Posted on 01/08/2012 2:41:51 PM PST by jazusamo
BEND, Ore. — As wolves spread into Central Oregon, advocates and opponents continue to debate their value. Some say the animals, eradicated from the state decades ago, will help bring the ecosystem into better balance. Others argue the predators were eliminated for good reason.
Since wolves wandered into Oregon from Idaho in 2008, the state has spent about $800,000 to manage them, according to an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife report. That sum will grow by at least a half million dollars over the next couple of years, and the spending could escalate as the number of wolves roaming the state continues to grow.
For wolf supporters, having the animals back in the state's biological fold justifies such costs. For critics, the expenses come in addition to the damage they say the animals are doing to the state's livestock and wildlife.
In evaluating the benefit of wolves in an ecosystem, Bill Ripple, a professor of forest ecosystems and society at Oregon State University, is focusing on streamside plants in Yellowstone National Park. There are about 100 wolves in the park and, as in Idaho, they've been back for a decade and a half.
"Yellowstone seems like a different place than it was before wolves returned in 1995," he said.
The major difference is the resurgence of aspen, willows and cottonwoods along the park's rivers and streams, he said.
Elk regularly munch saplings, Riddle said. And without wolves to keep them in check, the elk devoured most of the young streamside trees.
Now that wolves are back, Ripple said, they've reduced the elk population and trained those that remain to exercise more caution. As a result, elk spend less time snacking on young trees along the park's creeks...
(Excerpt) Read more at therepublic.com ...
vaudine
Possible interest ping for you.
And that is another thing. These wolves aren’t the same as the ones they replace.
Be it fair to call them an invasive species and their introduction into an unprepared ecosystem by said same enviro-Nazi perpetrators deserves some nice Federal time.
“Throw them to the wolves”
People who live in cities and think beef comes from the supermarket.
What ancillary benefits? Killing big game just for fun?
Photographic Proof That Wolves Do Kill Without Eating Their Prey .
Warning - graphic bloody pictures
Wolves have been steadily killing family pets, farm animals and hunting dogs in Wyoming, Wisconsin, Montana and Idaho and some people have begun to fear letting their children walk to or wait for school busses in rural areas!
Wolves kill bear dogs near Idaho's Elk River
Wolves killed my dogs - Wallowa Valley
Thanks for that link, George.
I’ve seen other photos very similar to those in the past where wolf packs kill and leave the animals uneaten.
The wolf lovers and members of the different political wildlife groups really upset me when they give the old spiel about wolves only killing the old and the sick, nothing could be further from the truth.
Thanks for the links, MamaDearest.
I believe the parents of children in those areas have a valid fear!
Insurance industry statistics say that approximately 4000 auto accidents PER DAY in the United States involve Deer. In some areas, Deer are approaching or are already at nuisance population levels.
What is the solution to the Wolf / predator/prey issue? Assuming no one on this site is advocating for extinction of the Wolf, what is the solution? What is the balance between (a) humans wanting to ranch and farm the land, and (b) humans wanting to preserve wild places and species for future generations?
Conservatives were the original Conservationists... Conservatives wanted to Conserve the environment for future generations. So surely Conservatives can come up with a viable and reasonable solution (not a wacko extreme solution, but a reasonable solution).
Well of course. But first, Jose has to pick it from the Beef Tree.
Solution to too many deer? More doe tags.
Issue more deer tags.
I can tell you that in Iowa, one of the top states for car-deer accidents, the DNR purposely keeps the deer population higher than it’s ever been. Like most places, penalties for taking one out are severe when there should be a bounty on them.
Re-establishing wolves and cougars is just insane.
One gray wolf kills 40-50 hooved animals each year. It only eats about 24 of those. The rest are killed just for sport.
Please cite your reference for that allegation
Start breeding Irish Wolfhounds like crazy to guard the farm animals. Also, take a pack wolfhounds hiking in the areas where wolves are known to roam and let the nice doggies have some “play time” with the wolves.
All the game wardens and eco-nuts will be able to deduce from the carcasses is that the poor little wolves were killed by some vicious animal.
100 wolves. What, are the wolves supposed to know how to count? “OK, that’s a hundred of us. No more guys’’.
I’m sure Koreans have at least 101 ways to cook a wolf. They know exactly what kind of vegetable and wine will go well with it depending on how it is cooked.
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