Federal protection has led to wolves unafraid of people

Juneau Empire & AP ^ | February 26, 2006 | AP

[george76]

Some ranchers say the wolves in the Madison Valley have grown increasingly brazen and are apparently unafraid of people.

State wildlife officials say such behavior is to be expected, given the federal protection the predators have had in the decade since being reintroduced in the Yellowstone National Park.

Jack Atcheson Jr. said he was spooked on a recent hunting trip, when three men and three mules got within 47 yards of a wolf that was staring right at them.

The Butte hunting outfitter, who books international trips, said he had never seen wolves in Alaska, Asia or other places act so boldly around people.

"It was approaching us with the wind right in its face — we were standing around the animals, but he was focused on us," Atcheson, 55, said. "He was not afraid at all."

The wolf finally stopped when one of Atcheson's hunting partners chambered a rifle, while Atcheson snapped a photo. Even then, the wolf merely lay down and stared at the hunters before eventually walking away.

Sunny Smith, manager of the CB Ranch near the Madison Range, said the wolves are "just like domestic dogs."

And with calving season just weeks away, that lack of fear has ranchers worried about the prospect of the wolves attacking livestock.

Barb Durham, a rancher whose herding dog was killed by wolves in 2004, said if ranchers had had more leeway to shoot wolves when they were hanging around ranches that year, federal officials might have needed to kill only a couple wolves instead of eliminating the whole pack.

Wolves have already wandered around their bulls this year, although none of them attacked, she said.

"They have no fear and that's been our contention all along," Durham said. "We don't hate wolves; we just want them to be a natural, wild predator and to be afraid of humans.

"If you don't let us educate them, then there's always going to be conflicts."

Wolves in Montana remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, but their recovery has led the federal government to turn management of the animals over to the state.

State officials said stories such as Atcheson's are a major concern.

"It's totally inappropriate for wolves to be that close," said Carolyn Sime, wolf coordinator for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

But she added that it's not that surprising. Wolves in Alaska have been hunted, trapped and harassed for years. And if they spot a human, they immediately run away.

Montana wolves, however, have been protected under federal law for years. Most of them have never been shot at or harassed, and none of them have been hunted.

Sime said elk in the valley pastures are also attracting wolves to the area, and thus closer to homes and livestock.

"If you look at where wolves are setting up, it's not in the backcountry, it's in the valley bottoms and foothills where people live and raise livestock and where ungulates spend winter," she said.

Sime reminds ranchers that with state oversight of the wolves, they have more flexibility to kill or harass wolves that are causing problems. It doesn't allow wolves to be killed on sight, but ranchers don't need a special permit to shoot a wolf that's about to attack livestock.

She said officials hope people take more aggressive action when a wolf is acting brazenly. In Atcheson's incident, he could have fired a rifle shot over the wolf's head to scare it.

"If wolves have uncomfortable experiences around people and livestock, that would be a good thing," she said. "By harassing them now, we may prevent problems later."

[Revolting cat!]

"I'm a back door man!"

[American_Centurion]

S

S

S

[Dr.Zoidberg]

If you have no choice, then follow the philosophy of the 3 S's. Shoot. Shovel. Shut Up.

And remember to recover your cartridge and as much of your bullet as you can from the carcass. No point in leaving behind more identifiable materials than you have to.

[toomanylaws]

"S

S

S"

Unfortunately it's usually the 3rd S that gets people in trouble.

[digger48]

I'll kick their leetle @sses, man...

[Dustbunny]

Guess those cattlemen need to get a Kuvasz or two to guard their herds.

[midwyf]

They better have some very good evidence that the wolf was harrassing livestock, becaue they do have to provide proof.
In Wyoming we cannot shoot one unless it is in the act of killing. The feds have not accepted the Wyoming plan because it refers to wolves as "gasp, gasp" predators. To me it is a waste of time and a ton of money to have the states write the plan. It has to be written the way USFWS wants it written, so it would save a lot of time and money to have them write it to begin with. It is going to be to the tune of the enviros anyway.

[calex59]

The wolf finally stopped when one of Atcheson's hunting partners chambered a rifle,

What caliber do you suppose the rifle was he chambered the rifle into? Must have been a big one! Why don't reporters learn a little something about the things they report on? Is it so hard to look things up?

[joesnuffy]

All predators become bold when the air is no longer filled with the scent of their own kind's blood..

Kill a few ..gut them out.. skin them...and hang their pelts in the wind for a few days to dry...then the smell of gun powder and man...gives them respect and instills fear.

Fear..keeps them from trying to take man's property or kill man's livestock,pets,or family members..nothing else..being kind to them only inflames their blood lust.

When they have no reason to fear men then men are prey...all predators...wings,fins,four or two legged come for the easy life..

[holyscroller]

Insane! We protect killers and predator animals and kill human babies.

[Bender2]

After Brokeback Mountain, in Wyoming, they're not even afraid of sheep...

[Eska]

Wonder if it was an adult or yearling? Wolves stay away from people pretty much in alaska; unless pushed for food. Late summer, we usually see a yearling or two hanging around and they are pretty dumb. Lope down the road right in front of the truck, walk up our lane and lay down 30 yards from porch and look at our sled dogs (who would tear them apart if they could get off their chains); even when we would walk out on the porch and yell at the yearling wolf. My boy would call blk wolf pup in with rabbit squealer while waiting on school bus.

Actually, I think yearling wolves are lost and haven't joined up with a pack yet. They hang around cleaning up the snowshoes and neighbors cats; and they are quite disorientated. Usually they are small, only 60-70 lbs. Hardly ever see adult wolves and most that are snared are 90-100 lbers; dumb first winter wolves.

Can't imagine seeing an adult wolf even close to people; but its quite common to see yearling pups around people in august, sept.

Great to have wolves around, just not too many; got to set realistic numbers and practice ariel control once they get grow beyond those numbers.

[george76]

 

[muawiyah]

We need a couple of dozen wolves right here in Fairfax County. North County has 60,000 to 70,000 deer and South County (which has a much more public spirited bunch of people) has 30,000 deer.

People get killed when these babies leap into windshields.

[Socratic]

...the wolves are "just like domestic dogs."

The same liberal policies are at work against our boys in the public school system. Any robust society needs its wolves as well as its lap dogs, probably more.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Wolf ping.

[george76]

 

"Say, I've found a perfect spot to catch us a bear."

"How can you be sure?"

"I saw a sign that said Fine for Hunting."

[WorkingClassFilth]

In the northern states and Canada in the last year or so, there have been, I believe, two unsuccessful wolf attacks on humans and one that was successful - they know because they opened the belly of one of the suspected animals and found clothing and remains of the victim. Wolves attack people. They did so in years past and they are in sufficient numbers and fearless enough to begin doing so again.

[george76]

Shot guns work well, up close.

[hosepipe]

[ Sunny Smith, manager of the CB Ranch near the Madison Range, said the wolves are "just like domestic dogs." ]

LoL... in the daylight, at night their like muslims..

[strategofr]

"When they have no reason to fear men then men are prey...all predators...wings,fins,four or two legged come for the easy life.."

Yep. This story is a methaphor for all that is wrong with our attitude toward predators of all kinds.

[Bender2]

Sulu, remind me to kick george76's ass the next time he interrupts me in the middle of a 3 Stooges film...

[Eska]

Originally, from western Pa and wish we had that much meat on hoof in alaska. Bottomline is that you have great hunting because there are no predators.

Reintroduction of wolves back east is unrealistic; unless 90% of the licensed hunters want to quit hunting. Wolves can go from 3-4 to 25-30 in a pack real quick; dependent on food supply. I pity the elk hunters out west once the wolves expand their range. Reason why their numbers need to be controlled but ya know here in alaska, vast majority of people want old wolf as part of the landscape; but not the balance of nature hogwash.

[bybybill]

Friend of mine shot a coyote in ND, turned out too be a young wolf. Lost his rifle (the feds are keeping it as "evidence") and he was asked to donate $2000 to some save the wolf bunch. Never charged, but he had to get an attorney

[ncountylee]

And the writer thought he was being macho using a couple of terms he had heard.

[Eska]

We have an over abundance of wolves in many areas of alaska to the point that moose are about gone. 50 years back there were bounties and govt trappers; moose pops exploded, great hunting. Then they stopped all wolf control which has been a disaster. Luckily old Murkowski has practiced some common sense and hasn't backed down from the I wanna kiss the wolves people from lower 48; like most politicals. But I bet even Murkowski himself wouldn't want old wolf gone from alaska; its part of what alaska is.

Everybody in alaska has a gun with them most of the time. Chances of old wolf getting ya, pretty slim up here and we got quite a few around. Chances of one dying from any number of causes living in society infinately higher than ending up wolf kill. Most of what lives up here trys to steer clear of people.

Guess I want realistic wolf control but also enjoy hearing wolves and want him part of the world around these parts.

[thackney]

Guess I want realistic wolf control but also enjoy hearing wolves and want him part of the world around these parts.

Good attitude.

[Smokin' Joe]

Rifled slugs can get out to a couple hundred yards.

[Kay Ludlow]

We need a couple of dozen wolves right here in Fairfax County. North County has 60,000 to 70,000 deer and South County (which has a much more public spirited bunch of people) has 30,000 deer.

You need Gary Alt and his wildlife management policies. He effectively decimated the deer herd in PA (except in the Pitt/Philly suburbs) in just a few years...

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

My husband took this picture last year from near the road through Haden(sp?) Valley in Yellowstone. Hope the picture isn't too big. Rusty at this.

[ExSoldier]

Or one of those MOP critters...whatchyacallit: Kommondore.

[Dustbunny]

Love your tag line.

[muawiyah]

This area is as urbanized as downtown Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Only wolves, who would be otherwise unobserved on the streets, can do the job.

[Sam Cree]

"Federal protection has led to wolves unafraid of people..."

An apt analogy for union workers and trade protectionists.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this new (maybe) Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and anyone else) list, largely rural issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

[ExSoldier]

Thanks, but I have to give credit where credit is due:

Benjamin Franklin.

[Beagle8U]

"This area is as urbanized as downtown Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Only wolves, who would be otherwise unobserved on the streets, can do the job."

There is no reason that bow-hunters can't thin the herd, even if its a city park!

They even PAY for the privilege of hunting.

Turning wolves or any other large predators loose in the lower 48 is beyond stupid.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

.300 WinMag. 100 yard shot. Bullet? What bullet?

Just bring a couple of trash bags and rubber gloves, and take the trash bags with you after the bits go in the hole.

[elli1]

Coyote

[muawiyah]

Parks? No, everywhere ~ we have people who raise these things ~ they garden every sort of plant that deer love to eat.

The Vietnamese were keeping the deer in line until a whole bunch of former military people moved to Oklahoma City.

Then the deer took off.

You could always count on fresh venison from a Vietnamese buddy.

[TChris]

"It's totally inappropriate for wolves to be that close," said Carolyn Sime, wolf coordinator for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Well then, since this behavior is inappropriate, the pro-wolf folks had better hold a mandatory meeting with representatives of the wolf pack to explain the importance of respecting the minimum Distance for Observing Humans (DOH). Otherwise, they may find themselves at a disadvantage when negotiating acceptable herd losses at the next bargaining round.

[Little Ray]

Unfortunately, Deer are harder prey than livestock and children, and wolves tend to go after the easiest prey...

[Eska]

Maybe been here in alaska too long; everythinks not always blk & white. Every fall, we see a couple this years pups and they will about walk right up to ya; and yet never see the adults.

Always been lots of wolves in alaska but no disneyland either. Things worked best when they had bounties & a few state trappers from oldtimers I have talked to. Plenty of wolves for us all to know AK is still the place we want to call home. Yet, when they get out of control in local areas, no federal case about cleaning them out quick.

For all the money that has been spent on wolf sterilization/relocation; they could have had a long term bounty system in place. Imagine, you'd have native & rural white kids settin snares rather than playing video games.

Most rural alaskans I know realize old wolf belongs here as much as we do; just want a wolf control program in place for when their numbers get out of hand.

[midwyf]

"Any robust society needs its wolves as well as its lap dogs, probably more."

You try dealing with them, they breed like rabbits, they kill hundreds of head of livestock every year, numerous dogs. The elk population In Yellowstone is less than half what it was prewolf. Very few moose, in fact the Teton moose population has dropped by half.

[muawiyah]

So, we keep the kids inside for a few days.

[midwyf]

"So, we keep the kids inside for a few days."

Make that years, not days. Besides how do you plan to know when the wolves are around and whether it is safe to let the kids outside or not?

[Emmalein]

Do wolves have any natural predators?

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Don't wolves from different packs kill each other?

Also, I think mountain lions might kill loners.

[muawiyah]

The kids will grow up. In any case, there have never been many instances of American kids getting 'et by the wolves.

Besides, the wolves will be well fed by the deer.

BTW, deer in an heavily fenced environment don't bound off from the wolves as well as they might in a rural woods. I don't think the wolves would think children and puppies easier prey under those conditions.