Dear Editor,

I read the interview of Mr. Sykes in the Chieftain and have been following the wolf issue with increasing dismay. 

In the interview Mr. Sykes stated that wolves benefit the northeast economy. Wildlife watching is a booming industry. Wolf watchers bring 35 million a year to the  area around Yellowstone. This may be so, but at what expense. The elk herds around Yellowstone are being decimated, which will have a dramatic effect on hunting and the hunting dollars generated. At the rate the deer and elk herds are dwindling here because of unchecked wolf, cougar and coyote populations, it wont be long until we have little or no hunting opportunities left in this area. 

I dont know how many dollars hunters bring into the local economy every year, but judging from the number of out-of-town rigs every year it must be substantial. Not only is the dollar issue a concern, there are many local families in the area that rely on the game to feed their families for the winter.

Will the wolf watchers bring in enough to support our local economy at this level? 

The other side of this is the faster the deer and elk populations dwindle, the more the wolves will need to feed on local sheep and cattle. So I ask again, at what expense do we do nothing to control these populations. Where do we draw the line between human rights and animal rights! 

Its time to tip the scale back to common sense where we can feed and  protect ourselves, families and property without fear of being arrested or sued.

Jerry Crandall

Joseph