Montana wolf policy impacts beyond state

Why would an issue in Montana cause someone in Kentucky to suffer sleepless nights and a heavy heart?

Let me explain:

Once I had a wolf in my house. It wasn’t a wild wolf, it was a tame wolf recovering after I splinted a nasty fracture of his forearm. He was clearly in pain: snappy, and trying to stay immobile — and this was after his shattered leg had been splinted. There is nothing about pain and fear that require higher levels of thinking.

I find myself thinking about this wolf often during this trapping season after the reintroduced wolves have been deemed recovered. I am appalled that anyone would willingly inflict the kind of pain I saw in that wolf on any creature for any reason. Of course, a trapped wolf is also frantic, distraught, and desperate as well as in pain. I think. I don’t actually know.

I try very hard to understand the reasoning for leghold traps. I am guessing it is something to do with self-sufficiency values, respect for a way of life and living off the land. I understand that: I have a small farm myself. But pieces of the pioneer life seem best left behind.

So I’m writing a letter to the folk in Montana: I don’t get it, help me understand. Why are you allowing leghold trapping? I’d actually like to hear. I’d really like to get it stopped, but maybe there’s something I don’t know.

My email address is caretaker2013@aol.com.

Chris Albert,

Lebanon Junction, Ky.