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Idaho Reporter: Idaho House Approves Hunter Protection Bill

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Idaho Reporter: Only 164 Wolves Harvested heading into Final Month of Hunt

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Will Graves’ Comments To Environmental Quality Council On Hydatid Disease

The following is a copy of Will Graves’ remarks to the Montana Legislatures’ Environmental Quality Council about wolf worms or echinococcus granulosus and other related diseases. For those interested, earlier I post similar comments made by Gary Marbut of Montana Shooting Sports Association.

Environmental Quality Council
Helena, Montana, 59620

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Council;

This is for the record:

I worked for a short time (1950-1951) in Oaxaca, Mexico for the US Department of Agriculture. I was the Chief of an Inspecting, Vaccinating, Slaughtering Brigade in a horseback sector working to eradicate the Foot and Mouth Disease. In 1951 I volunteered for four year service in the US Air Force where I was taught Russian. In 1955 I started to work for the National Security Agency (NSA) and retired after 35 years service. In 1983 I was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award from NSA.

I have had an active interest in wolves since 1951 during which time I researched the characteristics, habits, and behavior of wolves in Czarist Russia and the former USSR. I recorded the results of my research in 2007 in a book titled, “Wolves in Russia: Anxiety Through the Ages.” The much esteemed Dr. Valerius Geist was the Editor of my book.

From 1993-1995 I worked for the US State Department in the US Embassy in Moscow. While there I spent much of my free time traveling and collecting information about wolves in Russia. I still maintain email contact with some residents there. I have contacts with individuals who live in Yakutsk in the Yakutia Autonomous Republic. This area is well know as a reindeer breeding and herding area. One of my contacts is Yuri Sleptsov, whose wife Maria Rastorgueva works in the Yakutia Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Science. She knows Isakov Semen Innokentevich, Doctor of
Veterinarian Science who also works at the Institute. I requested and they forwarded to me on the 26 of February “A Notice for the Public about Hydatid Diseases.” A translation of that notice done by Mr Vladimir Deriaben and me, and edited by Dr. Geist is attached.

The inhabitants of Yakutia have had centuries of experience with wolves. Each year wolves kill from about 8,000 to almost 10,000 reindeer. Some details on this are included in my book. Thus, it should not be a surprise that Yakutians also have extensive experience with wolves carrying and spreading parasites and diseases; therefore, I thought the information in this notice would be informative to Americans.

I do not understand how anyone in the US could say that Hydatid Disease does not pose a significant threat to humans. It is difficult to detect this disease in humans, and it may go undetected for an extended period of time, even twenty plus years. Late detection increases the risk of serious consequences or even death.

Hydatid eggs can survive severe cold temperatures, and note that they can be carried in water. Research needs to be carried out in both of these areas.

The parasite Neospora Caninum causes abortion in cattle and is carried by dogs and coyotes. It has not been determined if wolves are the definitive hosts of this parasite. I personally suspect that wolves may also carry and spread N. Caninum. I believe research needs to be done in this area.

Additional information about wolves in Russia spreading diseases written by the biologist N. Nazarova may be found on my website: WolvesInRussia.com

I believe our government agencies need to do much more to assist and aid our ranchers and farmers.
Respectfully,
Will Graves,
Millersville, Maryland

This is a translation of an undated Notice from the Yakutian Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Science received February 2010. The translation was done Mr. Vladimir Deriaben and Mr. Will Graves, and edited by Dr. Valerius Geist.

A Notice to the Public about Hydatid disease (Echinococcis)

Hydatid disease (caused by the dog and fox tape worms, Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis, respectively. ed) is a very severe parasitic disease, and possesses a very complicated clinical background. It acquires a chronic character and ends with grave consequences or lethal outcome.

The pathogenic organisms of hydatid disease are small tape worms that inhibit the bowels of dogs, which are considered to be the carriers of the parasite. Humans and some animals (sheep, swines, cows and etc.) are the intermediate host of the Echinocossis. The larval bladder stage of the parasites develops within the person, making it the intermediate carrier of the disease.

The most common type of human contamination is through contact with contaminated dogs whose fur has come in contact with contaminated fecal matter. Hydatid disease may also be transmitted through contaminated vegetables, vegetation, fruit, dirty hands.

Up to 80 – 95 % of the Echinococcus cysts develop in the liver and lungs. These cysts grow slowly: upon initial penetration into the human carriers, their length hardly reaches several millimeters, in 5 months they reach 1 cm diameter, and in 10 years these cysts reach a massive size and contain several liters of liquid.

The main measure to prevent contamination by Echinococcus eggs is strict personal hygiene, avoiding contact with helminth (tape worm ed.) eggs through the mouth from infected animal fur, as well as other objects of the environment polluted by the feces of the infected animals. It is important to implement veterinary measures aimed at utilization of the meat wastes of the diseased sheep (prohibition of feeding dogs and industrially produced fur animals with such waste meat products), timely identification of the diseased dogs and their proper treatment.

It is very difficult to diagnose hydatid disease at the initial stages due to the absence of specific clinical symptoms. The Echinococcus cysts can be detected accidentally in the course of carrying out some research procedures for example X rays, or during surgery. Currently, to aid in diagnosis, research is held in the field of immunology, the most effective being immuno-enzyme analysis.The enzyme-linked immunoassay is used for seroepidemic study of the contamination of the population by hydatid disease in order to determine the intensity of transmitting of contamination in the breeding
ground. Observation of different ages, professional and ethnic groups of the population makes it possible to obtain information on contingents affected by high risk of contamination.

The origin of this disease is the larval stage of helminth (cestode). Its adult tape worm form is parasitizing in the thin section of the bowels of the animals (dogs, wolves, foxes). The larval form – is to be found mostly in the liver, lungs, and rarely in other parts of all agricultural animals and humans. As a result it leads to the formation of the Echinococcus bladders and finally to a severe disease which often ends with lethal outcome.

Hydatid disease is widely spread in the areas where the stray dogs are not taken care of, where the bodies of the dead animals are not taken away and dogs are fed with the inner organs, contaminated with the bladder stage of Echinococcus. The infected dogs which have a constant contact with humans and home mammals quickly disseminate
the pathogens of these diseases among humans and animals.

Humans are infected while contacting the contaminated animals, gathering berries and herbs, or using the water from the sources contaminated by the eggs of the helminths or processing skins.

In the alimentary canal of humans the oncospheres of the eggs of the tape worms are getting rid of their cover, the emerging larvae penetrate into the arterial blood and are spread further by the flow of blood. Most part of the larvae are retained in the liver, part of them is penetrating into the lungs (through the minor circulation of blood). Insignificant number of larvae get into kidneys, bones and brain. One cyst (a solitary affecting) or several cysts (alveolar hydatid disease caused by the fox tape worm E. multilocularis ed.) may develop in the affected organ. The cyst grows in the course of several years moving or squeezing the carrier’s tissues, which later get atrophied and become necrotic.

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Artificial Stupidity

By Thomas Sowell

“People are all born ignorant but they are not born stupid. Much of the stupidity we see today is induced by our educational system, from the elementary schools to the universities. In a high-tech age that has seen the creation of artificial intelligence by computers, we are also seeing the creation of artificial stupidity by people who call themselves educators.” <<<Read the Rest>>>

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Elk Callers from 8 States Medal in World Championships

RENO, Nev. – Amateur and professional elk callers from eight states – California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington – have medaled in the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships for 2010.

Competition concluded March 6 in Reno, Nev., held as part of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 26th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo.

Results:

Professional Division
1. Joel Turner, Eatonville, Wash.
2. Rockie Jacobsen, Kamiah, Idaho
3. Bryan Langley, McMinnville, Ore.

Men’s Division
1. Thomas Diesing, Loveland, Colo.
2. Dirk Durham, Moscow, Idaho
3. Greg Hubbell, Belmont, Calif.

Women’s Division
1. Misty Waggener, Priest River, Idaho
2. Amy Morris, Payson, Utah
3. Brittani Currier, Montrose, Colo.

Natural Voice Division
1. Greg Hubbell, Jr., Belmont, Calif.
2. Gavin McKitrick, McAllister, Mont.
3. Michael Hatten, Elko, Nev.

Youth Division
1. Ross LeValley, Hotchkiss, Colo.
2. Brayden Langley, McMinnville, Ore.
3. Austin Durham, Moscow, Idaho

Pee Wee Division
1. Colton Crawford, McMinnville, Ore.
2. Morgan Priest, Reno, Nev.
3. Matthew Bertero, Reno, Nev.

The event helps raise awareness of elk, habitat and conservation initiatives of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

In the competition, amateur-level callers have 30 seconds to mimic cow elk sounds, followed by bull sounds. Professionals are required to make specific calls such as barks, whistles and screaming bugles. Most callers blow across a latex reed placed inside the mouth. In the natural voice division, however, no reeds are allowed. A variety of plastic tubes are used like megaphones, giving the sounds realistic resonance. Judges score each competitor anonymously.

Winners received prizes and cash ranging from $500 to $2,500.

Prize sponsors included Cabela’s, Eberlestock, Hoyt, Kershaw Knives, Montana Decoy, Montana Silversmiths, Remington, Schnee’s and Traditions Performance Firearms.

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Woman Killed In Alaska. Possible Wolf Attack

Thirty-two-year old Candice Berner had just moved from Pennsylvania to a small town on the Alaska peninsula about 475 southwest of Anchorage. Her dead body was discovered on a road by a passerby. It is believed but not confirmed that she was attacked and killed by a wolf or wolves. An autopsy is being performed.

Tom Remington

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“Wolf Worms” And Other Wolf-Born Diseases

The following is a copy of the written testimony submitted to the Montana Legislature by Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, in regards to information provided about Echinococcus Granulosus. (Similar comments made by Will Graves, author of “Wolves in Russia: Anxiety Through the Ages“, can be read here.)

March 7, 2010

Environmental Quality Council

Re: Followup to March 5th testimony

From: Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Council:

There are issues about wolves that were not adequately addressed before the Council on Friday, primarily because of time constraints, and about which I’d like to follow up.

Wolf diseases and human health risks.

About Echinococcus Granulosus (EG for short), I felt that the council did not get a good synopsis of this disease. The Council was informed by FWP that 63% of Montana wolves carry this disease, which is transmissible to humans.

Because this disease has not been well studied, especially concerning the likelihood that this disease has been or will be transmitted to humans, FWP takes the position that it is no big deal. They equate their lack of information with absence of risk – what you don’t know about can’t hurt you, an attitude similar to the people of Haiti about earthquakes a year ago.

This is a mistake. Council members have been provided recent issues of The Outdoorsman which will generate a more informed view. Let me summarize.

EG (called “Wolf Worms” by some) is a parasite – a type of tapeworm. In Montana wolves examined there were literally thousands of these tiny tapeworms in the intestine of wolves. These tapeworms produce tens of thousands, maybe millions of microscopic eggs that are expelled in wolf feces. These eggs are viable for long periods of time, depending upon conditions.

These millions of EG eggs can become airborne or get flushed by rain into moving water. I have been unable to learn if community water treatment processes normally used to purify drinking water will reliably remove or destroy these eggs. That remains an open question.

What is not open to question is that people who intake these eggs though inhalation or any sort of transport-to-mouth mechanism can develop cysts that may be discovered any time from soon after exposure to as long as 20 years later. Such a long incubation period causes EG to be a nightmarish, untrackable public health risk.

Therefore, FWP’s position that no public health risk has been demonstrated is simply a case of whistling past the graveyard – denial based on lack of information and wishful thinking (but absolutely typical of FWP’s endless overt downplay of negative wolf impact).

When EG cysts form in a person, they are VERY difficult to detect. There are serological tests for presence of EG, but these tests have a spotty detection rate. Further, nearly all medical practitioners and diagnosticians are unaware of EG and are unlikely to look for or diagnose presence of EG cysts from non-specific patient complaints.

EG cysts have an affinity for peoples’ livers, lungs and brain, and sometimes heart. They may grow up to ten or 14 inches in diameter. Usually, there are multiple cysts in the affected organ. These cysts are an encapsulation of the larval form of EG, and one cyst may contain hundreds of these worm larvae. When a person develops EG cysts, that condition is called Hydatid Disease.

If a diagnostician should luck onto the detection of any such cyst in a patient, the only way to address or remove the cyst is via surgery – cut it out. Because of the risks associated with such surgery, the physician will usually opt to let the cyst grow until it becomes life-threatening before attempting surgical removal. Meanwhile, more such cysts may form in the same or other organs of the patient.

A physician and pathologist who is a member of MSSA told me that he has seen a death from EG where the patient’s liver was destroyed by EG cysts. A scientific journal reports the potential for heart attacks because critical heart blood supply vessels are blocked by EG cysts. Imagine EG cysts in your brain and being forced to choose between the risks of letting them grow, or surgery to remove them.

To summarize, 63% of Montana wolves are shedding millions of invisible, microscopic EG eggs across our landscape, eggs that can become airborne or water-borne and persist in the environment. These EG eggs can and do infect people. That is proven. Once infected, a person may develop cysts, up to 20 years later. The cysts will most likely be in the person’s liver, lungs, brain or heart. It is statistically unlikely that medical personnel will detect such cysts in a patient, except upon autopsy. If cysts are detected, the only solution is surgery, which is usually deferred because of the high risks of such surgery, until the risk of death from cysts exceeds the risk of death from surgery.

But, even that is not the whole story. There is another, similar type of tapeworm carried by wolves that is perhaps less studied and even more dangerous to humans. That is Echinococcus Multilocularis (“EM” for short). The life cycle, transmissibility and consequences of EM are similar to EG, but differ in some important ways.

Since EM is even less studied than EG, we don’t know how prevalent EM may be in Montana. Further, when a person is infected with EM cysts, those cysts eventually rupture and the infected person dies suddenly from anaphylactic shock. The primary mechanism of death may or may not be detected upon autopsy, which, of course, no longer matters to the deceased.

Since systematic EG and EM detection and reporting processes do not exist, we simply have no way at present to quantify the public health threat. In the face of this absence of information about EG and EM, FWP assures us that these diseases are no big deal. Instead of stressing that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, FWP, with its head firmly in the sand, assures us that there is no problem.

Other diseases.

Mange and parvovirus are known to be hammering wolf populations currently. In Yellowstone Park, the chief cause of wolf mortality now is wolves being killed by other wolves. Both of these are obvious signs of overpopulation. The wolf advocates will argue that because wolves are dying from overpopulation we must stop killing wolves, a pretty obvious comment on the quality of rationale’ used by wolf advocates.

We know that rabies is endemic in other wild animals in Montana, especially in skunks and foxes. With wolves in the overpopulated condition demonstrated by wolf-wolf killing and existing diseases, it is only a matter of time before rabies begins to infect wolves, if it hasn’t already.

In Will Graves’ book Wolves in Russia, Graves documents that rabies-infected wolves will run for 100 miles or more, deliberately biting and infecting every animal and person it encounters. Stories abound in Russian literature of rabid wolves entering villages and attacking and biting every cow and person not sheltered inside buildings. This is not the bite-kill-eat behavior usual with wolves, but bite, move on and bite again typical of rabies-infected wolves.

Regardless of the political and ecological debate about wolves, it is a huge mistake to ignore the public health dimension of wolf diseases. Such diseases are real and they are a threat to public health. We don’t know how large the threat is because we lack information to make a determination. However, the potential threat is huge, for the reasons stated. It would be a serious mistake for policy-makers to not take this public health threat seriously until it can be proven otherwise.

If a homeowner calls 911 to report that an armed intruder is trying to force entry to the home with mayhem in mind, the dispatcher will send armed police immediately to investigate and interdict. The dispatcher will NOT require the homeowner to provide photographs and corroborating statements by five witnesses before dispatching assistance.

Citizens alerting policy-makers about the threat of wolf diseases to people is analogous to that 911 call. FWP’s dismissal of the alleged problem is like the theoretical dispatcher requiring photographs and witness statements before dispatching assistance. “Prove it,” they are saying. If policy-makers are unwilling to send the public health police, they should at least be honest enough to inform citizens that they are on their own to defend against this threat.

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We Have To Pass Obamacare To See What’s In The Bill

I’m sure that when the founding fathers labored relentlessly for days, weeks and months to pound out a system of government of the people and by the people, this is exactly what Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Ben Franklin, George Washington and all the rest had in mind.

And by God this certainly deserves the Black Bear Blog Horse Excrement Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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My Science Is Best Because I’m Better Than You Are

One of the problems we face today is the vast separation between the elitist intellectuals and the rest of the normal world. Science is a fascinating field and part of what makes it work is the open discussion of facts and theories. What happens when the “common man” decides to get involved in the debate?

I received an email this morning from someone on the “left” attempting to support his ideas of predator/prey relationships with his science. All was going well until the “left” in him just couldn’t resist adding that last paragraph showing his true colors. It’s quite funny and I share that with you here.

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Obama Hires Man Responsible For Bringing $4.7 Billion In Lawsuits Against Feds

The man behind countless lawsuits filed against the U.S. Government for fringe radical groups Defenders of Wildlife and Earthjustice, has been hired by President Barack Hussein Obama to serve in the Justice Department to defend those very lawsuits. What could possibly go wrong?

Trying to find the one word that describes this administration is impossible – corrupt, ignorant, radical, destructive, blind, deaf, evil, insane, criminal. There just isn’t one word to describe it.

For all the details on this unbelievable move by a complete fool (Obama), visit Western Institute for Study of the Environment.

Tom Remington

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Global Warming Will Destroy Us All Because Of Talk Radio

I guess if the “settled science” that had determined that man-made global warming was destroying the planet earth is no longer deemed reliable to support the scam, then let’s blame someone or something else.

True to form, the warming fear mongers side step truth if divert attention away from the problem. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts now blames talk radio for screwing up the whole scam.

Tom Remington

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What Has Happened And Will Happen To Our Ecosystems Thanks To Wolves

In studies conducted in Canada on the effects of wolves on ungulates and the ecosystem in general, we find that wolves are destructive (no surprise here) and this study gives a look into a sort of crystal ball as to what the lower 48 states have to look forward to as environmentalist clamor to promote the expanse and growth of the gray wolf in order to “balance” our ecosystems.

The study is very worth reading and here’s a grocery list of some of what is discovered:

1. Wolves destroy 90% of the elk populations.
2. Elk slaughter by wolves increased in proportion to the severity of the winters.
3. 60% of the elk stopped migrating.
4. Wolves destroyed 56% of moose populations and nearly eliminated calf recruitment
5. Wolves decimated woodland caribou, bringing that species to ultimate extirpation.
6. Wolves stole 57% of prey kills by grizzlies
7. Any attempt to manage ungulate numbers anywhere near pre wolf times is a “fantasy”.
8. Increasing quality habitat for elk had no effect on increasing numbers with wolves present.
9. To begin replenishing ungulate populations, wolf numbers need to be reduced every year by at least 70%. The reduction has to be ongoing………forever.
10. Wolf hunts utilized to control wolf populations are ineffective.

Conclusion: If states choose to replenish wolves, there will be no hunting left. Wolves will destroy the ungulate populations and we’ll have more singing birds flitting about the vegetation normally eaten by ungulate species.

Tom Remington

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Proclaim Liberty – Ring The Bell

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RMEF Off and Running on Elk Camp Momentum

RENO, Nev. – Elk Camp 2010, which concluded March 7 in Reno, Nev., set the tone, direction and fundraising base to position the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for a big year in habitat conservation, officials say.

On the strength of $1.45 million in auction proceeds and an Elk Camp record for new memberships (preliminary figures show 2,867 members joined or renewed during the event), RMEF wrapped up its 26th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo with gross fundraising topping $2.75 million. Those dollars will help support the organization?s initiatives to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

RMEF recently topped 5.7 million acres conserved or enhanced, but RMEF President and CEO David Allen says the conservation to-do list in elk country is growing longer, not shorter.

“There was such great spirit at Elk Camp, you couldn’t help but get pumped up about where we’ve been and where we’re going. Habitat loss continues to chip away at the wild places relished by elk and elk hunters, but our volunteers, supporters and staff are headed home from Reno with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose and commitment to make a difference,” said Allen.

He added, “In many ways, Elk Camp is the official kickoff to our year, and after these past four days, I’m anticipating a great 2010.”

Other Elk Camp highlights included:

* RMEF launch of the Dale Earnhardt Land/Wildlife Legacy.
* First-ever live coverage of the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships on ESPN Outdoors.com.
* New world champion elk callers including Joel Turner of Eatonville, Wash., who won his second title in the Professional Division.
* RMEF’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award, went to Walker S. “Buddy” Smith, Jr. and wife Tammy Lynne Smith of Great Falls, Mont.
* Numerous awards and recognitions for RMEF volunteers and supporters.
* Good day-traffic in the expo hall with numerous attendees booking hunting trips.
* Entertainment by comedian Jim Gaffigan and country stars Neal McCoy and Sara Evans.

News releases on these and other headlines are posted at www.rmef.org.

Event sponsors included Roper, Leupold, Cabela’s, Gerber, Hunter’s Specialties, Midway USA, Mossy Oak, North American Hunter Magazine, Browning and Budweiser.

Allen said, “We can’t say thank you enough to our sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for their continuing support. Together, we’re helping to shape the future of elk country.”

The 27th Annual Elk Camp and Expo will be in Reno, Nev., March 3-6, 2011.

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West Virginia Introduces Firearms Freedom Act

In the West Virginia Senate, SB555 was introduced by Sen. Dave Sypolt. That brings to 26, a majority, of states that have now introduced or passed and signed a Firearms Freedom Act bill.

Tom Remington

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The Oil Tanker’s Front Fell Off And Politicians Are All Alike!

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USFWS Announces Greater Sage-Grouse As Candidate Species

In a long-awaited announcement, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the greater sage-grouse will not be listed as threatened or endangered but instead will be placed on the candidate species list. That means the species will not receive statutory protection under the Endangered Species Act and that states would continue to be responsible for managing the bird.<<<read the rest>>>

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