Dr. Val Geist, Wolves & Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition
03-25-2005, 10:05 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Dr. Val Geist, Wolves & Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition
Big Game biologist doesn’t call for eradication of wolves
Anti-wolf groups have pointed to Dr. Valarius Geist, a prominent ungulate biologist from Canada, as someone who dislikes wolves and supports the agenda of wolf removal. To quote a USA Today article, “Jack Oyler (of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife) of the coalition cites the research done by Val Geist, a professor emeritus of environmental science at the University of Calgary. Geist contends the West's plentiful big-game animals are the result of careful wildlife management, and wolves on the loose undo those efforts.”
In public hearings, in defense of his anti-wolf stance, Ron Gillette has stated that Dr. Geist is the “Michael Jordan” of big game biologists and points to his statements as proof that wolves should be eradicated.
This isn’t the case.
Dr. Geist is an important figure in wildlife conservation and study, as a quick internet search would show. I decided to write Dr. Geist directly and get his views of wolves and wildlife from the source.
Dr. Geist, while critical of the reintroduction currently taking place in the Western United States, does not call for the complete removal of wolves from the region that Ron Gillette hopes for. In one letter, Dr Geist responded;
“You asked the question: "Is there any room for wolves in the Western United States?" Of course there is! The question is not if, but how to introduce wolves so as to minimize problems and dissent, and insure that the wolves, once reintroduced, will have a secure long-term existence.”
This is some distance ideologically from the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition’s mission statement of “No Negotiations, No Compromise, No Consensus, and No Wolves in Idaho.” Dr. Geist goes on to state that there is a proper way to approach predator conservation;
“The details that concern us here is the known biology of our large carnivores. Another level of details deals with systems of wildlife conservation and their historical effectiveness or lack thereof. The goal has to be first and foremost to strengthen effective systems of wildlife conservation as only such insure the survival of large predators”
Dr. Geist seems to have a balanced approach to predator recovery issues, in tune with groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He reaffirms that there is a place for wolves in the west, but only if management plans include rural communities and hunters.
So once again, we're left wondering what the heck Ron Gillette and the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition are doing. Aside from apparently misquoting important scientists, they've also raised a lot of money and political capitol which, again apparently, has vanished with little to show for it. Sadly, as a private business, the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition isn't subject to laws which protect and empower people who donate to non-profit groups.
Perhaps a few letters to the Better Business Bureau are in order? Until then it's "Buyer Beware."
-FD
Anti-wolf groups have pointed to Dr. Valarius Geist, a prominent ungulate biologist from Canada, as someone who dislikes wolves and supports the agenda of wolf removal. To quote a USA Today article, “Jack Oyler (of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife) of the coalition cites the research done by Val Geist, a professor emeritus of environmental science at the University of Calgary. Geist contends the West's plentiful big-game animals are the result of careful wildlife management, and wolves on the loose undo those efforts.”
In public hearings, in defense of his anti-wolf stance, Ron Gillette has stated that Dr. Geist is the “Michael Jordan” of big game biologists and points to his statements as proof that wolves should be eradicated.
This isn’t the case.
Dr. Geist is an important figure in wildlife conservation and study, as a quick internet search would show. I decided to write Dr. Geist directly and get his views of wolves and wildlife from the source.
Dr. Geist, while critical of the reintroduction currently taking place in the Western United States, does not call for the complete removal of wolves from the region that Ron Gillette hopes for. In one letter, Dr Geist responded;
“You asked the question: "Is there any room for wolves in the Western United States?" Of course there is! The question is not if, but how to introduce wolves so as to minimize problems and dissent, and insure that the wolves, once reintroduced, will have a secure long-term existence.”
This is some distance ideologically from the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition’s mission statement of “No Negotiations, No Compromise, No Consensus, and No Wolves in Idaho.” Dr. Geist goes on to state that there is a proper way to approach predator conservation;
“The details that concern us here is the known biology of our large carnivores. Another level of details deals with systems of wildlife conservation and their historical effectiveness or lack thereof. The goal has to be first and foremost to strengthen effective systems of wildlife conservation as only such insure the survival of large predators”
Dr. Geist seems to have a balanced approach to predator recovery issues, in tune with groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He reaffirms that there is a place for wolves in the west, but only if management plans include rural communities and hunters.
So once again, we're left wondering what the heck Ron Gillette and the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition are doing. Aside from apparently misquoting important scientists, they've also raised a lot of money and political capitol which, again apparently, has vanished with little to show for it. Sadly, as a private business, the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition isn't subject to laws which protect and empower people who donate to non-profit groups.
Perhaps a few letters to the Better Business Bureau are in order? Until then it's "Buyer Beware."
-FD
03-25-2005, 11:06 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Posts: 1,572
RE: Dr. Val Geist, Wolves & Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition
Great post. I live in the heart of this so called "anti-wolf coalition". I mean who didn't know these guys were going to turn out to be a joke? Have you ever been to one of their "meetings"? Wildlife biologists like myself have known for quite some time that groups like these can suceed but it is rare. They are pretty adept at fear mongering and rousing the anti-government aspects of the populace but your average citizen is going to view them as irrational, extreme, and decietful. They skew data, they scream people down when any valid data not supporting thier argument is brought forward, and they misrepresent the scietific community as your post has demonstrated. By not engaging in honest discussion about the issues, they have failed to bring anything to the table and they are only aggrevating the problem with their extreme views. As a result of this, they will forever remain a fringe-group whose views represent a small sliver of the general citizenry. If they were to gain a new leader and perhaps accpet the fact that resource problems like this are NEVER black and white (or all black) as they would believe then perhaps they can actually become an impetus for change but until they radically alter their ultra-narrow world view they will remain impotent.
Edit: As far as Dr. Geist being the "Micheal Jordan" of biologists. While he is highly accomplished and much respected. That is also a misrepresentation. There are others who have done as much or more research regarding predators and predator prey interactions in my opinion. Dr. Hornocker and all the research he has had a hand in for the past 40 years comes to mind.
Edit: As far as Dr. Geist being the "Micheal Jordan" of biologists. While he is highly accomplished and much respected. That is also a misrepresentation. There are others who have done as much or more research regarding predators and predator prey interactions in my opinion. Dr. Hornocker and all the research he has had a hand in for the past 40 years comes to mind.
