Public land allotments do not belong to the permitees. It has been over a year since the release of the Idaho wolves and Yellowstone wolves were set free. This demonstrates that the provisions in the Yellowstone EIS concerning stock depredation are followed. This lone incident is a far cry from ranchers predictions that the wolves would all kill large numbers of cattle and sheep. The rancher was reimbursed in full for the two sheep and was given half-value for two other missing sheep by Defenders of Wildlife.
Opponents claim reintroduction costs to taxpayers are unreasonably high.
Wolves have been, and can be again, a constructive predator. They help assure a healthy prey population, and thus a healthy environment. Human cultural and economic systems are founded on a self-perpetuating ecology that needs a full compement of plant and animal life to continue to be a constructive natural community. Wolves not only provide for good ecology, they are good for the local economy as has long been proven in Ely, Minnesota where people have been coexisting with wolves for years. More recently, communities near Yellowstone National Park have reported burgeoning sales of wolf memorabilia since the return of the wolf.