Predators are predators. Wolves are not born to be murderers, they are born to hunt prey to feed themselves. Same with coyotes, hawks, bears, cougars, lions, tigers, etc.
Wolf kills mule
- Thread starter chickened
- Start date
- Status
There is info out there to support that they kill for MORE than just to eat. These links are NOT a threat to the wolf
http://savewesternwildlife.org/sport-killing.html
http://mtmultipleuse.org/endangered/wolf_pics.htm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090519012357AArpArs
http://www.norcalblogs.com/gate/201...-wolves-do-kill-without-wating-their-prey.php
I looked up the so called "experts" in that first article - from what I could find about them, they are a rancher, a big game outfitter, 2 are president and VP of a Elk game club, so they have a big financial interest in sport hunting,etc. - what their other qualifications are, I could not find any more. You have to make sure the source is not biased, for example, using Monsanto to clear Monsanto, etc. While I have no doubt these gentlemen have knowledge of some sort, it is unclear how they have conducted their research or how they came to their conclusions in regards to "wanton" or sport killing. Im just saying, take this article with a grain of salt.
Last edited:
Pictures speak for themselves.
The same can be said for the "experts" on the other side of the debate.
A big game hunter IS out in the wild, has the experiences, SEES it first hand. It's take his information over someone who has never been there; which is true for alot of the wolf proponents. The fact that this species of wolf IS more aggressive is a fact, that it is NOT the one that should be there is a FACT. Simple facts.
I have seen a lot of these articles say that "they are more aggressive". However, there are no citations of the statistics that prove that to be a "FACT". I am not even sure that assertion can be backed up as we have no comparable population of the so called "less aggressive" rocky mountain wolf. (Maybe a historical comparison could be done, but how relevant that might be to the current issue may be debatable. But, if anyone can point to a comparative statistical chart on the "aggression" characteristics of different wolf subspecies, i'd love to see it. Until then, I have to say its not a fact, just opinions - the opinions may be based on experience and observation, but are no means fact if they have not been evaluated scientifically, hopefully statistically thru analysis of some sort.
Here, it is the coyotes, not our local pack of eight wolves, that prey on cattle. The pack has eight members as of last census, so they are big enough to be quite formidable.
- Thread starter
- #67
The government caused this issue by putting the wolves into play again, a different type than what was natural for the area. Ranching is what eliminated the local wolves in the first place. Now, with a government mandated "do over"... a balance must be found. Paying for damages isn't enough, the problem wolves will continue on. Maybe the government should pay for better fencing. The wolves weren't there when the fencing first went up. Why should the rancher be responsible for the costs of keeping wolves off their land when the government put the wolves there, and not even the "right" type of wolf.
Don't let your livestock be an easy target, and remove any wolf who bases his diet on cattle instead of Elk. After several generations of proper management, you'll still have wolves, they hate people, they stick to the wilds, until the population is large enough for them to move closer to people for territory, they become a problem, they get taken care of, it becomes a cycle, as it should be. Some good years, some bad years. That's nature. When nature only has so much space before it falls into the lap of people, who have a terrible habit of spreading their own territory, the populations need to be kept in check.
The ranchers shouldn't go off into the wilds and kill every wolf in sight. But they should certainly have the right to take care of livestock killers if they can be sure they're getting the right ones.
Generally people like animals. They get emotional about animals. Graphic images of dead baby cows help people get emotional about it. Wolves specifically can get people wrapped up in it with their majesty, mystery, and sense of danger in being near to them. But you can't forget the real world and how things ARE. Some wolves are going to be a problem, just like with any other predator. Lions that come into villages after cattle and children because it's a drought year and the Zebra left. They get dealt with. Bear that break into houses and dumpsters after food, because it's easier or natural foraging was poor that year. They get dealt with. Wolves should not be exempt from being dealt with when they become a problem.
It isn't the wolf's fault. It's the rancher's fault for eliminating the earlier wolves. If wildlife management was in effect all those years ago, the government would not have put these new wolves into place. But what's done and done, and so it must be managed. Properly this time. But since the government is involved... we'll just have to see how it all pans out.
Don't let your livestock be an easy target, and remove any wolf who bases his diet on cattle instead of Elk. After several generations of proper management, you'll still have wolves, they hate people, they stick to the wilds, until the population is large enough for them to move closer to people for territory, they become a problem, they get taken care of, it becomes a cycle, as it should be. Some good years, some bad years. That's nature. When nature only has so much space before it falls into the lap of people, who have a terrible habit of spreading their own territory, the populations need to be kept in check.
The ranchers shouldn't go off into the wilds and kill every wolf in sight. But they should certainly have the right to take care of livestock killers if they can be sure they're getting the right ones.
Generally people like animals. They get emotional about animals. Graphic images of dead baby cows help people get emotional about it. Wolves specifically can get people wrapped up in it with their majesty, mystery, and sense of danger in being near to them. But you can't forget the real world and how things ARE. Some wolves are going to be a problem, just like with any other predator. Lions that come into villages after cattle and children because it's a drought year and the Zebra left. They get dealt with. Bear that break into houses and dumpsters after food, because it's easier or natural foraging was poor that year. They get dealt with. Wolves should not be exempt from being dealt with when they become a problem.
It isn't the wolf's fault. It's the rancher's fault for eliminating the earlier wolves. If wildlife management was in effect all those years ago, the government would not have put these new wolves into place. But what's done and done, and so it must be managed. Properly this time. But since the government is involved... we'll just have to see how it all pans out.
Cause thats how it works. Thats life. If you raised livestock it is your job to keep it on your land an predators off.
Yes fencing is costly when done right an I am still trying to fence ever inch of my property but its still the right thing to do.
As for the government paying for it, that really means me, you an everyone else should pay for it. Not something I will agree with, I payed to fence mine an they can pay for theirs.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #70
OK, if it is my responsibility to keep them off my land then the government sould have no say in how I do it within my property lines right? I met a guy hunting in Idaho last year that sets snares for wolves and he claims they are effective. If he ever is caught he can go to prison, is that right? on his own land? This is the problem the folks in wolf country face, they have accepted the idea they are here but want to protect what they have like anyone anywhere else gets to. In the West it is open range and in open range the law says you fence livestock out not in.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
New posts New threads Active threads
-
Threads with more replies in the last 15 days
-
-
I culled my first cockerel, now what?- Started by redinator
- Replies: 120
-
*Answer These Questions The Best You Can Please *- Started by N3mesis_IceWing_NightWing
- Replies: 107
-
-
-
