Deer and Elk Hunting in Idaho and Montana After Wolf Introduction

[bearpaw]

more dogs killed in Idaho by wolves

[Bob33]

http://wallowavalleyonline.com/wvo/?p=9930

 Ketscher estimated that the wolves ate less than five pounds of meat off the cow before leaving the carcass. The wolves attacked the open (not pregnant) cow biting through the vulva while the animal was still alive. When they found no fetus they left the cow behind. The site of the wolf attack was less than one-third of a mile from the Ketschers’ house.

Charity told WVO how frustrating and scary it is to let her kids and dogs outside by themselves on their own private property.

The second cow confirmed killed by wolves was a bred heifer, found about three miles east of the Ketschers, belonging to Gaylon Dawson on private property owned by Bob Lathrop. According to WVO sources, the wolves attacked the pregnant cow only to extract the unborn fetus while the animal was still alive and leaving the body of the mother cow behind .

[bearpaw]

not only do wolves attack dogs, livestock, and humans, they also attack coyotes.....

[bearpaw]

wolves also attack and eat bison....

[bearpaw]

wolves are chasing animals throughout the year including winter, even when they don't make a kill it's hard on wintering animals to be dogged until one of them finally succombs....

[bearpaw]

the wolves stay after these buffalo until one finally cannot stay up...

[ANDERWAGON]

99.9% of us are on the same page and don’t need to debate this. 

What we need is a "since he wont be back thread". 



http://www.saveelk.com/wolf_002.htm

[boneaddict]

I had never seen that coyote vid Dale.  Glad you posted it.   The coyotes act way different when there are wolves about..... in fact its a tool of knowing when the wolves are around.

[bearpaw]

The point I was really trying to make with all these vids is that wolves eat what ever gets in the way inncluding, dogs, elk, deer, buffalo, moose, and even people when they are hungry. They just keep dogging a herd of healthy animals until one individual is singled out and wears down, in the meantime they have run down the fat reserves of the entire herd every time they pressure them to the point that one finally succombs.

I have to say, for nearly a half century the lower 48 has done well without wolves, why are they needed, what good can come of their introduction into heavily human populated, modernized, and farmed lands, unless there is another agenda that isn't being stated. 

[KillBilly]

I have to say, for nearly a decade the lower 48 has done well without wolves, why are they needed, what good can come of their introduction into heavily human populated, modernized, and farmed lands, unless there is another agenda that isn't being stated.

Other than the fact that they are introducing themselves to our state, there is this thing called the Endangered Species Act that does not allow us to stop them.... We also have a large group that keeps introducing themselves from the South.... in my opinion they are both a plague on our landscape...hmmm maybe we should introduce them to each other.

[furbearer365]

thank you bearpaw for taking the time to post all of those videos.  Some i have seen and some i have not.  I would like to think that hard evidence such as these videos would be enough to change the minds of people with pro-wolf motives.  But sometimes i feel that the no matter what, their opinions are set unless they truely get it in their face.  It sucks all the way around.  All i want is for someone to prove to me why it is a good idea, and not just a fun project for a bunch of biologists.

[ANDERWAGON]

thank you bearpaw for taking the time to post all of those videos.  Some i have seen and some i have not.  I would like to think that hard evidence such as these videos would be enough to change the minds of people with pro-wolf motives.  But sometimes i feel that the no matter what, their opinions are set unless they truely get it in their face.  It sucks all the way around.  All i want is for someone to prove to me why it is a good idea, and not just a fun project for a bunch of biologists.

Bearpaw, thank you for taking on this fight and educating others. 

[bearpaw]

I have to say, for nearly a half century the lower 48 has done well without wolves, why are they needed, what good can come of their introduction into heavily human populated, modernized, and farmed lands, unless there is another agenda that isn't being stated.

Other than the fact that they are introducing themselves to our state, there is this thing called the Endangered Species Act that does not allow us to stop them.... We also have a large group that keeps introducing themselves from the South.... in my opinion they are both a plague on our landscape...hmmm maybe we should introduce them to each other.

   I should have clarified the government introduction in Idaho and YNP, which has now migrated to E WA.

I agree that they are migrating into WA, but I also know private individuals have released hybrids in GMU 121. Would not be surprised if the same hasn't occurred on the west side. 

[bearpaw]

Do you all remember "wolfbait"?

He talked about a white van dropping off wolves, I think that it's very likely some wolf groups were at work. I agree with Pianoman at this point, I don't think the government planted them, but I have no reason to not believe that wolf groups may have planted wolves.

[3nails]

  For what it's worth, a letter and info from my dad....


  A question not asked...until now
                                                           By Montana  Senator Greg Hinkle
 
 
     A few weeks ago I was talking with Hot Springs area rancher Kim Baker, President of Montana Cattlemen's Association, about depredation of livestock.  Since we have seen an increase in wolf depredation in Montana I was wondering if there was a relationship with other predator livestock losses.  Kim told me she would see if those figures were available from predator control specialists. I wanted to compare the preceding years with current statistics.  Kim went to John Steuber, State Director/Supervisory Wildlife Biologist (USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services) to have a look at those figures.  I have received those figures for 2006 and 2010.  What I see is more than alarming and it is a side of the wolf issue that has not been adequately addressed.
 
     Mr.Steuber stated in an email, "The attachment shows all verified and report predator damage for the years 2006 and 2010.  I'm stunned at the increase in depredations from 2006 to 2010."  "Remember that this includes damage that was reported to us as well as damage we verified.  I'm guessing that one of the reasons other predator damage went up is because we were forced to spend more and more time trying to deal with the exploding wolf population and the damage wolves do.  Wolves have made it almost impossible to do much preventative work on coyotes, that is work to prevent livestock depredations before they occur.  We are just not able to get up on summer range ahead of the cattle and sheep anymore since we are so busy with wolf work.  During this same time period we did not get any additional money from the Federal government  or from the state (Fish, Wildlife and Parks). We are losing the battle.  I am appalled that the number of livestock killed by predators has increased so dramatically." 
 
     To give you an idea of the problem, here are a few comparisons. In 2006 coyotes killed 111 calves and 698 lambs, in 2010 (to date) there have been 1,348 calves and 2,488 lambs killed.  This is about a 474% increase in four years!  There has been a tenfold increase with the same type livestock killed by grizzly bears.  Black bears are responsible for a 150% increase in the same time period.  I also have the figures for lion, and fox kills.  These show dramatic increases as well.  As the wolf continues to decimate game animals the other predators will be forced to seek other food sources such as livestock and pets. The problem is going get much worse if the wolf population is not controlled soon.
 
     On top of that are the funding problems Wildlife Services are experiencing.  Resources have been diverted to mitigate wolf depredation.  This has resulted in less aircraft control of coyotes and less time on the ground by control specialists.   In this year alone, collections paid by stock growers amounted to $251,660 and expenditures are estimated to be $528,250.  Per-capita fees, 100% paid by livestock producers, are used for predator control and it should be noted that predator control is the only benefit some ranchers may get for the taxes they pay.  I find it unconscionable that they are experiencing a dramatic increase in livestock losses and a decrease  in the protection they pay for. To put it another way, the per-capita paid has increased while the predator control has decreased.  The control of coyotes by aircraft is in jeopardy which will further compound the losses to Montana's livestock industry. 
 
     Our elected leaders are slow to resolve the issue.  I have been convinced for years that the wolf introduction/protection will prove to be a ecological disaster that will take decades to recover from, if ever.  Montana's ranchers and sportsmen deserve better and the wolf should be treated like the vermin it is.