When the Government Kills Wolves, the Public May Follow Suit
A new study looking at two states in the U.S. could weaken the theory that culling some large carnivores can help conserve them.
In 2005 Wisconsin wanted a permit to kill 43 endangered gray wolves. So the federal government granted it. The way it saw things, controlling wolves—which had earned a bad name by preying on livestock and pets—would increase human tolerance for the predators. By letting the state cull them, it would prevent even more wolves from getting shot by frustrated ranchers.
Wildlife activists disagreed. In a federal lawsuit, they argued that killing the animals ran counter to the Endangered Species Act, a law meant to help conserve endangered and threatened species. The judge agreed, and the federal government was forced to revoke the permit.
Nonetheless, this argument—that legal killing helps stop illegal killing—continues to be made around the world. The United States
