Thoughts on wolves?

[BTLowry]

I don't think about them very often but I saw this video and made me think about how fast they are spreading

I would not mind killing one if I got the opportunity


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxaYMrwG3FI&feature=player_embedded"]Big Game Forever Wolf Video - YouTube[/ame]

[Redneck Archer]

I think they are awesome animals, and have an awesome "spiritual" presence.

We had them where I grew up in northern michigan. rarely saw them, but when I did it was an AWESOME thing to witness. cool animals.

I to would not mind taking one for a full body mount as long as there numbers continue to grow.

[splitfinger]

I went on a black bear hunt in Manitoba 3 years ago and in 6 days of hunting I saw wolves a total of 6 times. I had 2 within 20 yds. of me but on the wrong side. My last encounter was a huge male at least 150 lbs. (I'd guess more like 180) and he only had 3 legs. His right front leg was missing at the elbow (I guess to a trap) but he ran like he had all four. They are truly majestic animals for sure.

Doug Key

[daveally]

I think the wolves are beautiful but should be hunted if needed to keep the population in check. I also wonder if the elk/moose/deer vs wolf population ratio would eventually balance itself out without human intervention. If the wolves reduce the population of their prey to a level that won't sustain the wolves population, then wouldn't the wolf population decline to a point to where the elk/moose/deer population could rebound to a natural balance?

[bluelund79]

While wolves are beautiful animals, they are large carnovores with no enemies other than man. Left unchecked, they will decimate local herds and turn on livestock. I just moved here from WI, and with the liberal legislation there in regards to wolf control, the Northern deer herd is down, there are alot of dogs that get injured or killed and our attempt to reinstate elk into the state has been a complete failure. If you have a set goal of breeding pairs, dont let it get out of hand. Ask Idaho too...

[JLively]

A Texan is probably the wrong person to be asking. Try talking to ranchers and hunters up in Montana and Idaho. I am sure that you are going to get a real earful on the topic.

[WhiplashTX]

It is thrilling to see them out in the wild but I also agree with the video. I just got back from a 3 week trip to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. Compared to years past, the elk herd has been decimated, I saw less Elk in 1 week in Yellowstone than I would have seen in 1 day just 4 years ago. I talked to a state biologist and several park rangers as to what happened and this is what I was told. Wolf populations in the Yellowstone basin are at 700% of intended capacity, elk populations are down over 50% and the moose are almost extinct. To make matters worse, the grizzly bear population is exploding because they are stealing the wolf kills and forcing the wolves to take down even more animals.

The ratio is never going to balance itself out without ouside intervention. The elk and moose have lost a lot of their wintering grounds do to human encroachment and are forced to stay in areas where the wolves can pick them off easier. It doesn't help matters either that the wolves are from further north and are 1/3 larger than the wolves that used to roam the lower 48.

[Charles]

Cool animals that have a place in the wilderness as long as their population is kept in check.

[jooger17]

They really are cool animals but like others have said, they reek havoc on elk, sheep, deer, moose, cattle, etc. I had a driller working for me in North Dakota that also ran an outfitting business in Wyoming. He said between the wolves and bears he didn't know how long his business was going to last.

[RiverRat1]

They are "cool" but thats about it. I would not want to shoot one, just because I'd have no use for it. But I think they need to be hunted just like all other animals are hunted. 100% retarded to allow people to hunt bears but not wolves...It's like Duhh what do you think will happen to their numbers?

[Ol Thumper]

I dont see a point, Im happy seeing them in a zoo. They are in direct competetion with what we as sportsman pay good money to do and their not regulated so its a matter of time before they will have moved across the entire country. Hopefully if they ever make it to Tx we whack every one of them like a yote.

[JW]

Awesome animal. They should be controlled. I would like to see a sustained huntable population.

[illinibowhunter]

The DNR released breeding pairs of wolves in southern Illinois about 6 years ago. Our neighbor saw them releasing a pair on his property and confronted the DNR staff. They said that we have a major coyote problem and the release would help balance the coyote problem. But what happens when the wolf population is out of control? I will be signing the petition!

[Ol Thumper]

What is so different about a wolf than a yote other than the size? We hate all yotes and try to kill everyone is my point so why introduce an animal that will undermine everything sportsmen have spent billions of dollars on restoring into the eco system only to see it wiped out by a wolf... Friggin Idiots IMO

[JonBoy]

hmmm...I wonder where they're getting their numbers b/c the NPS is showing something rather different:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/1006.htm

----------------------------------------------------
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
----------------------------------------------------

Yellowstone Wolf Population In Transition

Wolf numbers in Yellowstone National Park declined for the second consecutive year. The decline was expected and considered natural.

The Yellowstone Wolf Project reports the 2009 population at 96-98 wolves, down 23 percent from the 124 wolves recorded in 2008. This is the fourth decline since wolf reintroduction began in 1995. A population high of 174 wolves was recorded in 2003. In 2004 and 2007, 171 wolves were counted.

Population declines in 1999, 2005, and 2008 were associated with the disease distemper. So far there is no evidence that distemper was the cause of the 2009 decline. Probable causes for this last decline were wolves killing each other, malnutrition, and mange.

The greatest decline occurred on the northern range, the area with the greatest wolf population density. Wolf numbers there dropped 29 percent, from 56 to 40 wolves.

The decline in the wolf population in the interior of the park was smaller. Those numbers dipped from 68 to approximately 58 animals; off 15 percent from the previous year.

The number of breeding pairs in the park remained the same at 6. This is the lowest number of breeding pairs recorded since 2000 when wolves first met the minimum population requirement for delisting. A "breeding pair" is defined as a male and female with 2 surviving pups. Poor pup survival, due primarily to disease, has kept that number low.

Wildlife biologists affirm that the Yellowstone wolf population has recovered, and that wolf population numbers can be expected to fluctuate as they do for other wildlife species.

Multi-year research projects are underway to help wildlife biologists better understand the impacts of disease and of animal social dynamics on wolf population changes.



These numbers are an order of magnitude different than what the video shows...