks. Every day I felt myself growing/evolving within myself, pushing all that I know. How do you find words to explain such changes? They are so intimate and personal. They truly showed me up close and personal, how little we truly all NEED to be content in life.

They did not reside at any grand palace while here, they had tents over looking a beautiful little lake, we made them a homemade nicely built outdoor shower system, and outhouse one of a few on the land. Also overlooking the lake

They could trek an hour through the forest bush, to the river to bathe. We took them swimming at my favorite all time place, Kingsmere Lake. Monks swimming you ask? YES, but they swim in their robes, they take down the top part of the robes to the waist. Pics here are of after the swim at the river with an older buddhist friend with two of the three monks as it is not respectful to photograph monks when they bathe or swim, and when their robe is not at least on one shoulder

Needless to say everywhere we stopped with them, like at subway for example, people wondered why these men were dressed in blankets! Hahahahahaha. But one day when we took them swimming at Kingsmere, we walked past a few people in the forest on a trek back, and we heard a lady say "OH MY MONKS! you got monks!" We all looked at each other and laughed, including the three monks, it became an ongoing joke here at WEV of "we got monks!" so much so I was tempted to paint that on my truck ;0)

The monks also experienced a young bears hospitality on the land. The very first night a bear visited the monks in their tents, the poor bear realized humans were there and took off through the bush! but not before leaving a deposit within a few feet of one of the monks tent! he /she continued to visit from a far for the month. We joked that the young bear was needing spiritual guidance, so the lead monk said *go west young bear*

We have retired using the wood stove/fireplace for heating the cabin this winter and installing a grain stove instead. Using the wood has been an experience for quite a few years now, but it takes weeks of precious prep time first to go into the fire burnt forests (as I refuse to take healthy wood down) and using fire burnt wood from forest fires, it is MESSY work!!! you get it all over your clothes and body, then blocking and stacking wood for the wood shed.

(pic of the house dog pookie who yup helps to raise any wolf pups ;0) lying on the old wood stove, and the grain stove installed (new update and pic added this winter 08' the grain stove has not reached full heat yet in the pic, but the flame gets BIG and it pumps out a lot of heat for this lil cabin)

I am excited to be using the grain to heat with this winter, luckily the province is rich in such resources. Half of this province may be all forest but half of the province has a whole heck of a lot of grain, and that is a good thing!
The meditation platform was built and completed while the monks were here,

and the seperation pen mostly finished just the gates need done and the link put up, all the ground wire for dig proofing is laid out and covered up, the rest will be done before first snow fall end of October. There's been a a zillion different projects on the go,whilst also preparing for the cold months just around the corner already, at night we are hitting near freezing temps sometimes...wow.

Eco is sooooo big now she weighs close to 50 pounds at 4 months of age, she knows she's a big girl and a pretty one at that, she is a typical wolf pup tying to get away with as much as she can. I of course am as leniant as is possible , in the wild wolf pups get away with a lot, and are free to go where they want pretty much doing/exploring, just *being* she needs to find and discover all she is. She is sooo sweet but of course has her deviant moments, always full of life and expression, she reminds me that everyday there is something new to discover. As a child I would pick rocks up like she does, just so that I could hold them, she wants to put her mouth on everything!!! and taste everything, do you remember the first time tasting mud pies as a child? well I DO!!! it is hilarious to see the things she tries to put into her mouth only to spit it out again! Of course I am a little protective and don't allow her to do anything that may harm her physical well being.

She certainly rebels against authority right now
She enjoys her daily outings and hikes through the forest , all the many sights and sounds to a young pup, it is a delight to watch her and share in such amazing and exciting moments and firsts. She visits with the adult wolves every day, and has adopted them all as her moms and dads, too cute. She will reside in the puppy pen but for a couple more months then end of october she will be transfered into one of the big habitats, all this has secured her to be vey handleable as an adult, for the rest of her life,the socialization and time spent with her the past few months will pay off. She is turning into a well rounded young wolf who is happy and content, and living in a non stressful environment.
I am going through another spiritual transition yet again, and those are always exciting and scary and wondrous. So, a challenge to you all. This week allow something/someone/some experience to absolutely take your breath away, in such a way there are no words. Allow it to embrace you and fill you with it's blessings. Then turn this into a peace and stillness within your soul. Till then, and being I am gifted to live more moments to write again. Be well...metta

Picture of one of the monks gazing into the river here, and building the meditation platform at WEV


Pictures of the monks with their bowls. One of the bowls you will notice is not blackened yet that is because it has not been fired up. After a certain amount of time of being a monk, their bowl is taken and fired up in a HUGE outdoor fire. The monks only eat one ceremonial meal a day in the morning, (thus when I took this picture) and those bowls are filled right up :0) It is disrespectful to take any pictures of the monks eating, such as in swimming so I waited. The last picture is the monks on the land as I am their guide.