Should Utah Start Planning for Wolves?

I came across this article on nationalgeographic.com written by Robert Schmidt of Logan written on the inevitiblity of wolves in Utah. He talks about how with wolves in most of the surrounding states wolves will soon be here regardless of those opposed of the idea. "The potential path of gray or Mexican wolves into the state lies south, west or north: south along the Bear River or through the High Uintas, west into the Book Cliffs, or north into the Grand Canyon eco- region." The author suggests that anti-wolf ranchers and others prepare for not if it happens but when it happens. "The release of gray wolves into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in 1995 proved biologically viable, and those populations are exceeding established recovery goals, bringing these wolves closer to Utah." I tend to think that Mr. Schmidt is right on. With wolves pretty much surrounding the state only a high intensive and costly fight is going to keep them out. Even then with the thriving populations the efforts would likely be in vain.