Bee should not print non-stories on wolves

I am puzzled why Hagadone press publishes sensationalist stories about wolves.

Two years ago “Woman claims wolves killed dog,” stated she heard a large animal prowling in the night, heard a scream from a dog, and called an Idaho Fish & Game official. He found nothing.

The year before, two ranchers said that they were surrounded by a pack of wolves near Grass Creek. Net result — no dead cattle and not a hair on the heads of the ranchers was harmed.

The story in a recent Bee, “Pair fend off wolf pack,” differed from the others only in that:

1. It took place far from here in Montana.

2. The two hunters killed a wolf.

3. They called a press conference at which state legislators appeared and one hunter stated that “if he didn’t have that .44 on his side, we wouldn’t be talking to you.”

What these stories all had in common was that no human was harmed. In fact, the number of authenticated wolf attacks on humans in North America in the last 300 years can be counted on the fingers of one hand. On the other hand, we have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of wolves.

I sympathize with the hunters who felt fear. In their place, I probably would have been scared, too. Wolves are not big furry dogs. They are wild predators, who play an important role in maintaining healthy forests.

(Some) hunters should get a grip on themselves and the Bee should stop publishing non-stories.

KEN FISCHMAN

Sandpoint