This issue need way more input and also need DEQ to step up and declare the health hazards faced with the introduction and acceptance this species has been granted to our region. Here is a few words emailed to me by a Gov. Official from Montana...
Quote)
Yes, the wrong subspecies was introduced. The Rocky Mtn Gray Wolf is about 60-80 lbs. The Timber wolf of Canada grows to 120-150 lbs. The Rocky Mtn wolf ran in packs of three to seven (normally). The Timber wolf runs in packs all the way up to 35-40. I know of one near here that had 34. This has a huge impact on big game. Suffice it to say, if something is not done about the 3,000-5,000 wolves in Mt, Id, Wy our hunting will be gone for generations. BTW, all knowledgeable wolf experts will tell you that the actual number of wolves is two to three times as what is counted. The minimum counts are now at 1720 so that means any where from 3,440 to 5,160. Far more than the habit can sustain for a long period of time. Introduction of the wolf from Canada will prove to be a disaster, not only to game but the apparent introduction of E. Granulosus.(Quote)
This person is giving speeches throughout Montana now about just the E. Granulosus problem. This is more of a problem than we originally thought and were told.
We need to get our state's(Or & Wa) on the same page. Oregon has a management plan in place that allows 4 breeding pairs east and 4 breeding pairs west of the Cascades. (way too many in my opinion) My thoughts are that if we are forced to accept this species, ( which I fight every day, and refuse to accept personally) as normal, 35 wolves is too many for our state to house. (and that is just a figure of my own).
Fact is we need to get the public to see the truth surrounding this species...
1) This species is not native. (canis lupus occidentalis)
2) The native species, even through recent changes to taxonomy, is much smaller and travels in way smaller packs. (5-7 wolves as compared to 25-35).
3) Over 60% of wolves tested for E. Granulosus where infected in Idaho and Montana last year.
http://westinstenv.org/wildpeop/2010/01/10/two-thirds-of-idaho-wolf-carcasses-examined-have-thousands-of-hydatid-disease-tapeworms/Here is a quote from an interview.....
(Quote)
Parasitologist William Foreyt of Washington State University was surprised by the amount of tapeworms they found in the 123 wolves he helped study.
“I was absolutely shocked to see such a high prevalence,” he said. “Some of these wolves had tens of thousands of tapeworms. They were massively infected.”(Quote)
There is a lot of information surrounding this species that must be shared to the public.
