4 Canadian wolves air-dropped in US national park to deal with moose

[jackelope]

Is it a matter of controlling the moose population or is it a matter of wanting to keep the science project going?

The last I read before the population boost, there were 2 wolves left and they were too inbred to continue healthy breeding.

It's a matter of not understanding wildlife conservation. Trying to force animals to live somewhere they won't is contrary to everything we know about wildlife management. Clearly, an over abundance of food is available and the wolves either died or left the island as soon as an ice bridge allowed them to. I can almost guarantee that these 4 wolves will follow in the previous wolves' tracks. Our (or some people's) zeal for the resurgence of wolves in North America has blinded them to consequences and realities.

Inbreeding and health because of that I believe is what they said caused the decline in wolf numbers. You know...because they're on an island. The wolves are really well documented on that website. They pretty much know what happened to every one individually.

 
 

[jackelope]

seems to me its kinda project over, start a new study....   otherwise it sure is a data skew in my mind

Step 2 would be moose eradication...kinda like our ONP goats.

[boneaddict]

God forbid they open up a regulated hunt and manage them that way.

[pianoman9701]

Is it a matter of controlling the moose population or is it a matter of wanting to keep the science project going?

The last I read before the population boost, there were 2 wolves left and they were too inbred to continue healthy breeding.

It's a matter of not understanding wildlife conservation. Trying to force animals to live somewhere they won't is contrary to everything we know about wildlife management. Clearly, an over abundance of food is available and the wolves either died or left the island as soon as an ice bridge allowed them to. I can almost guarantee that these 4 wolves will follow in the previous wolves' tracks. Our (or some people's) zeal for the resurgence of wolves in North America has blinded them to consequences and realities.

Inbreeding and health because of that I believe is what they said caused the decline in wolf numbers. You know...because they're on an island. The wolves are really well documented on that website. They pretty much know what happened to every one individually.

Those are all things which affect an animal's ability to survive in a given habitat. Adding more wolves won't change the constants more than temporarily.

[jackelope]

God forbid they open up a regulated hunt and manage them that way.

Been there done that in ONP and Grand Teton with the goats in both places.
Ain't happening. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that.
The problem I think with that specific to these moose is they don't want to eradicate them. Management by hunting would have to be repetitive to manage population...not that that's a bad thing. I don't see the NPS being willing to do that.

[jackelope]

Is it a matter of controlling the moose population or is it a matter of wanting to keep the science project going?

The last I read before the population boost, there were 2 wolves left and they were too inbred to continue healthy breeding.

It's a matter of not understanding wildlife conservation. Trying to force animals to live somewhere they won't is contrary to everything we know about wildlife management. Clearly, an over abundance of food is available and the wolves either died or left the island as soon as an ice bridge allowed them to. I can almost guarantee that these 4 wolves will follow in the previous wolves' tracks. Our (or some people's) zeal for the resurgence of wolves in North America has blinded them to consequences and realities.

Inbreeding and health because of that I believe is what they said caused the decline in wolf numbers. You know...because they're on an island. The wolves are really well documented on that website. They pretty much know what happened to every one individually.

Those are all things which affect an animal's ability to survive in a given habitat. Adding more wolves won't change the constants more than temporarily.

I was trying to agree with you. Maybe it didn't come across that way. Refer to the part about them being on an island.

[pianoman9701]

Is it a matter of controlling the moose population or is it a matter of wanting to keep the science project going?

The last I read before the population boost, there were 2 wolves left and they were too inbred to continue healthy breeding.

It's a matter of not understanding wildlife conservation. Trying to force animals to live somewhere they won't is contrary to everything we know about wildlife management. Clearly, an over abundance of food is available and the wolves either died or left the island as soon as an ice bridge allowed them to. I can almost guarantee that these 4 wolves will follow in the previous wolves' tracks. Our (or some people's) zeal for the resurgence of wolves in North America has blinded them to consequences and realities.

Inbreeding and health because of that I believe is what they said caused the decline in wolf numbers. You know...because they're on an island. The wolves are really well documented on that website. They pretty much know what happened to every one individually.

Those are all things which affect an animal's ability to survive in a given habitat. Adding more wolves won't change the constants more than temporarily.

I was trying to agree with you. Maybe it didn't come across that way. Refer to the part about them being on an island.

Don't agree with me, buddy. I always get confused by that! I see now. Thanks.

[flatbkman]

I wonder if AOC\s New Green Deal will eliminate the Fish and Wildlife Dept. from using copters to catch, transport, and release wolves. It should and sounds like it may be the only good thing in that that proposal.

[pianoman9701]

I wonder if AOC\s New Green Deal will eliminate the Fish and Wildlife Dept. from using copters to catch, transport, and release wolves. It should and sounds like it may be the only good thing in that that proposal.

Helicopters will be gone unless they can operate on solar power.

[idaho guy]

seems to me its kinda project over, start a new study....   otherwise it sure is a data skew in my mind

Step 2 would be moose eradication...kinda like our ONP goats.

Or transplant the moose? I believe the rest of that areas moose are hurting. Instead of the wolves which their "study" provided evidence are not sustainable or viable there for the long run

[pianoman9701]

seems to me its kinda project over, start a new study....   otherwise it sure is a data skew in my mind

Step 2 would be moose eradication...kinda like our ONP goats.

Or transplant the moose? I believe the rest of that areas moose are hurting. Instead of the wolves which their "study" provided evidence are not sustainable or viable there for the long run

They can move all the moose they want. If they don't change the predator/prey ratio in the UP and Minnesota where they're moving the moose, the transplanted moose will just be killed and the population will dive again. Transplanting animals without changing the dynamics of the habitat is normally fruitless.

[idaho guy]

seems to me its kinda project over, start a new study....   otherwise it sure is a data skew in my mind

Step 2 would be moose eradication...kinda like our ONP goats.

Or transplant the moose? I believe the rest of that areas moose are hurting. Instead of the wolves which their "study" provided evidence are not sustainable or viable there for the long run

They can move all the moose they want. If they don't change the predator/prey ratio in the UP and Minnesota where they're moving the moose, the transplanted moose will just be killed and the population will dive again. Transplanting animals without changing the dynamics of the habitat is normally fruitless.

I agree 100%. But moving moose to areas even with existing wolves is WAY better than bringing in more wolves! At least you would be augmenting the population and looks like they may be able to hunt wolves again shortly

[Axle]

Should've built a wall.........

Funny you should say this. I tuned into the Limbaugh program and Mark Steyn was filling in. I love listening to him! Anyway, Mark mentioned the same thing about the wall to keep the Canadian wolves out. He also mentioned how the wolves kill the moose by ripping them apart with their teeth and tearing them to shreds in an excruciating death (this is the way of the demoncrats).
Those who support the wolves are very evil people and their deeds are extremely sadistic and brutal at best.
Mark always has a way of rubbing stupid peoples' noses in the stinky evil they create too. Sure gets me laughing when he does.
God gave man the responsibility of managing the animals.
Giving deer over to wolves is not proper management. Bringing in a non-native wolf with worms and diseases is not proper management.
To make the moose not huntable and use the poor excuse of it being a 'park' is nothing short of evil.

[GBoyd]

Guys, can we relax a bit here? We all wish that they let us shoot wolves in Washington, but this is different.

This is a tiny, isolated national park that has been a center of a giant study looking at predator-prey dynamics. It's an interesting case because the moose and wolves exist together with very few other animals to complicate the situation. It's been going on for decades and is not costing Michigan hunters anything.

The wolf population has dropped and I imagine they're bring in new animals to boost the genetic diversity. It could be that the island will actually end up being too small to support wolves (or moose), but I'm sure that the bios just want to keep their study going longer.

Here's the wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_and_moose_on_Isle_Royale

[Axle]

Guys, can we relax a bit here?

No
No we can't