ORIGINAL: Poluke
Saw your other post on another wolf thread. Read the same opinion. Don't agree totally with it but that's the way it is. Elk depredation is not the only reason, there are a lot of other factors that seem questionable such as the fox predation by coyotes and small game numbers that have to be considered. All of which IMHO opinion are pure fiction. BUT I only take offense to the blame it on Wyo statement. Nothing personal, just a bit over the top. Wolves don't just eat unhealthy elk, there are more domestic animals that are taken by wolves than is being reported, Deer, moose and antelope are fair game as well. The wolf will prosper and we will deal with it in our way AFTER the court battle. Your hunting opportunities will be protected as best we can and on the same note you will pay more for that opportunity as a result.
The Wyoming statement isn't meant to offend anyone. It's a simple fact that the state game agency is holding up the effort to get them delisted. The fact is wolves can't be managed (controlled) by states until they finish their plan. It's not an opinion or anything against wyoming it's simply what's happening right now.
Wolves that kill domestic animals are fair game for ranchers to kill and they are often removed or killed if they reoffend. Also, I'm sure you know that ranchers are reimbursed for all losses.
No wolves don't just eat unhealthy elk. But in terms of probability, they are more likely to kill an unhealthy/injured animal than a healthy one.
The effects of factors other than wolf predation on elk are not pure fiction, they have been documented. Like I said before, not all elk populations are primarily regulated by predation wolf or otherwise.