Brutal reason why these three wolves were shot and killed... despite massive protection zones being in place
- GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
Three wolves were shot and killed in Utah after they wandered into a small area of the state where protections for the endangered species are lifted.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) confirmed to the Daily Mail that the gray wolves were 'lethally removed' by the state's Department of Agriculture on January 9.
A photo circulating online and published by local media of the three dead wolves lying on the ground sparked outrage from animal conservation advocates because the species is endangered.
Although much of the state is required to abide by federal gray wolf protections, which makes it illegal to hunt, harass, trap, shoot or harm them without permission, these three animals were killed in the small area of Utah where those laws do not apply.
A DWR spokesperson explained that state law requires officials to prevent wolves from establishing breeding pairs in the delisted area of northern Utah, and that these animals were in the 'delisted zone.'
'The wolves were removed in the delisted area of northern Utah in Cache County and were in areas with livestock,' the spokesperson said.
'State law directs the DWR to prevent wolves from establishing breeding pairs in the delisted area of northern Utah.
'Currently, the delisted zone (the small area both north of I-80 and east of I-84) is the only area where the state of Utah has authority to manage wolves.'
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed three gray wolves were 'lethally removed' by the state's Department of Agriculture on January 9
As of 2022, gray wolves have been listed as endangered in the US, following a decline driven by hunting and habitat loss that brought the species to the brink of extinction.
However, Utah officials have challenged that status and asked the federal government to allow them to manage the wolf population due to its impacts on agriculture.
As a result, the state was allowed to establish a delisted zone where officials may prevent wolves from becoming established.
'In the rest of the state, wolves are still considered an endangered species and fall under federal control and protection,' the DWR spokesperson said.
'The law directs DWR to prevent the establishment of packs in the delisted portion of Utah, and we don’t have jurisdiction over the ESA-listed areas of Utah or other surrounding states.
'Lethal removals ensure they don’t establish breeding populations in Utah.'
Launie Evans, who lives in the area where the wolves were shot, told KSL she wish the state had an alternative to killing them.
'I wish they would have had a way to relocate them rather than kill them,' Evans said. 'But I also don't want to see a calf killed either. Nature's hard.'
As of 2022, gray wolves (pictured) have been listed as endangered in the US, following a decline driven by hunting and habitat loss that brought the species to the brink of extinction
The DWR spokesperson confirmed that there are no known packs of wolves in Utah.
'Although there have been confirmed wolf sightings over the years - and rare instances of wolf-related livestock depredation - there are currently no known established packs in Utah,' the spokesperson said.
On social media, people questioned if the state was justified in killing the animals.
'You have to prove they are predating livestock before such drastic measures,' one person wrote on Facebook.
'There needs to be more explanation as to why they shot the wolves. Why would we reintroduce them some places and keep them out of others,' wrote another.
Others praised the Department of Agriculture for killing the beasts.
'The only good wolf is a dead wolf,' one person wrote.
'Wolves don’t just kill when hungry, they kill constantly and continually until everything is gone, then move on to another area to kill everything! They are not just trying to feed! They need to be heavily controlled,' wrote a second person.
