Wolf attacks Dog in Twisp, Wa.

[bearpaw]

Let me clarify some of my previous points again.

If WDFW had not forced a wolf plan putting 150% as many wolves to delist as in ID, MT, WY, and if WDFW had hired 2 dozen rather than only 2 wolf trappers, I am nearly certian we would have nearly enough wolf packs confirmed to delist. This is a case of incompetence. 

[Oldguy]

What I find interesting is that on the "Wet Side" if there is a problem with a nuisance bear or cougar, the WDFW is happy trap or tranquilize the animal and move it. On the "Dry Side" they put a tracking collar on the nuisance and pretend it is a cougar.

[bobcat]

But nothing they did or didn't do would have stopped this particular wolf attack from happening. Heck there have been wolves in the Twisp area for over twenty years. They maybe were never totally eradicated. But they have definitely been around for at least two decades.

Say wolves got delisted 6 months ago. Would this particular wolf that did this be dead, just due to it no longer being listed as an endangered species?

[bobcat]

What I find interesting is that on the "Wet Side" if there is a problem with a nuisance bear or cougar, the WDFW is happy trap or tranquilize the animal and move it. On the "Dry Side" they put a tracking collar on the nuisance and pretend it is a cougar.

Doesn't matter the side of the state. Bears and cougars aren't on the endangered species list. Wolves are.

[pianoman9701]

So if my dog attacks kills the neighbors dog on his doorstep, then it is the neighbors fault for not having a fence???

Well your neighbor can take you to court for it and even sue you for damages. You might even get slapped with a few fines from the county for letting a public nuisance/menace run loose and/or any leash law violations and your dog might get picked up and euthanized by animal control. ALL AVOIDABLE IF YOU HAD KEPT YOUR DOG FENCED IN.

I know of a guy out here who had a neighbor who thought his dogs should be able to run free too. The problem is the dogs kept running off the property and attacking his sheep. He warned his neighbor a number of times and asked him to please tie his dogs up or fence them in. The neighbor ignored him and one day the gentleman called his neighbor and said he had his dogs and would drop them off. When he did he backed into his neighbor's driveway and rolled each dead dog that he had shot out the back of his truck and went home saying, "I warned you."

That too, was avoidable if the guy would have just fenced his dogs in.

I'm not disagreeing that a wolf showing up on the guy's porch is a problem. But give me a break, we live in predator country in many parts of Washington. You can either take steps to minimize the chance of an encounter between a predator and your dog, or even kids, on your property or you can roll the dice and expect that your bright and sunshine filled world might go dark one day.

You have the right to protect yourself your family and your property.

You are absolutely right and that's a big problem with the wolf issue these days, you can't protect what's yours or even yourself from them with a firearm. But in the absence of that you can take other steps to minimize problems in some cases.

For what it's worth, I'd be preaching this if they were coyotes, cougars, bear, or other dogs that had attacked this guy's pooch. That it was a wolf is in some ways quite secondary here.

First of all, cougars and bears don't breed like wolves and they don't hunt in packs. Comparing us living with cougars and bears to living with wolves is like comparing a lone gunman to an army. There's no comparison.

Secondly, you're still either ignoring the point or don't believe people living in the country should be able to protect themselves or their property. The wolf attacked the dog on the guy's front porch. Just because someone lives in the country doesn't mean they give up their right of self-preservation. Because you live in a city, does that mean that drug addicts and homeless people should be able to rob you without fear of recrimination or of you protecting yourself? Of course not. There's no difference. Humans have lived in the countryside here in WA for tens of thousands of years and have been killing animals which threaten them that whole time. Why should this be different?

[AspenBud]

But nothing they did or didn't do would have stopped this particular wolf attack from happening. Heck there have been wolves in the Twisp area for over twenty years. They maybe were never totally eradicated. But they have definitely been around for at least two decades.

Say wolves got delisted 6 months ago. Would this particular wolf that did this be dead, just due to it no longer being listed as an endangered species?

Other than the fact that he could shoot it, would it have made a difference if it was a cougar that attacked his dog instead?

Sorry, I see two separate issues here. One is that wolves in this state are getting brazen and people should be able to protect themselves from them. The other is that pet owners need to be a little more responsible.

[muzbuster]

Let me clarify some of my previous points again.

If WDFW had not forced a wolf plan putting 150% as many wolves to delist as in ID, MT, WY, and if WDFW had hired 2 dozen rather than only 2 wolf trappers, I am nearly certian we would have nearly enough wolf packs confirmed to delist. This is a case of incompetence. 

 
Agreed, incompetence at its highest level!

[buckfvr]

Special interest groups fund political careers that ultimately dictate to WDFW.......that being said, it is very troubling that those who work for wdfw find it comfortable personally, to willingly lie to the public.  From the director and his assistants, to the bios, and ultimately the leos.  Frankness and honesty are completely missing from the equation.  Although from their perspective, all of us are entirely too ignorant to see what is truley happening here.    Call it as you see it or what you want, it all looks like corruption to me.   

[bearpaw]

Ask Hirshey on here if she thinks wolves act like cougar or bear. I can't speak for her and won't try, but anyone who knows about her incident can guess what she might say.

Next, ask the guy whos dog got attacked on the front porch.

Ask the old lady who spoke at the Colville meeting why she is afraid of wolves and afriad to walk outside her home since wolves have arrived in her neighborhood.

I wonder what happens when a wolf is sighted inside the I-5 corridor neighborhoods, will people be told to put a high fence around all homes. 

FYI - There is a member on this forum who says they have fresh trail cam photos of wolves in GMU 460, I am sorry I can not say who at this time.

[bearpaw]

But nothing they did or didn't do would have stopped this particular wolf attack from happening. Heck there have been wolves in the Twisp area for over twenty years. They maybe were never totally eradicated. But they have definitely been around for at least two decades.

Say wolves got delisted 6 months ago. Would this particular wolf that did this be dead, just due to it no longer being listed as an endangered species?

Other than the fact that he could shoot it, would it have made a difference if it was a cougar that attacked his dog instead?

Sorry, I see two separate issues here. One is that wolves in this state are getting brazen and people should be able to protect themselves from them. The other is that pet owners need to be a little more responsible.

hhhmmmm

humanure, is that you?

[AspenBud]

Ask Hirshey on here if she thinks wolves act like cougar or bear. I can't speak for her and won't try, but anyone who knows about her incident can guess what she might say.

Next, ask the guy whos dog got attacked on the front porch.

Ask the old lady who spoke at the Colville meeting why she is afraid of wolves and afriad to walk outside her home since wolves have arrived in her neighborhood.

I wonder what happens when a wolf is sighted inside the I-5 corridor neighborhoods, will people be told to put a high fence around all homes. 

FYI - There is a member on this forum who says they have fresh trail cam photos of wolves in GMU 460, I am sorry I can not say who at this time.

Predators are predators. Leave Fluffy or Moe in an open yard and you're inviting problems. Even then some can get past your best counter measures, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't contain your dogs.

Ask the people who owned the dogs below if they see any difference between a wolf attacking their dog versus what actually attacked their dogs...

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Cougar-kills-pet-dog-in-Cle-Elum-yard-196310611.html

Coyote Attack - Graphic - Coyotes attack dog in Fountain Valley California

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Traps-to-be-set-after-black-bear-attacks-kills-pet-dog-in-yard/-/1637132/15743078/-/6ypnfaz/-/index.html

Again, I think we all should have a right to defend ourselves and what's ours from wolves and that includes shooting them. But God gave us all brains, I believe we should use them and do what we can to protect pets and kids from predators as best as we can. Nothing is 100%, but it beats doing nothing.

Take some personal responsibility for keeping your dogs out of trouble.

[Curly]

But nothing they did or didn't do would have stopped this particular wolf attack from happening. Heck there have been wolves in the Twisp area for over twenty years. They maybe were never totally eradicated. But they have definitely been around for at least two decades.

Say wolves got delisted 6 months ago. Would this particular wolf that did this be dead, just due to it no longer being listed as an endangered species?

What I was trying to say earlier is that you are likely right that WDFW didn't necessarily do anything in this particular case to cause the problem with the wolf..........BUT if they would have delisted the areas of the state that the Feds would allow, they would have sent a message that they care about deer/elk/cattle/ people and their pets.  The message they sent was a middle finger to us and that they love wolves and want way more wolves than should be allowed.

[Hermannr]

This is sad, but not something that can be blamed on the WDFW. And I'm not sure why the state should be paying the vet bill.

Why?  Because you are not allowed to shoot the wolf...that is why.  If I cannot defend my property as I see fit from a wild amimal (the state wants to make that animal their exclusive property), then just as if it were an agressive dog,,,the owner is liable for the bad acts of the animals under it's ownership and control.

[bobcat]

This is sad, but not something that can be blamed on the WDFW. And I'm not sure why the state should be paying the vet bill.

Why?  Because you are not allowed to shoot the wolf...that is why.  If I cannot defend my property as I see fit from a wild amimal (the state wants to make that animal their exclusive property), then just as if it were an agressive dog,,,the owner is liable for the bad acts of the animals under it's ownership and control.

As I said previously, you COULD shoot the wolf.

However, I'd like to see how you'd do so without also killing the dog at the same time.

[sirmissalot]

Aspenbud, did you miss the part where the dog was ON THE PORCH.

I didn't miss that. From a human safety standpoint that's a real problem.

But from the angle of dog ownership this guy either knew potential risk to his dogs or chose to live in unreality or was incredibly foolish. Which of those it was I don't know, but fencing for dogs is a good idea to prevent such attacks whether you live in wolf country or not.

How tall of a fence are you suggesting?? I've seen some elk fencing in wyoming that the wolves somehow either got through or jumped, and used it to their advantage to kill the elk. The state finally paid the rancher to remove it... you ought to see what the state paid for to replace it with too! Fancy looking stuff, but not elk proof, nor wolf proof...

I wouldn't be a bit surprised this guy had a fully fenced "non-wolfproof" yard and you're just attempting to make a completely invalid point without having a clue as to all the facts...