Wolf Delisting

It's an understatement to say the debate over delisting wolves in the northwest is an emotional issue for both sides. The media has branded opposing sides as the "wolf lovers" and the "wolf haters", which isn't a fair or accurate moniker for either side. Farmers and ranchers who are working hard to prevent massive predation of their livestock do not hate wolves in the context of wishing the entire species was non-existent, they only want to protect their livelihood. Pro wolf and animal rights activists would probably change their tune a bit if they were to find themselves, their pets, and their livelihood under vicious and deadly attack on a daily basis. The old saying, "If you want to know how a man feels walk a mile in his shoes", continues to ring true. Currently the wolf population appears to be concentrated in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana with more showing up in Washington and Oregon daily. The key here seems to be in determining a state's legal requirement for the wolves "significant portion of historic range". In reality that range would extend widely across most of the United States. If wolves actually occupied their historic range, delisting could occur and a natural balance could be achieved.