ELY'S MAYOR SAYS I'M NEGATIVE AND IGNORANT

Well, he may not have directed those words at me specifically but that is what he called wolf advocates and I am a wolf advocate.

This morning my husband, daughter and I woke at 5 am to make the drive north up to Ely Minnesota for a wolf rally being hosted by Lisa Fabish, owner of Blackwolf Kennels and Howling for Wolves.  Shortly after we arrived I was told of an article in the Ely Echo (local newspaper), written by the towns mayor, which labelled those of us who'd come to town for the rally as being negative and ignorant.  As you can imagine, this didn't go over well with us wolf advocates and one of the many reasons it pissed us off is this...

Ross Petersen, Mayor of Ely Minnesota, wrote the following:

I think we can agree that a wild timber wolf is a special animal, but when it loses its fear of man it often turns to eating garbage, road kill, livestock and family pets.  Then it becomes not so special.  A hunting season helps keep wolves wild.  If they stay wild, I believe they can continue to expand their range.  The anti-wolf hunting folks are a negative in many ways but probably most of all a negative factor if we want to keep a healthy and expanding population of wild wolves.  If these people have to display their ignorance, I wish they would do it in some other town.

Now. I'm just going to skip over the idiocy about wolves eating pets because we all know if you are a good pet owner you wouldn't tether your dog outside and leave it unattended or let your dog run off leash in wolf country if wolves were such a great concern.  Oh, and that part about wolves losing their fear of humans.  Have you seen a wolf up close yet (zoos don't count)? Yeah, didn't think so. 

The part I do want to focus on is this.

Not very long ago, one month to be exact, Mayor Ross Peterson had this to say about bears in Ely (Yes, BEARS).  This was in response to the DNR's conflict with bear researcher Dr. Lynne Rogers over permit renewal and the killing of collared research bears.

From the horses (Mayor Ross Petersen's) mouth (and my thoughts highlighted in red):

In an unrelated item, could someone please tell the rest of the world that Ely and its mayor are not the ones harassing Lynn Rogers and shooting his bears.  I'm getting hate emails and phone calls from different parts of the world.  If this anger should be directed at anyone, it's the top officials at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  In my opinion, Commissioner Tom Landwehr and wildlife manager Ed Boggess should both be fired. What, the same officials that have implemented a wolf hunt that you so proudly boast is the best thing for the environment and the safety of people? County Commissioner Mike Forsman and I asked them multiple times, beginning in January, to consider our tourism economy and to keep local elected officials involved when dealing with Dr. Rogers.  Oh, it is money you speak of? Like the $45.7 billion dollars spent by wildlife viewers annually in the U.S. with wolf oriented ecotourism being a major part of that.  According the International Wolf Center, whose home is in Ely, Minnesota, they bring in $3 million dollars a year to Ely by those who travel from around the globe just to get a glimpse at a wolf. Their disregard for our communities You mean the same community that often promotes the possible viewing of wolves in the wild when they are trying attract tourists to the area? and elected government has created so much negative press, a million dollars in Explore Minnesota advertising won't come close to offsetting the damage they have done.  I think the Governor needs to explain to us why we are paying huge salaries to Commissioner Landwehr and Director Boggess to waste (millions?) tax dollars What's that you say? Tax dollars? Like the millions Minnesota residents and U.S. tax payers spent on bringing wolves back from the brink of extinction? and hurt one of our most important industries.  They have to go."

"I talk to people all the time who first heard about Ely through the North American Bear Center." And how many people heard about and traveled to Ely because of the International Wolf Center? How many, like myself, first started traveling to Ely with the tiny wish that there be even the slightest chance of viewing a wolf in the wild?

Now while you read Petersen's own words, keep in mind that the reasons DNR Commission Tom Landwehr says Dr. Roger's permits would not be renewed and why we need to hunt bear is because:

The DNR's decision to revoke the permit was predicated by public safety concerns for home and cabin owners near Roger's bear-feeding area, because the bears are not wary of humans. Sounds a lot like Petersen's claim that hunting wolf keeps people safe. One bear stuck its head through an open car window with children inside.  Another bear cornered children in a garage.  When a conservation officer arrived, the bear approached the officer, who felt compelled to shoot it when it nuzzled his pocket looking for peanuts.  "He's teaching bears to view humans as a source of food," Landwehr said. What? Is this Petersen speaking or Landwehr? Wolves eating garbage and people's pets... isn't that viewing humans as a source of food too?

Mayor Petersen is entitled to his opinion regarding the DNR, Landwehr said, also pointing out that the agency plays a far greater role in the Ely community than regulating Rogers.  The agency was involved in fire-fighting efforts when the town was threatened by wildfire a few years ago.  The DNR also stocks lakes with fish and manages wildlife.  "We will continue to work with Ely and St. Louis County, but we still need to do what we think is appropriate for public resources and safety," Landwehr said. and Just like Landwehr, Petersen thinks that killing wolves is best for our environment and in the best interest of the public.

Both Landwehr and Petersen are wrong but that isn't really the point now is it.  The point is Petersen can't have it both ways.  He either cares about our tax dollars and the economic benefits of wildlife or he doesn't, he either cares about public safety or he doesn't.  Fact is, both bears and wolves are beneficial to the environment, are not a threat to human safety, and both generate millions in tourism dollars.

So who is ignorant now Mr. Mayor?

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These are not negative, ignorant people.  These are people that care about wildlife and the environment, people that are willing to stand out in the snow and cold to fight for another species survival because they know the value of that species is far greater than just monetary.  These are passionate, caring, and very educated individuals that won't back down from a bully like Mayor Ross Petersen.

Wolf Advocates in Ely Minnesota (Wolf hunting opener)

Sandra Skinaway, wolf advocate.  Representing the Sandy Lake Ojibwe.

Lisa Fabish (left), wolf advocate.  Owner of Black Wolf Kennels and organizer/host of the Ely Wolf Rally

My heartfelt thanks goes out to:

Howard Goldman (Humane Society of the United States)
Lisa Fabish (Black Wolf Kennels)
Lisa Grecula (Volunteer Coordinator at Howling for Wolves)
Maureen Hacket (founder of Howling for Wolves)
Sandra Skinaway (Representing the Sandy Lake Ojibwe)

for once again putting our wolves at center stage and making sure we never forget how important it is to keep on fighting!

Note: If you want to let Mayor Petersen know what you think of his opinion of wolves and their advocates here is his contact information:

rpetersen@ely.mn.us
Ross Petersen, Mayor
Ely City Hall 
209 E Chapman St.
Ely, MN 55731
Toll Free# 1-855-884-1374