Hey I like wolves, in fact I love wolves, but only if there dead!!!!!!!!

I have ranched in southeast WA. I work on a forest with several large grazing allotments, several of which I help manage. For the amount of wolves I know are here, there has never been a problem. The wolves aren't driving anyone out of buisness that wasn't already on the way so stop overreacting.

I don't love or hate wolves. They simply "are". They do what they do and we live with em.

Prey populations don't necessarily have to decrease. What happens is it changes the age structure and productivity/survival of some age classes of the population which can actually result in an increase in production by the elk herd. This is a theory of course assuming 100% great habitat etc. Generally you end up with less elk total or more elk total but in both cases a higher yearly surplus which means we can harvest more in the long run.


Like I've said already. When we correct the human caused issues (habitat loss, habitat degredation from fire suppression specifically), there won't be a problem with predation. When elk herds have quality habitat and can produce a decent yearly surplus of animals we won't have the problems we are having now.

In my opinion as a biologist:

In Idaho the biggest factors in depression of the elk herds are

1) habitat degredation: a long history of fire supression and decrease in timber sales equals less forage for elk. Simple as that. Elk need disturbance to open up the canopy and generate forbs,seral shrubs etc.



2) low calf survival: In the studies I have been involved in and read, black bears are responsible for over 80% of calf mortality (80% is also about the total pecent of the calves we lose every year)....that's our yearly surplus going down the drain right there. This is affecting elk tags also. For the first time since I've been alive, they have limited the number of elk tags issued.

Do wolves kill calves? I'm sure a few at least yes.

Are they to blame for the decrease? No.

Are they compounding the problem? Probably.

Is there anything we, as hunters, can do? Not really. Support elk habitat initiatives and stop fearmongering.

My point is elk herds have been declining in alot of places in the west. Mainly due to habitat loss and fire supression before wolves even started to effect them. Basically, they are just becoming a scape goat for the non-scientific community.

Unless habitat is managed properly we will have to deal with harvesting less elk.

I dont have an opinion about wolves or anything but i do like that picture

Wolves rights are craaaaaaaaaaaaaaappppp. As a matter of fact there is NO, I repeat NO evidece of wolves EVER!!, I repeat EVER!! Naturally inhabiting the yellowstone area. NONE. Why do I know? Because I did research for a state representative in wyoming prior to the reintroduction. There were wolves in wyoming, but they were in the plains and transitional zones between the mountains and plains. The thickest populations were in the black hills, in fact at on time it was nearly impossible to raise horses there because wolves like horse meat. Also someone said wolves kill to eat and that is true, but they are also horrible thrill killers. Wolves in yellowstone aren't all bad, but these lyin bastards who said wolves would be culled when they got to numerous and now refuse to cull them are bad for the whole program.

http://www.sierratimes.com/wolfnews.htm


These guys seem to have a lot of info on wolves and the west.

And just when you thought the topic was dead and gone
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp.../wolves_killed Looks like not all wolves know how to behave themselves, and it cost them dearly!

Here's a link to an interesting but old article on ABCNews.com on the topic.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/US/Sc...Scitechad=true

- You're the ignorant one bud. My family has lived in "wolf territory" with the largest concentration of Grey Wolves in the lower 48 for 100 years. Have you known people with their dogs grabbed out of their yards (in the country) or off the pathes on morning walks 20 feet in front of them. Well brutal I know many who have.

I'm not afraid for myself. But I do have concerns for safety of my elderly parent who live in N.E. MN. I would think anyone with a firm graps of reality would. But it's obvious not all have that. You think someone else's land and surrounding areas are a big lab experiment you and others like you can try out your theories.

We can live with a reasonable number of wolves and other predators. But don't try to shove this down our throats. You won't get our cooperation and you're building more resentment than you know and you're showing arrogance on top of it all.

I know of a fellow personally who went out to his woodshed at night to get some firewood. It was a tough winter, a whole lot of deer the wolves had killed just within the 80 acres around this fellows house. Suppose the pickings were getting sort of slim for the lone wolves. Guess what Mr., there was a wolf in his shed eating feed he keep to put out for deer! Wouldn't you be surprised and in a potentially dangerous situation. Don't give me "no know humans killed" progaganda. Talk to Indians who live in northern Canada who've had to shoot wolves that came after them when hunting Elk and loggers who've had to climb up on their trucks when a pack followed them.

Your ignorance is amazing. You CAN NOT just shoot an a wolf or anything else that's on the "endangered species list", because you claim they are threatening your animal. That has NEVER been the case since they were "listed". You have to go through first proving they've killed your animals and then only with special approval and in this state certified trappers MAY be allow to remove some. IF you do, you're looking a 10's of thousands of fines and even jail time!

Sorry you're having such a hard time getting your facts straight and are lashing out in fear at those who propose reasonable measures to limit the over population of wolves in specific areas.

P.S. How about if we propose making your town, city, area roadless, peopleless and a sanctuary for wolves?