The Death of 527

The following image and report was received from the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), November 16, 2009.

Wolf 527, pictured to the right, originated from the Druid pack - one of the best known wolf packs in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley. She was beloved by wolf-watchers and wildlife biologists who chronicled her courageous life. Sadly, she was also one of the first wolves killed in October -- during Montana's first wolf hunt in modern times. 

Here's an excerpt from an obituary written by a wolf-watcher . . .

"527 was a wolf that marched to the beat of a very different drummer." As a yearling, 527 left the Druids to join the Slough pack -- where she quickly became the beta (second-in-command) female. Then in 2007, she and a male wolf set off to found their own pack -- the Cottonwood Creek pack -- where she became the alpha (first-in-command) female. 

As a leader of the Cottonwood pack, 527 was known to be a master of survival strategies. While four other packs that inhabited the same area suffered dismal fates, her pack thrived. As her biographer recounts, "She was a genius wolf in her tactics. Strategy was her game and she was a master at it. She would return to feed her pups in the dark of night because she would not take the risk of crossing the road." 

But in the end, despite 527's "unbelievable survival strategies," this resilient wolf "was not able to outthink a rifle" and was killed on October 3 when Montana unleashed its first public wolf hunt in modern times. 

According to NRDC, since the public hunts began, 156 wolves in the Northern Rockies have met 527's fate. Over the next year, more than 500 wolves could be shot to death by hunters and government agents . . . reducing the region's wolf population by a staggering 40 percent! 

If this outrages you as much as it does me, I urge you to contact Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (as I did) and let him know how you feel.

Mailing Address: Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240

Phone: 202-208-3100 E-Mail: feedback@ios.doi.gov

Announcing "MYSTIC WORLD" Series

"Mystic Dancer"

I have admired the art of Bev Doolittle for a number of years. Her paintings have inspired and influenced me greatly. In fact, I am the proud owner of one of her prints, "When the Wind Had Wings." The following quote by Bev characterizes my beliefs regarding wildlife.

"In the life of the Indian, every new day, every encounter with a bird or beast, and everything he owned or wore related to his religious belief that all creatures were the creation of the same great power, and therefore were brothers." - Bev Doolittle, Season of the Eagle  

Wild creatures truly are my wild brothers and sisters. In an attempt to portray the spiritual world of wildlife and their ability to communicate with us, I have begun work on a new concept in photographic wildlife imagery. Where this journey will take me, I have no idea. I do know, however, that my wild brothers and sisters will lead and I must follow.

I came up with the idea many years ago after seeing the work of Bev Doolittle. However, it was not until learning the technical skills that I was able to do anything about it. Even then, I was slow in getting started.

Work actually began about three years ago, but I never finished the project. A year or two ago, I showed the yet-to-be-completed image to a participant on one of my workshops and received favorable comments. It was not until a couple of months ago after receiving an email from my friend, Michael Wilhelm, that I decided it was time to get busy and complete it. Attached to his message asking for my comments, was a similar image. I decided to show my unfinished image to Lori Huff, my good friend and co-conspirator. She loved it. That was all it took. Looking for a new and different way to generate income in our country's failing economy, I decided the time was now or never.

So, that's how it all began. Thanks to Bev Doolittle, my friends Lori and Michael, and most of all to my wild brothers and sisters . . .

I present "Mystic Dancer," the first of my offerings portraying the spiritual world of wildlife in what I call, the Mystic World series. It is being released in a limited edition of 500 signed and numbered prints.

Check out Bev Doolittle's work:   www.bevdoolittle.net

Russia Creates Park to Save Polar Bears

The ‘Russian Arctic’ park is located on the northern part of Novaya Zemlya, a long island that arcs out into the Arctic Ocean between the Barents and Kara Seas and includes some adjacent marine areas.

The 1.5 million hectare park will protect much of the Barents and Kara Sea polar bear populations.

Still lacking is urgent global action on global climate change to ensure that the Arctic stays cold enough for species such as polar bears.

Runs With Wind

Runs With Wind

This is an image of a Medicine Hat mare that I made two weeks ago during our Wild Horses of the West photo adventure in South Dakota. It so happens that I was also there in 2005, a few weeks after she was foaled. She is, to me, one of the most beautiful horses that I have ever laid eyes upon and this year I had the honor of naming her. The name I chose – Runs With Wind. Since she was foaled and resides within the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, is only fitting for her to also be known by the Lakota translation of that name, which according to a Lakota elder is . . . tate un iyanke. TRANSLITERATION:  TAK-tay un e-YAN-a. (TAK is pronounced with a gutteral sound.

Runs With Wind and her first foal.

The term Medicine Hat is applied to horses exhibiting a rare color pattern featuring color on their ears and top of the head, which resembles a bonnet or hat, along with a mostly white body.

According to several Plains tribes, Medicine Hats were used as Ceremonial Horses, Buffalo Runners, and War Horses. They were considered to have supernatural powers capable of protecting their riders from harm. The Medicine Hat was so special that only tribal chiefs, medicine men, and great warriors were allowed to ride them.

Remembering Dream Catcher

A severe winter took its toll on the Gila herd at the facility on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in central South Dakota, where I just returned from conducting our Wild Horses of the West photo adventure. One of the losses, a mare by the name of Dream Catcher.

Dream Catcher was foaled during my first Wild Horse of the West workshop, which was conducted the week of July 20-26, 2003.

She was named by participant and good friend, Karen Flannery. It’s also significant the Dream Catcher gave birth to her first foal at the age of two during another workshop in 2005. The foal’s birth took place sometime between May 24 and May 26. Wind Walker, once the herd’s number two stallion, was the father.

We miss you Dream Catcher. You will be long remembered.

The Fight To Save Polar Bears Is On

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Friday, his plan to retain the Bush administration’s rule that limits what can be done to protect polar bears from global warming.

According to Salazar, "We must do all we can to help the polar bear recover, recognizing that the greatest threat to the polar bear is the melting of Arctic sea ice caused by climate change. However, the Endangered Species Act is not the proper mechanism for controlling our nation’s carbon emissions.”

Not only is this an out and out lie in my opinion, according to Andrew Wetzler, wildlife conservation director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, "The rule endorsed today is illegal, and we will continue to fight it in court."

It is sad that the very people we elected to protect the polar bear have now turned their backs on the bears and us; and, we must now fight them in order to save the bears.

One Day to Save the Polar Bear

Congress passed legislation on March 10 giving Secretary Salazar power until May 9 to rescind with the stroke of a pen both the special rule for the polar bear and a rule that exempted thousands of federal activities, including those that generate greenhouse gas emissions, from review by expert scientists in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries services. This latter rule was rescinded by the secretary last week, but he did not rescind the polar bear special rule or give any indication of whether he was inclined to do so.

Should Salazar fail to rescind the "special rule" for the polar bear, he will severely undermine protection for the species. The rule prohibits regulation of any activities threatening the polar bear that occur outside of the Arctic. The polar bear, however, is endangered precisely because of activities occurring outside the Arctic, namely emission of greenhouse gases and resulting warming that is leading to the rapid disappearance of summer sea ice.  

"The special rule is a death warrant for the polar bear," said Snape. "It makes no sense to determine, on one hand, that the polar bear is threatened, and then on the other hand to deny it that protection."

Cast your vote and sign the petition before it's too late:   http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/8257/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1878