Tourists climb fence to flee N. Idaho wolf enclosure

(AP) -- ^ | July 30, 2007

[george76]

Tourists scrambled over a fence to escape a wolf enclosure in northern Idaho after two wolves they had come to see with no barriers separating them chased down and killed a deer that had wandered in through an open gate.

The four visitors from Charlotte, N.C., were in the 5-acre "picture pen" at Wolf People along with a 5-year-old female wolf, a 1-year-old male wolf, and two 12-week-old pups.

Visitors pay to enter the enclosure with a wolf handler so they can have unobstructed views of the wolves and take photos at close range.

But a deer ran by the group on Wednesday and the two older wolves, Mimi and Mohawk, chased it and brought it down, said Nancy Taylor, owner and founder of Wolf People. She said the wolves did not kill it immediately because they didn't know how.

"These wolves are so domesticated, to the point that they get an opportunity to do what a wild wolf does and they didn't know how to do it,"

[george76]

"tastes like chicken" ?

.

[Roccus]

Sounds like those tourists could have had a great picture sequence of the take down if they hadn’t been scrambling for the fences. (Heh, heh)

[caseinpoint]

Look for lawsuits filed by these “nature tourists” who were traumatized by seeing nature “au natural”.

[denydenydeny]

So let me get this straight: They watch wolves instinctively bring down a running deer, so they react to that by...running?

Honorary Darwin awards.

[Shyla]

I read this article the other day and am still chuckling about it.

[george76]

Tourists scrambled over a fence to escape ...

hehehe

.

[george76]

Yes :

Honorary Darwin awards.

[martin_fierro]

For some reason I'm compelled to don a really tacky t-shirt.

[george76]

It is a beautiful... really tacky t-shirt.

.

[jazusamo]

LOL! Thanks for the ping.

The tourists immediately returned to their motels to freshen up and change.

[Myrddin]

It's pretty hard to deny that wolves are taking down "big" game in Idaho when it happens at spitting distance. The 30-06 is sighted-in. Still no wolf tags.

[jazusamo]

A great t-shirt.

[Myrddin]

I like the shirt. My wife is 1/4 Cherokee and a licensed master falconer. She prefers Clydesdales. That would change the picture a little :-)

[SunkenCiv]

Oddly enough, one of the tourists was Exene Cervenka.

[george76]

The tourists had to change their clothes...

8-)

[rlmorel]

ROTFLMAO!

I can just see it now...”AIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!

Kind of reminds me of that Outpost.com commericial where they let a pack of wolves into a stadium where a marching band is practicing...it is hilarious!

[george76]

I imagine that many of these tourist were shocked to see wolves killing another animal.

[george76]

The visual of these tourists scrambling over a fence to escape is still funny.

[Myrddin]

I imagine that many of these tourist were shocked to see wolves killing another animal.

Many of these people think of wolves like domestic dogs. They don't have any clue how wolves feed in the natural world.

[Slings and Arrows]

Dateline NBC re-enactment:

---

[llevrok]

The tourists had to change their clothes...

Wildlife biologists were later collecting unusual scat that was hard to classify as non-carnivore....

[Lady Jag]

I can see how someone's gut reaction to run would effect the group.

[GOP_Raider]

Priest LakeThe FR Idaho Ping List Freepmail GOP_Raider to be on or off this list.

[Billthedrill]

"Wolf People" is on US95 directly across the lake from my house. Nice folks, actually. The area is crawling with deer at the moment and it wouldn't surprise me if one or two got into the pen. Lord knows they're getting everywhere else.

Very impressive animals, the wolves, and well worth a visit. Look into their eyes and tell me they're "domesticated."

[Shyla]

Wonderful to listen to as well aren’t they?

[Slings and Arrows]

The best weapon to use against wolves or bears is a .22 LR pistol.

Shoot the guy next to you in the leg with it, and start running.

[Lady Jag]

Depends on how the wolf is dressed.

[Sir_Ed]

Hey, Bill, I used to live in Cocolalla! I lived next to an old guy that had fee-based fishing ponds, next to a set of railroad tracks.

Across the street was a place where the county set up dumpsters for trash, and down the road left off I-95 was Mirror Lake state park.

I was about two miles or so from the long bridge across Lake Pendoreille, across the lake from Sandpoint.

I worked a few years at Ski Schweitzer as part of the security staff. I mostly pulled people out of ditches, unlocked their cars when they locked their keys inside, and jump-started dead batteries.

I remember when McDonald’s moved into town, the city had a parade in their honor!

And when they built that cool mini-mall across Sand Creek, that was neat, watching them do that.

I also spent many years in Hayden, Hayden Lake, Cd’A, Post Falls and Rathdrum.

I really miss North Idaho, and I miss my old church, Hayden Friends and Twin Lakes Friends.

Ed

[Lady Jag]

LOL!

A couple of hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing; his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911.

He gasps to the operator, “My friend is dead! What can I do?”

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says, “Just take it easy. I can help. First, lets make sure he’s dead.”

There is a silence, then a shot is heard.....

The hunter says, “OK, now what?”

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, for Pete’s Sake!

We actually NEED places like this now because we’re so far removed from The Natural World? A very sad state of affairs, IMHO.

On a lighter note...I’m learning to butcher roasting chickens in a few weeks. Can’t wait! A woman I work with (an Old Farm Gal) raises up a few dozen each year now that it’s just her and her husband. She used to butcher over 100 to feed her family and to sell a few for “pin money” in days gone by.

Bet that would gross these people out to no end, LOL!

I truly, truly pity people that are this clueless that they have to “visit” wolves in this way...and are that freaked out that they scramble over a fence while a wolf is just being a wolf!

But I’m doubly sorry for the wolves that don’t even know how to find their own dinner anymore. Grrrr!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Shoot the guy next to you in the leg with it, and start running.”

ROFLMAO! That was my first belly-laugh of the day. Thanks! :)

[Slings and Arrows]

De nada. Glad I’m not the only one with a warped sense of humor!

[elkfersupper]

Wolves kill for the sake of killing.

I can't understand why we would want to "reintroduce" them.

They were shot on sight for decades and centuries for a reason.

[BIGLOOK]

Hmmm....Welcome to the Monkey House!

Reminds me of the time we saw a tourist family on Monterey's CG pier. They bought some bait fish at Fisherman's Wharf and strolled out on the pier to feed some sea lions and snap some photos. The sea lions saw or smelled the bait and came charging down the pier......drop the bait, drop the camera and run.....all the way home.

[george76]

Not only are we introducing Canadian wolves, but we are also wasting our tax dollars to pay for the introduction and management.

[rlmorel]

If you find this thread humorous, you MUST click on this to see this Quicktime movie of an Outpost.com commercial from a few years back...

Ravenous Wolves Released onto Marching Band

[george76]

Thanks.

They may be still running away ?

8-)