A Documentary Film about the Gray Wolf in the northern Rockies.

Wolf reintroduction in the Northern Rocky Mountains has been controversial to say the least. Bitterroot Beagle Productions is confronting the controversy head on with their “Howling in the Rockies” film documentary. When we started this journey, we could hardly believe how difficult it was to find truthful, coherent information. If it was so hard for us, putting hours of exhaustive research into the subject, to make any sense of the information, how is the average person expected to make sense of the issue?

“Howling in the Rockies” is a feature-length documentary film that will unravel the misconceptions about the gray wolf and explore its reintroduction and successful recovery in the Rocky Mountains. We have included interviews with a broad list of stakeholders from all sides of the wolf issue (including three governors and over a dozen of the most knowledgeable and respected people involved with gray wolves in the United States), which will lend a level of legitimacy to this film that no other wolf film has to date. This informative documentary will effectively illustrate the need for conservation through factual science. This format will both challenge and counter false information here to date.

“Howling in the Rockies” Summary

The producer of “Howling in the Rockies” is interviewing the most knowledgeable, respected people involved in wolf reintroduction in North America. They are also interviewing hunters, ranchers and wolf advocates. All sides of the wolf reintroduction issue will have a voice.

The film will examine the history of man and wolves, look at the relationship of wolves and Native Americans, and the changes brought on by the settlement of the continent by Europeans.

“Howling in the Rockies” will feature a wealth of great wolf footage, as well as big game prey species. The film will unfold with the history of wolves in North America, their geographical distribution and population over time. We will move into the Endangered Species Act (ESA), gray wolf listing, the process leading to reintroduction and the ultimate release of 66 gray wolves into Yellowstone National Park and Idaho.

The documentary examines prey species historical populations prior to wolf reintroduction. We then compare those prey populations to populations after reintroduction and as wolf populations have grown. Additionally, we compare prey population fluctuations in areas where wolves have yet to establish to prey population fluctuations in areas where wolves have become established.

We then take measure of the politics involved including the industries directly affected including environmental groups, the scientific community, sporting groups and various users of public lands. We evaluate the ESA and the reasons why it has been so unsuccessful over time.

We will get some answers as to why environmental groups felt they needed to continue litigation when the scientific community had made clear wolves were recovered and in no danger of returning to threatened status. We question politicians as to why they felt it necessary to legislate the removal of gray wolves from the ESA and exempt wolf delisting from further court review.

The film will size up the likelihood of continued dispersal of wolves throughout the lower 48 states and the possible scenarios involved with continued dispersal. The experts weigh in with their thoughts on managing wildlife within the various states to achieve a balance of predator and prey species. They discuss possible changes in land use along with the known and predicted long-term effects on the livestock and hunting industries.

We will then tackle controversial issues such as “surplus killing;” possible dangers to people and pets; along with the potentially fatal disease, hydatid disease, caused by worms (Echinococcus granulosus) carried by wolves.

History of Wolves, Elk and Reintroduction

Eradication of wolves was systematic. Bounties on wolves were common. The last wolves in Yellowstone National Park were recorded in 1926. The ESA of 1973 began the idea of returning wolves to Yellowstone. A wolf recovery team was appointed in 1974, and the first official recovery plan was released for public comment in 1982. In 1987 a final wolf recovery plan was released. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. Wolves were also released into Idaho in 1995 and 1996. Documents related to the wolf recovery plan can be downloaded on our Wolf Recovery Page.

Some Scientists believed the return of wolves to Yellowstone would benefit the ecosystem

Overgrazing by exploding elk herds was thought to be damaging the Yellowstone ecosystem years before anyone had mentioned returning wolves. The idea of wolf reintroduction was first brought to Congress in 1966 by biologists who were concerned with the critically high elk populations in Yellowstone. Woody species such as upland aspen and riparian cottonwood crashed as a result of overgrazing by the booming elk population. This affected species that primarily used riparian habitat for their survival.

Yellowstone Park even considered a hunting season for Park employees as a means of controlling elk over-population. The idea of a hunt never maintained traction, though.

Wolf Recovery more successful than most anyone could have predicted

After the release of 66 wolves into Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho, the species took off and didn’t look back. Released into a prey rich environment with large expanses of Wilderness helped wolf populations take off. Wolf biologists have stated that wolves have been fully recovered according to the Wolf Reintroduction Plan since 2002. On February 21, 2008 the Interior Department announced the Removal of the Northern Rocky Mountain Wolves from the Endangered Species List. The Interior Department concluded that wolves had far exceeded the recovery goals and continue to expand their population and range.

Earth Justice files litigation to relist wolves under the ESA.

Earth Justice, representing several wolf advocacy groups, successfully litigated against the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) arguing that wolves were delisted wrongfully because they weren’t delisted in Wyoming due to Wyoming not filing an acceptable wolf management plan. This case essentially put wolves back on the Endangered Species List and ended plans for 2010 hunts in Montana and Idaho.

Despite scientists stating wolves were recovered and no longer endangered, the court essentially took management away from scientists and professional wildlife managers.

Governors and Federal politicians became frustrated to the point of taking Congressional action

Litigation that has delayed delisting of gray wolves has some westerners and politicians frustrated. The frustration reached the point that Congress added amendments to the “must pass” budget bill that removed wolves from the ESA while removing the courts authority to relist wolves going forward. Representative Mike Simpson R-ID introduced the amendment in the House of Representatives. Senator Jon Tester, D-MT introduced the amendment in the Senate. We will interview each Congressman and get the facts.

Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer each expressed their displeasure to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, concerning the continued court actions that are holding up allowing their states ability to manage the wolves within their borders.
Download Governor Butch Otter letter
Download Governor Brian Schweitzer letter

Settlement reached between United States Fish & Wildlife Service and wolf advocacy groups

While a settlement was reached, four wolf advocacy groups didn’t join the settlement. The settlement also had to be approved by Judge Donald Molloy, who had ruled just weeks prior that wolves could not be delisted without an acceptable management plan from Wyoming. Now, the wolf advocacy groups were asking Judge Molloy to abandon his original ruling. Of course, Judge Molloy did not vacate his original ruling and the settlement was dead. Sportsmen groups wanted nothing to do with the settlement anyway, as the four wolf advocacy groups that hadn’t joined the settlement would continue with future litigation. And the sportsman’s groups knew the Congressional amendments had plenty of support to ride on the Budget Bill and remove wolves from the ESA while eliminating the courts ability interfere in the future.

Wolves will be managed by the states.

The states will be allowed to manage wolves in 2011. The professional experts involved in returning the wolf to the Northern Rocky Mountains are satisfied success has long been achieved.