The recent passing of House Bill 4040 has legislatively legitimized the de-listing of wolves in Oregon. Law suits are moot.

As the RG points out, only a quarter of a percent of cattle deaths outside of intentional slaughter are due to wolves. And the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation says elk populations have increased with wolves present!

So what's the big deal? Why is there a need to hunt wolves when, according to unbiased science, their numbers are still not stabilized?

Blame this on Oregon cattle ranchers at large and their snooty entitlement attitude. We allow them to graze their cows on millions of acres of our land at a fraction of market value, yet they over graze, allow cows to denude and stomp-out fish bearing streams, and often gate us out. For the sake of few cows, they've intimidated our legislators into opening the door to the eradication of an iconic animal, one deserving our respect and protection as Westerners.

This is so unfair to most Oregonians, rural or urban.