| Heart of the Wolf Organization News 1/21/2010 1) We recently saw the show Clash: Encounters of Bears and Wolves on PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/clash-encounters-of-b ears-and-wolves/introduction/5430/ It was a part of the program Nature and is now available on DVD. Although the program says it's about bears and wolves, it also focuses on other creatures in Yellowstone, such as ravens, coyotes, and more. So it isn't a sole rivalry between bears and wolves. I watched this with one of our supports and they pointed out that it's alot like Yellowstone: Battle for Life. But it is different in parts. This program focuses more on the species and the seasons are in the background, whereas with Y:BfL, the seasons are more talked about. The cinematography is not too bad. There are high quality shots, and even some that make you feel like you are there. A few times the quality suffered a bit, but sometimes that can be unavoidable, regardless what equipment you have. It is fascinating how the show shows the interconnectedness of all the creatures that inhabit Yellowstone. However it should be noted that the beginning states that bears once solely ruled the roost. Not so, when wolves were there before being exterminated totally, they were both there. Now with reintroduction, or lack thereof, wolves are living with bears, as you will see in the episode. The famous Druid Pack makes a cameo in the film. Although they are known to be aggressive, they make a surprising and interesting show of mercy and compassion. There are those who think wolves are still monsters and villains. This will show otherwise. There was an interesting part that even wolves are followed by a grizzly who the wolves let follow along when they were hunting. I really think you should check out this film. It's on their website by the way: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/clash-encounters-of-b ears-and-wolves/video-full-episode/5493/ Rating: 4/5 2) Petersen Hunting Magazine's February/March 2010 covered an issue that we as activists need to be concerned about. This magazine thinks that their industry is in danger. Well we aren't against it being in 'danger'. Hunting they claim, is in danger because at universities hunting isn't being taught as much to students. As if that's a bad thing. It's actually a good thing. Hunting is all about men and women who get not only gratification, not only on a sexual level, of slaughtering animals, but makes them feel like they accomplished something. No, it is not. You don't understand nature by putting bullet holes in it. It is through understanding, which is through science. Which is why people who are interested in studying about something, have -ologist attached to their title. For instance, if you studied lifeforms, you are called a biologist. Which bio, means life, and ology, means study of. Ology doesn't mean destroy. Otherwise archaeology would mean the destruction of artifacts and legacies of ancient civilizations, which we wouldn't do that, but again, since wolves aren't human, some like this magazine want to manage and destroy. This magazine thinks that without hunting, wildlife management will fall apart. Wildlife shouldn't be managed. We have to co-exist with them. Where has management got us? Packs annihilated, some from the original packs of the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone. Some wolves have gotten sexually mutilated in Sweden. People who hunt wolves have a sadistic streak that would make a murderer fail in comparison. But because wolves aren't human, they don't get as much respect or attention. The magazine slams children from the city who are interested in wildlife and want to educate people about it. They wonder why people who are not like them, who slaughter animals, are interested in teaching about animals and disdain hunting and such. Well first of all, hunters are from the city too. And they go home to the city. They publish their propaganda in magazines like this, from the city. Hunters get their guns from the city. Guns come from the city, as well as gun laws, and their supporters. Ultimately their point is moot. And this magazine article trying insult people who learn from the information about nature from Discovery and zoos is moot. There are other networks who have information about nature. As well as factual books and videos and sanctuaries. But they shoot these down too. Why? It doesn't fit into their tunnel vision. Their justification of course is that hunting pays for wildlife management and protection. Ok, so yeah, that's blood money then essentially. It would be like having the human organ black market help pay for the organ transplant programs. Keeping the hunting industry involved with protecting nature and it's rightful growth would be a great ideas as having wife beaters working at women shelters. Or having a serial killer in the military. In otherwords these hunters fear that those with rational minds about nature, are going to end their industry where they make money, and enjoy the lives they destroy on a regular basis. Right now Anthony Marr, who created Heal Our Planet Earth, HOPE, is forming a campaign to help stop hunting. We are a part of it since we want to see the end of hunting of wolves. http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Marr/584150862#/pro file.php?id=584150862 Petersen's Hunting Magazine also has listed wolves on their site, we need to stop hunting not of just wolves but other animals. http://species.petersenshunting.com/taxonomy/term/531/all Hunting needs to stay out of the classroom as well. Hunting is unethical and it isn't about protecting and understanding what nature is about. It is about the destruction of it, for money and sick gratification. Please help stop hunting wherever you can today! 3) Lastly a wolf photographer was stripped of his prize. There was no investigation. And innocent before proven guilty obviously is a foreign concept. There was no proof that the photo contained in the photo below was a fake. If there was, it would be a different story. Could it be the judges hate and fear wolves? We won't know the reason. Either way, it is a sad day for wolves and photographing them. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34979410?GT1=43001 Mike Wagner Founder and Executive Director of Heart of the Wolf Organization http://www.heartofthewolf.org |

