Radio Collared "WOLF IN TOWN" this morning, WDFW called

[idahohuntr]

The big problem is that wolves aren't managed in WA and have far less fear of man or human activity. Wolves rarely come near our home or other nearby homes in the area where we operate in northern Idaho because the wolves know they will get shot at. In NE WA these wolves don't have near the fear and are now frequenting human populated areas. That's how it used to be in Idaho 10 years ago, wolves were being seen in towns in north Idaho. After being hunted for nearly 10 years those Idaho wolves mostly stay back in the more remote areas away from humans.

Did those wolves in Idaho 10 years ago attack or kill many people?

0 people were injured or killed, to be exact.

The usual play on words, 

Yes, people were attacked, fortunately they successfully defended themselves, like my neighbor did here in WA in 2014, he shot the wolf in mid air leaping at him. There was similar that occurred in Idaho. Many hounds were also eaten, that has also dropped way off since wolf hunting is occurring.

How many were attacked, and how do you define "attacked"?

I know of several people who were setup cow calling and brought a wolf into close range that they ended up harvesting.  I do not consider those attacks. 

I'm sure there are many who consider seeing a wolf inside 100 yards an attack.

[vandeman17]

The big problem is that wolves aren't managed in WA and have far less fear of man or human activity. Wolves rarely come near our home or other nearby homes in the area where we operate in northern Idaho because the wolves know they will get shot at. In NE WA these wolves don't have near the fear and are now frequenting human populated areas. That's how it used to be in Idaho 10 years ago, wolves were being seen in towns in north Idaho. After being hunted for nearly 10 years those Idaho wolves mostly stay back in the more remote areas away from humans.

Did those wolves in Idaho 10 years ago attack or kill many people?

0 people were injured or killed, to be exact.

The usual play on words, 

Yes, people were attacked, fortunately they successfully defended themselves, like my neighbor did here in WA in 2014, he shot the wolf in mid air leaping at him. There was similar that occurred in Idaho. Many hounds were also eaten, that has also dropped way off since wolf hunting is occurring.

Dale, I think everyone here will agree that wolves should be managed and that should include some kind of hunting season. Until that happens, I just don't see it as beneficial to go beyond the level to educate people of their potential dangers but it should also be noted that they are very rare. With the way society tends to go with knee jerk reactions, making it appear that kids or people in general are suddenly at a much greater risk of being attacked by wolves gets us nowhere. Again, these are all MY OWN personal opinions and I spend countless hours in areas that have active wolf populations.

[pianoman9701]

I've read accounts of wolves written by animal behavioral biologists regarding this exact behavior throughout history and it leads to bad things. You can call it paranoia or you can use sarcasm regarding the boy who cried wolf. I call it informed preparedness and realism. This will not end with the little boy hugging a wolf while it licks his face. Unless we start showing them they need to fear man, we will start having tragedies. Unlike other states that are killing wolves and making them fear man, WA is in lala land about their existence. I strongly believe that haze will very shortly be violently interrupted. When that happens, hopefully you'll wake up. I doubt you'll ever admit you were wrong, however.

The same could be said for you. 

I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong. I hope I am. I fear I'm not.

[vandeman17]

I've read accounts of wolves written by animal behavioral biologists regarding this exact behavior throughout history and it leads to bad things. You can call it paranoia or you can use sarcasm regarding the boy who cried wolf. I call it informed preparedness and realism. This will not end with the little boy hugging a wolf while it licks his face. Unless we start showing them they need to fear man, we will start having tragedies. Unlike other states that are killing wolves and making them fear man, WA is in lala land about their existence. I strongly believe that haze will very shortly be violently interrupted. When that happens, hopefully you'll wake up. I doubt you'll ever admit you were wrong, however.

The same could be said for you. 

I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong. I hope I am. I fear I'm not.

Likewise and I hope I am right in that our current trend of very few actual encounters stays the same until we can start actively managing and hunting them. 

[pianoman9701]

  That's a good goal. I'm down with that.

[vandeman17]

That's a good goal. I'm down with that.

Good back and forth. I enjoy a healthy discussion

[Special T]

Am I the only one whom is surprised that a Helo could be dispatched that quickly to Sheppard that wolf to safety before it became a hood ornament?

[boneaddict]

And for the skeptics of the skeptics.......   wolves, coyotes......know the difference. 

[PA BEN]

it wasn't to long ago I said that we won't have moose to hunt in 117 because of the wolves and at that time I got a lot of crap and was told I was being paranoid. Now a few yeas later 117 is loosing a ton of moose and places that held tons of moose like Buck creek are a dry bowl of dust compared to what it was like before the wolves moved in. So yes we can see what's coming. When I moved out of town (Chewelah) to the country next to the family farm in 2000 I told my girls that the back door to our house is like a goffer mound that our cat would sit at and wait of the gofer to pop up. I told them to watch the tree line out the back and have the dog with them at all times. I taught my kids about cougars, now we have to worry about the wolves.   

[KFhunter]

 

[bearpaw]

The big problem is that wolves aren't managed in WA and have far less fear of man or human activity. Wolves rarely come near our home or other nearby homes in the area where we operate in northern Idaho because the wolves know they will get shot at. In NE WA these wolves don't have near the fear and are now frequenting human populated areas. That's how it used to be in Idaho 10 years ago, wolves were being seen in towns in north Idaho. After being hunted for nearly 10 years those Idaho wolves mostly stay back in the more remote areas away from humans.

Did those wolves in Idaho 10 years ago attack or kill many people?

0 people were injured or killed, to be exact.

The usual play on words, 

Yes, people were attacked, fortunately they successfully defended themselves, like my neighbor did here in WA in 2014, he shot the wolf in mid air leaping at him. There was similar that occurred in Idaho. Many hounds were also eaten, that has also dropped way off since wolf hunting is occurring.

How many were attacked, and how do you define "attacked"?

I know of several people who were setup cow calling and brought a wolf into close range that they ended up harvesting.  I do not consider those attacks. 

I'm sure there are many who consider seeing a wolf inside 100 yards an attack.

In the air coming at you or on the ground coming at you on a run less than 30 yards seems like an attack to me?

[KFhunter]

most definitely, described as an imminent attack.

[bearpaw]

The one I mentioned in NE WA was confirmed by WDFW, the guy hit the wolf and it ran off, he had a piece of meat off of it, but WDFW didn't look very hard for it, I'm sure they didn't want to have headlines that read "Wolf killed while attacking hunter".

One of the Idaho incidents involved a bowhunter who shot the wolf at very close range with a pistol in archery season, also confirmed as self defense.

[KFhunter]

what about that woman with the pistol, that was a big wolf!

[KFhunter]

here it is

https://gothunts.com/wolf-attacks/


too bad KXLY doesn't have her interview anymore