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

[pianoman9701]

Look, no one's forcing you to believe wolves are a threat. You want to continue to see them as cuddly Walt Disney characters that speak to humans, be my guest. All I'm saying is that wolves becoming more acclimated and getting closer to humans is historically a harbinger of bad things to come. When we're seeing them down in our towns close to populations of humans, we should be taking notice and consider taking precautions.

[Tbar]

I don't hear anyone discounting the threat of any predator.  However the story of the boy who cried wolf does come to mind when I read your expert opinion.

[vandeman17]

Look, no one's forcing you to believe wolves are a threat. You want to continue to see them as cuddly Walt Disney characters that speak to humans, be my guest. All I'm saying is that wolves becoming more acclimated and getting closer to humans is historically a harbinger of bad things to come. When we're seeing them down in our towns close to populations of humans, we should be taking notice and consider taking precautions.

Precautions, sure. The level of threat and paranoia some of your posts seem to portray... that's where we can agree to disagree 

[idahohuntr]

Any large predator in North America can easily kill any human being.  Bears, cougars, and wolves are all more than capable and a bad encounter with any of them could leave you dead.  Personally, I think cougars are what I would fear most - in that with bears and wolves I think there is a greater chance you will at least see them coming and have a better opportunity to defend yourself.   

The reality is, like all things with wolves, there is a lot more emotion than fact.  Given the millions of recreational/outdoor user days every year in all these northwest states - and given wolf numbers have increased exponentially since they were reintroduced nearly 25 years ago and we've not had a single fatality, it's very unlikely that wolves will present an increased danger to society relative to today.

Bold predictions about the collapse of society and the horrors that are just around the corner are nearly always wrong.  Some people predict the world will end in 12 years as a result of global warming, some predict wolves will start eating all the school children any day now...its all the same exaggerated baloney that has no factual basis...in both cases it's just an attempt to influence public policy to suit an agenda. 

If you are a hunter, or you live in a rural area where wolves are nearby, you may want to take extra precautions to ensure the 1 in a million doesn't strike you or your family and you have every right to do so.  But lets be realistic about the risks of predator attacks and not downplay or exaggerate them.   

 

[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.

[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.

[boneaddict]

However the story of the boy who cried wolf does come to mind when I read your expert opinion

What happened to that boy anyway.....

[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?

[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. 

[bearpaw]

Everything has to eat, one of the biggest mistakes is to not manage wolf numbers, as the numbers increase and prey becomes more limited other things will have to be eaten. 

[boneaddict]

....didnt he and his sheep get eatin by the wolf.

only seen thrill killing bear in hollywood scripts
Ive read accounts of thrill killing cougar
Ive seen a thrill killing wolf.

Then there is the pack mentality to deal with.....

Different animals have different characteristics or behaviors.  If you don't know that, you should probably avoid going into the woods. 

Everything has to eat, one of the biggest mistakes is to not manage wolf numbers, as the numbers increase and prey becomes more limited other things will have to be eaten

   Exacty

[boneaddict]

and Im not sure where the suggestion came that Cougar aren't a current threat as well....

same theory applies


and by the way.  If you start seeing them, or seeing them in daylight or in town, the red flag might go up.

[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. 

[Tbar]

However the story of the boy who cried wolf does come to mind when I read your expert opinion

What happened to that boy anyway.....

Touche'. My comment was geared more toward the preceding events and to an extent the end result.  If we try to incite senseless panic, few will listen when the threat is real.

[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.