Finally, a sensible way to protect livestock against wolves

Anyone who knows me knows I’m fiercely against the unneeded massacring of wildlife simply for doing what wild animals do: hunt and kill other animals for food. The use of lethal, and especially ridiculously oppressive, force against wildlife populations such as wolves in order to try and protect livestock is one particularly sharp bone of contention with me. There are always ways to protect domesticated animals from natural predators, other than trying to eliminate the latter simply for following their instincts and natural behaviors.

Now, it seems the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeing sense, as they have begun issuing non-lethal rubber bullets to ranchers in Wyoming in an effort to cut down on the needless slaughter of innocent animals.

JACKSON, Wyo. — Wolf managers with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say they have issued non-lethal rubber bullets to a landowner northeast of Jackson where wolves have been chasing horses.

Wyoming Wolf Recovery Project Leader Mike Jimenez said the landowner was also issued cracker shells, a type of firework that can be fired from a shotgun.

Jimenez said rubber bullets were also issued to a landowner last summer who used one to hit a wolf that had been harassing dogs on private property near Jackson. Jimenez said the incidents stopped after the wolf was struck.

He said the rubber bullets have a range of about 50 yards.

These “non-lethal rubber bullets” aren’t just flimsy little pieces of crud that you can just shake off. They pack a serious punch when they hit. (Just ask the Guinea Pig, or the ever-so-appropriately-named Jackass crew.) When you hear “non-lethal”, think: “just less than lethal”. These things will stop wolves in their tracks, no problem, yet without the side-effects of other armaments. Like, you know, death.

I’m very happy with this decision and I hope it gets implemented everywhere. And, most of all, that jackass ranchers don’t late their irrational anger and hatred towards wolves and other predators take the front seat and substitute those “wussy” rubber bullets for lethal alternatives, as likely happens far too often.

(via Fark)