Last night, unincorporated Morrill, MN—30 minutes northeast of St. Cloud—saw its event center jam-packed with people gathered to voice their concerns about wolves.
I attended for my story about the wolf debate in Minnesota and how it represents several other general dynamics in the country, such as clashing cultures, distrust of authority, the rising difficulty creating good policy, and where this leaves people who feel their voices and the problems they’re facing go unheard.
This is why 400 people filled this room—the 7th such event all around the state, each requested by the communities themselves calling on this new organization “Hunters for Hunters” to host these discussions. Several more are on the calendar.
A couple of area state lawmakers did attend, listened to concerns about livestock and deer being killed in growing numbers, and spoke out in support. But being outnumbered in St. Paul—and the timber wolf being on the federal Endangered Species List—what can these Minnesotans do? (Where does it leave anyone when political remedies fail to solve a problem one is facing?)
Finally, how much of this whole debate—on both sides—is being colored by the influence of technology? On one hand, wolf enthusiasts’ Instagram pages reach millions; and on the other, hunters’ trail cams suddenly show wolves that may have always been there.
Wolves are at the center of several crossroads of American society.
Full story to come.