EKM, Thanks my friend.....I can appreciate your viewpoints more than you might think.


Alsatian,

As a rule I articulate rather well.....no, this is not an issue of whether or not I am a Wolf lover or not. However, from my pic......I can tell you that I love my 7 year old Wolf. And he has been DNA tested so ....yes, my son and I live with one and he is an awesome animal. Not the point though.

I suppose my point by my original post was that most people take wild animals lightly....ie: do not study enough, or pay enough attention to truly be aware of cause and affect. People tend to put their desires to have the "cute, cuddly, and "poster kids" of the wild all saved prior to thinking about their actions. I have an entire library on Wolves...and could quote what ranchers have been reimbursed over the years to 1980, Wolf kills...etc. I do not believe all that I read though. I may have Wolf hybrids and a full
Wolf and love them dearly...to really study them one has to know them first hand. They are truly an awesome animal.....and Shaman(the one in the pic is 99.9% pure as per DNA testing.) I know how he is with me and my son.....and yes he is trusted to a degree.(I have other large domestic dogs and do not trust any animal 100%!) I had him nuetered at 4 mnths old, and have had him since he was 3 wks old. I am his Alpha and have a healthy awareness of the animal.

Bottom line is that yes, Wolves are a most intelligent predator, opportunist, and they have an intense will to survive. I think what made me become interested in them is the fact they are very much like humans with their pack order.....which although is most strict, has order and is loving and well deciplined. But...that is just idle banter.

Have they gotten out of hand, most certainly in some states..in
AK they have been delisted I believe and can be once again hunted and trapped. Do not quote me on that. I do know that the Black and Silver pelts bring the most money for trappers.
I feel that they need to be delisted in some states. Hell, we trapped, poisoned, shot and dang near caused them to become extinct. That is a deservice IMO..... scuse me some of you but.... I love hearing a Wolf howl...it is the voice of the Wilderness to me. But that is just one of many things I think about ....I hear it on a daily basis though.

Delist them, make hunting and trapping legal on a per state basis, and Ranchers need reimbursed more for their livestock than what they have been receiving IMO. Did a spreadsheet from some of my books and the reimbursment level is minimal compared to the price of livestock, feed etc. Pretty bad IMO.
And as stated I would hunt them if I needed too. Go figure....I am no rancher so the intense hatred of some boggles my mind....it is not the Wolves fault, it is MANS FAULT!!!. I can and will understand an intense dislike however, and can agree something needs done...much more than the gooberment wants done or will do. It is late and I am rambling, just did not want to post and run. Hopefully this somewhat clarified what I meant....if not let me know.