Jim Dutcher - Please read
Bill Cummings
I was asked to post this article to alt.wolves.hybrid
Jim Dutcher is a world-famous photographer and filmaker who has won Emmy
awards for his Discovery Channel presentation 'Wolves at Our Door.' In
this film he has presented himself to be a 'great friend' of the the
wolf. Thousands of innocent people may have been misled.
Recently, serious allegations about his mistreatment of the wolves under
his care have surfaced. Thes allegations come from people who were
working with Mr. Dutcher at the time they happened.
What's more, Mr. Dutcher has publicly admitted that he's never been for
reintroduction, and that he considers WERC's support of it as 'mission
drift.' He states that he created the WERC for taling care of the
Sawtooth Pack only, apparently for the sole purpose of supporting his
own photography and filmaking projects.
I was shocked to find out about this, and moreso because of the way
Dutcher portrayed himself in his films to the general public, and how he
perpetraited a lie that lasted until only recently. I am including
information for you from a recent article in the 'Idaho Mountain Express
<www.mtexpress.com>, as well as a statement from Karen McCall, a
wolf-handler and a co-founder of the Wolf Education and Research Center,
who worked with Jim Dutcher at the time. I highly suggest you inform
your readers of this horrible crime, especially in the light of the fact
that Mr. Dutcher once again wants to work with the Sawtooth Pack,
unsupervised and with total control over the wolves. Dutcher is at the
moment involved in a lawsuit against the WERC. If the WERC loses this
lawsuit, Jim Dutcher may well be awarded the wolves, which will be taken
from the joint care of the Nez Perce Tribe and the WERC. This will
financially destroy the WERC and end any further contributions to wolf
recovery and reintroduction
I should note here that Dutcher has done other documentaries involving
captive wild animals, which have generated their own rumors of animal
mistreatment. It is said that niether the Hornocker Wildlife Institute
nor National Geographic will work with Dutcher. Most enlightening
perhaps is that the Nez Perce Tribe, a leader in wolf recovery issues,
is providing the WERC with assistance in their current litigations with
Mr. Dutcher. However, it's important that you not take my word for
that, but rather contact the tribe.
The Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho
P.O. Box 365
Lapwai, ID 83540
(208) 843-2253
Below is a statement by Karen McCall, regarding the precise events in
the death of the wolf Aipuyi. Below this is a recent article from the
Idaho Mountain Express, explaining the current situation with Mr.
Dutcher.
For more information, I suggest you contact these people:
Karen McCall
P.O. Box 353
Ketchum, Idaho 83340
jkmc...@micron.net
Claudia Aulum
Vice-President of the Board
Wolf Education and Research Center
P.O. Box 1802
Hailey, ID 83333
cla...@cmapartners.com
After confirming the information I am giving you, I request that you
please act upon it. Tell your members and communicate with the
Discovery Channel.
Mr. Jonathan Rodgers
President
Discovery Network US
7700 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
Johnatha...@discovery.com
Fax: (301)951-9256
-Bill Cummings
--------------------------------
On September 30, 1993, a captive female wolf I raised, named Aipuyi, the
only female in the Sawtooth Pack at the time, was euthenized by the
decision of Jim Dutcher. She had been instigating aggressive dominance
fights with a younger male, Motomo, who would not submit to her. She was
in perfect health. The male wolf had an injury to his foot. This injury
was minimal and healed within a week. In the 2 1/2 years I spent raising
and filming these wolves extremely more serious physical damage had been
done to Makuyi by the other wolves. Because her story was integral to
the film being produced the situation was tolerated and even documented
on film.
At the time Dutcher decided to put down the wolf he and I were the only
ones at the camp. I tried to convince him not to do this. He would not
listen. I drove out of the camp into Stanley to call Kristin Poole,
executive director of the WERC at that time. I told her that we had to
convince Jim not to do this, that it was not an acceptable decision. I
returned to the camp still trying to convince Dutcher not to take
action. I asked him to go into town to call Kris. He did, but returned
committed to putting down Aipuyi. He had called the wolves vet, Randy
Acker, to come up to the camp to give the shot.
Randy arrived in the evening. He also tried to convince Jim not to put
the wolf down. We discussed alternatives: moving her to the adjacent
enclosure, sending her to Mission Wolf, Wolf Haven, releasing her in
Canada, anti aggression drugs. All alternatives were turned down by Jim.
At dusk Jim went into the enclosure to inject Aipuyi with a sedative. So
trusting of this man, she backed her haunches into him, expecting a rub,
only to get a hypodermic. Randy then came into the enclosure and
injected her with the drug that put her down. Jim had Randy take Aipuyi
out of the enclosure to his truck. Jim did not want the other wolves
seeing him take Aipuyi out because they might blame him for the loss of
their packmate. I went to the truck with Randy. I was crying. I clipped
fur from Aipuyi's chest. Randy and I returned to the cook tent. Randy
and I hugged one another. Jim showed absolutely no emotion.
The following Monday a meeting of board and staff was called to discuss
the situation. In anendance were as I remember: Dutcher, Doug
Christensen, Kristin Poole, David Langhorst, possibly Taryn Smith, and
me. Jim related the euthanization and then told us that we would all
have to tell the public that Aipuyi had severely broken her leg in a
dominance fight, that there was no choice but to euthanize her.
This was a serious deception and we all knew it. This wolf had been
adopted by thousands of people across the country and now she was dead
by one person's decision after strong protest from the individuals
responsible to the public for her welfare. The "story" of Aipuyi's death
was related in the WERC winter 1994 newsletter.
I carried this deception until September 1997 when I revealed the truth
at a seminar in Jackson, WY on Ethics in Wildlife Documentary and
Photography.
I have deep regrets about not speaking the truth sooner. My fear of what
Jim Dutcher might do to me kept me quiet. I no longer have that fear.
Best Regards,
Karen McCall
--------------------------------
Wolf Center responds to filmmaker's charges
Former board members say Dutcher killed healthy wolf
By DICK DORWORTH, Express Staff Writer
The issue is control of the Sawtooth Wolf Pack, not the care of Idaho's
best known captive pack of predators, according to those involved in
the dispute.
Charges began flying after a filmmaker and former caretaker for a
captive pack of wolves authored and circulated a petition charging the
Wolf Education and Research Center, the current caretakers, with
failing to properly care for the animals.
However, supporters on both sides of the issue in a position to know,
except for the filmmaker who made the Sawtooth Wolf Pack famous, agrees
the wolves are as healthy, well cared for and content as 11 animals
meant for the wild can be in an enclosed compound.
The man who made the pack famous is Jim Dutcher of Ketchum, who is in
the business of producing films and books using captive wild animals.
Dutcher has attained a measure of success in his business, including an
Emmy each for he and his wife, Jamie, for Discovery Channel's "Wolves
at Our Door," his film about the Sawtooth Wolf Pack. He filmed the
pack, which he raised from pups, and cared for it for several years in
the early '90s when he owned and kept the animals in a 15-acre compound
near Stanley.
In 1996, after filming was completed, Dutcher started and contributed at
least $15,000 to the Wolf Education and Research Center in Boise to
care for the wolves and to promote public awareness and education about
the wolves. The wolves were moved to Nez Perce tribal lands near
Winchester, Idaho, where they remain today under the care of the WERC
and the Nez Perce tribe. Visitors and researchers can view the wolves
in their new, larger habitat.
Now Dutcher wants to return to filming the Sawtooth Wolf Pack, and his
filming goals and requirements are in conflict with the Center's
educational and research programs.
In order for Dutcher to make another film for Discovery Channel, he has
proposed a two-year filming schedule at the Winchester site that
essentially shuts down the wolf center during the 50 to 60 days a year
of anticipated filming and interferes with the normal operation of the
Center the rest of the time.
"We have, in the past, suggested to Mr. Dutcher that better coordination
with WERC before production of certain educational materials might
result in educational tools that are more relevant to the
organization's programs," said the words of the Wolf Center's board of
directors in a response to Dutcher's proposal.
The WERC did not outright turn down Dutcher's new film proposal, but it
did not agree to relinquish so much control during the proposed
filming.
Dutcher's response to those conflicts was to circulate a petition and to
threaten a lawsuit against the Center with the aim of forcing the
resignation of members of the WERC board of directors to be replaced
"with new people and energy." The petition was reported in the Nov. 18
Idaho Mountain Express.
The threatened lawsuit is "on hold" for the time being, according to
Dutcher.
The Wolf Center's response to Dutcher's petition and threats was a
23-page single-spaced detailed review and reply to every point raised
in the petition. It was sent to each of the 47 people who signed the
petition.
Two key points of the petition so far as the general public is concerned
are Dutcher's allegations that the wolves are unhealthy due to an
inadequate water source, food supply and medical care; and that the
WERC inappropriately uses membership donations.
Because the Center is publicly funded through donations and memberships,
the allegations of misuse of funds is both serious and potentially
damaging to the organization, and, therefore, the well being of the
Sawtooth Wolf Pack, according to the Center.
The board's response to the petition includes statements attesting to
the good health, water source, food supply and medical attention given
to the wolves by people who are familiar with the wolves both in their
current home and when they were in Stanley.
During a long interview at his Ketchum home Saturday, Dutcher was asked
why he circulated the petition.
Dutcher replied that he first became concerned about the well being of
the wolves because of conversations with wildlife biologist Megan N.
Parker and wolf caretaker Keith Marshall last summer. According to
Dutcher, both Parker and Marshall indicated to him that the Wolf Center
was not taking appropriate care of the pack, and their concerns led to
the petition.
Dutcher said the petition was not connected with the Discovery Channel
film project.
Both Parker and Marshall left the WERC late last summer. Parker is
working on a wildlife project in Botswana, but in a series of e-mail
correspondence with the Idaho Mountain Express on Sunday and Monday,
Parker refutes Dutcher's allegations.
In reply to the question of what were her concerns relayed to Dutcher
that led to the petition, Parker replied, "I'm not sure what you are
talking about, and I am unaware of this petition except by hearsay. I
certainly didn't relay any concerns about the Sawtooth Pack to Jim to
cause any kind of petition. It is news to me."
"My concerns are that the Sawtooth Pack is taken care of in the best
possible way for their health, safety and social needs," Parker
continues. "I believe that the pack has always received excellent care
from its caretakers."
Marshall is reported to be living in a yurt somewhere in the back woods
of Washington state and is currently unavailable for comment. However,
in a memo (included in the 23-page petition response) to the WERC staff
dated July 29 concerning the water source for the wolves "when it was
thought that the wolves were out of water," Marshall wrote: "At NO time
were the wolves nor have they ever been at risk for lack of water.
Megan and I have been keeping a close watch during these drier times.
The flow of the vernal stream is less than desirable but fortunately
the meadow is spring fed year round and has a continual cool water
source. A plan of improvement has been drawn up by the Tribal Water
Resources, approved recently by the WERC and is being actively pursued.
The quick response to this situation is very reassuring to me and the
wolves (if they knew). I feel confident that with all the caring people
connected to this project, any future emergency will be dealt with
quickly and positively."
Dutcher told the Idaho Mountain Express that he had visited the wolves
just over a week ago and, in his opinion, they were in poor health.
He was asked about the disparity between his opinion of the wolves'
health and Ketchum veterinarian Randy Acker's assessment (as reported
in last week's paper) that, "The health of the pack is good. They are
in wonderful shape. It is incredible what a good job is being done to
care for them." Dutcher said that he (Dutcher) knew the wolf pack
better than anyone else, and that, while Acker was a competent
veterinarian and friend, he was not a qualified or highly knowledgeable
wolf veterinarian. However Dr. Acker was the veterinarian hired by
Dutcher to attend to the wolves during Dutcher's six-year tenure as
caretaker.
Dutcher's credibility as a care giver to the Sawtooth Wolf Pack during
that time has been called into question this week by the public
disclosure of what has long been a rumor in the Wood River Valley.
In late September of 1993, Dutcher is reported to have made a decision
to euthenize a perfectly healthy captive female wolf named Aipuyi,
despite the protests of the members of the WERC board of directors.
In a letter dated Nov. 3 to the Wolf Education and Research Center, Dr.
Acker writes, "In September of 1993 I was an employee of Jim Dutcher
and of Dutcher films. We were working with the Sawtooth Pack in
Stanley, Idaho. At that time the pack was under the exclusive control
and ownership of Jim Dutcher. I was instructed by Jim Dutcher to put
the wolf named Aipuyi to sleep on September 30th. As an employee of
Dutcher films I did perform this euthanasia. Karen McCall was present
and will verify this fact."
Dutcher then convinced the members of that board to lie to the public,
to the people who had adopted Aipuyi with sponsorship money, and to the
membership of the WERC by telling them that Aipuyi had severely broken
her leg in a dominance fight and that euthanization was the only choice.
According to every member of the WERC board at that time--Kristin Poole,
Doug Christensen, Karen McCall and David Langhorst--Aipuyi was in
perfect health at the time of her death and this deception was carried
out at Ducher's insistence in order to protect the WERC.
Since the conflict caused by Ducher's recent petition, every member of
the 1993 WERC board has come forth to, in the words of McCall, "release
the burden of knowledge of what I consider to be unethical actions
carried out during my employment with a wildlife film production
company. I'm a whistle blower of sorts."
Poole, McCall and Langhorst confirm the accuracy of Doug Christensen's
Oct. 29 letter to the WERC about Aipuyi's death in which he writes, "As
the Founding President of the WERC, I am obligated to come forward with
information… After the fact, the organization was left in an extremely
difficult position. Dutcher had made a unilateral decision without
regard to the complexities it would cause for the WERC. He informed the
board and staff that the only way to protect the organization was to
alter the reason for the wolf's death with an article in the
newsletter. The story, printed in the winter 1994 issue, stated that
Aipuyi had broken her leg in a dominance fight and that there was
absolutely no option other than euthanization."
Christensen continues, "I have been carrying this deception for the past
five years. For some time I have realized that Dutcher created this
story not to protect the WERC, but to protect himself from accusations
of unethical activities toward animals. It is long past the time for the
truth in this matter to be told."
"It appears that Mr. Dutcher is currently attempting to discredit the
WERC with widespread public misstatements of fact about the operation
of the Wolf Center on Nez Perce lands and the care given to the wolves
by their custodians," Christensen writes. "In my view, it may become
necessary for the board to make public the truth concerning the wolves'
care and overall treatment."
"I take full responsibility for that decision. The wolves were owned by
me, and not the WERC," said Dutcher, who also said he asked the board
to go along with the story for the sake of the people who had put up
money for the adoption of the wolf.
According to the Wolf Center's response to the Dutcher petition, his
allegations regarding WERC financial mismanagement of funds "was based
on inaccurate or incomplete information."
In the reply to Dutcher's petition, Loren Kronemann, president of the
board, writes, "Neither management nor Board were contacted by Mr.
Dutcher to provide accurate financial information, nor to verify
'facts' presented in the petition. At the time the petition was
presented to the Board, we were shown a copy of a Business Plan for the
Wolf Visitor Center, which was apparently the basis for many of the
allegations. This business Plan, dated July 25, was in fact a
confidential draft document, which had not yet been even discussed
(much less approved) by the Board. It is unclear to us how Mr. Dutcher
procured a copy of this. Had we known that he was using this draft as a
reliable source of information, we would have provided him with correct
data and up-to-date projections. As a member-driven, nonprofit
organization, the WERC is open to scrutiny and very willing to provide
members with any public documents they request."
Dutcher says that the confidential draft document was given to him by a
potential donor to the WERC, who passed it along to him. He would not
reveal the person's name.
Dutcher, in turn, passed what the WERC terms "inaccurate" figures along
to Kay Sprinkel Grace, a San Francisco-based organizational consultant.
According to Dutcher, Grace advised him that, based on the information
she had been given, WERC needed to reallocate its revenues.
In response, the WERC released its 1998 budget figures which show a very
different percentage allocation of revenues than Dutcher's petition
alleges. That budget was examined by Jared J. Zwgart, a CPA with Bailey
& Company in Boise.
"The allocation done by management seems reasonable among the programs
for the 1998 budget," Zwygart reports.
Copyright © 1998 Express Publishing Inc. All Rights reserved.
ThunderWolf
Thank you for an informative post. I will confirm what I believe to be your
accurate account of the actions of Mr Dutcher.... I consider him to be a
coward and an otherwise despicable person. Abusing our trust is one thing,
but to trick, abuse, neglect and use the wolves in nothing but unforgivable.
Camille aka ThunderWolf & Her pack
Ruger, Gabriel, Shaman, Omar, Ashraf, Chamaco, Nidawi & New Pup w/no name
yet
ICQ # 18578258
Bill Cummings wrote in message <368DD4...@hotmail.com>...
Anthony J. Gambrini
treated them nasty...only to make money. He is no animal person at
all.Just a jerk out for himself.
Tony