Wolf count misleading at best

Federal wildlife officials recently announced that the Northern Rockies wolf population dropped by 5 percent to an estimated 1,651 wolves in five states, prompting the environmental conflict industry to make predictable claims that the species remains imperiled and worthy of continued protection under the Endangered Species Act.

We don’t think so. It’s often conveniently overlooked, but state and federal officials involved with wolf management have always stressed that the annual population estimates are minimum counts, and they freely concede that there are likely more wolves on the landscape.

And in recent years, its likely that there are many more uncounted wolves in some areas. The state biologist charged with monitoring wolves in Northwest Montana covers 10,000 square miles and has found it increasingly difficult to keep tabs on individual animals.

In Idaho, an estimated 19 percent decline in wolf numbers is largely attributed to reduced monitoring efforts.

Wolf populations in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have far exceeded the recovery goal of 300 animals and 30 breeding pairs for more than a decade. Delisting of this rapidly reproducing species is more than warranted.

IT MUST BE cool to be Phil Jackson.

Not only is he the most successful NBA coach in history, but he also is so successful that the laws of Montana do not apply to him.

At least, that is what we surmise after reading a recent Los Angeles Times interview with Jackson, who has longtime ties to the Flathead and owns a home on Flathead Lake.

Jackson told interviewer T.J. Simers that he is a “speed freak” who likes to ride his BMW motorcycle at speeds up to 90 mph. After that admission, Jackson cautioned Simers that the roads he drives in Montana and Nevada don’t have speed limits, so he likes to drive at speeds up to 120 mph.

Reminded that Nevada does have a speed limit, Phil agreed, but said “nobody is on the roads.”

Montana has a speed limit too, but maybe Mr. Jackson is driving too fast to see the signs. We don’t know, but we agree with him that he is “a different cat,” perhaps one with nine lives.

For the record, Montana has had a speed limit since 1999.