Is There More To Yellowstone Wolf Attack Than Park Officials Are Admitting?

[sebek556]

that was kinda my point, if we as sportsman and trappers focus in on some of these areas where wolves are known but no pack is present according to the WDFW, maybe we could get lucky and help them do their job. I am not saying to intentionaly due wolf set, but if a wolf would wander into a bobcat set in one of these areas then it would be a winning outcome I think. 

[Special T]

I would bet that that is currently going on under the radar... you cannot get enough wolves in a cage trap to make it worth your while, but i'm sure you could in a padded foot hold trap like the WDFW uses. 

[Outdoor Guardian]

Dale what do you think would happen if one of us trappers accidentally caught a wolf in one of our traps and called them up?

A friend caught a coyote in a cage trap this last winter. So, I think on rare occasion it could happen that a wolf is accidentally caught in a bobcat set. I think the proper thing to do is to call the WDFW, I imagine they would collar it and release it. I know a guy who caught a cougar years ago, he called WDFW and they came and helped release the cat.

This would be a good question for Outdoor Guardian.

You're exactly right, Dale.
The proper thing to do would be to call the WDFW Police for assistance. We understand this can happen and have the willingness and ability to address it. -OG

[bearpaw]

Thanks for posting OG, I thought this would be the position of the WDFW. 

[Humptulips]

I seriously doubt it would be possible to catch a wolf in a cage trap set for bobcat. Besides the reluctance of canines to enter a cage trap there is the size. Bobcat cages are just not big enough to fit a wolf in. If a wolf did decide to go in one it would only get half way in. The door would drop on it's back and be held up until the wolf backed out. It happens all the time with cougar. These animals are just too long for the traps.
As for padded jaw traps. I don't believe there are that many permits being issued especially in the areas where wolves are. Also coyote traps are way undersized for a wolf. Yes, you could concievably hold one but it would be a fluke.

[hirshey]

Probably isn't likely.. but not impossible. I've heard of smaller cougars being caught in bobcat traps. 

[bearpaw]

I would definitely agree that a 100 pound wolf is not going in a smaller live trap, but there are a bunch of guys making homemade traps and some of these are larger. I think some are large enough for a wolf pup born in the spring to get into, that would be the type of wolf most likely to get in a trap since they lack experience.