[Coyote: the *other* other red meat]
Posted on 12/21/2011 4:57:03 PM PST by girlangler
The recent killing of an aggressive Mexican gray wolf by federal agents at a ranch near Winston could lead to a reassessment of the already struggling recovery effort for that species.
The wolf was reportedly shot by agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services division on Dec. 14, after it paced across the porch and gazed through the window of John and Crystal Diamond’s Beaverhead Ranch home. The Diamond residence is located in Catron County, although near enough to Sierra County to be in the Winston mailing area.
The wolf was killed just weeks after the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted 3-1 to end its support for continued releases of wolves in that state until the federal government completes critical planning measures, although it retained financial and infrastructure support of the endangered animals.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which oversees the recovery effort, isn’t expected to complete these measures for three or four years, including updating of the nearly 30-year-old recovery plan, environmental studies and potential revisions to the project’s management rules. Wolf populations were projected to reach 100 by 2006, but have fluctuated between 42 and 52. Earlier this year, the New Mexico Game and Fish Commission voted to suspend its fiscal and personnel support of the recovery program.
Wire-based news reports across New Mexico and Arizona, where the wolf recovery is underway, neglected to mention the wolf was on the porch of the residence and acting in a dangerous manner in close relation to humans. Instead, reports mirrored the statements of wolf-advocacy and environmental group, Center for Biological Diversity, stating the female wolf was attracted to dogs on the property. The wolf was known to have mated with a domestic dog last year and produced a litter of five hybrid pups, of which all but one were euthanized by FWS.
Federal agents attempted unsuccessfully to tranquilize the animal for removal, but after repeated attempts resorted to lethal measures. According to Crystal Diamond, she arrived home with her two young children when a neighbor alerted her to the wolf’s presence.
In a statement issued through the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, Mrs. Diamond said the animal came onto the porch and at one point was staring into the window. She called wildlife officials and her husband, John, who was away from the ranch at that time, and the wolf continued the aggressive behavior until help arrived. FWS officials said tracks showed the wolf staying at a close distance from the residence even after it left the porch.
Tom Buckley, FWS spokesman, said “Concerns for public safety became an issue after (the wolf) continued to be present on ranch property so the Service gave the order to proceed with lethal removal.”
After news of the wolf’s shooting, Michael Robinson, spokesman for the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), attributed the death of the animal to a failure of the FWS to increase the wolf population, causing the female to seek domestic animals for breeding. The news release from the CBD does not mention the wolf was in close proximity to humans and acting aggressively. It is well known among professional wildlife managers that wild animals—whether wolves, bears or most other wildlife—may become dangerous once they lose the fear of humans.
“This lonesome wolf did not have to die,” read a CBD news with the headline: Feds Shoot Lonely Mexican Gray Wolf Attracted to Dogs: Tragedy Linked to Federal Refusal to Release Wolves to Wild.
“If there were enough potential mates for her to choose from, this social creature wouldn’t have desperately sought the company of domestic dogs,” the release continued, without mention of the animal’s threatening behavior at the Diamond residence. “To ensure another wolf doesn’t pay the same price, the Obama administration must release more wolves into the wild.”
They also cost about $3000 a piece. :)
“Tons of money and hundreds of thousands of hours of labor were required to eradicate the damned wolves in the first place.
Now these idiots want to undo all that good work.”
Wolves are dogs and dogs are wolves. There are probably more wolves living in people’s homes these days than ever lived in the wild.
I know people who are scared to death when they meet a stray dog on the street. These are the same kind of people who fueled the fear of wolves. They are scared of the natural world, having scarcely spent a moment in it in their lives. Too bad for them.
Here i St. Marys County Md. the DNR has introduced Coyotes, in an attempt to lower the deer population.
Only problem is the Coyotes can catch other animals easier, such as sheep, goats and young cattle.
that’s goofy
Anything on the Red Wolf in E.Texas? I have seen some large ‘yotes’ with the long legs and large muzzles. Not pointy nosed like a yote.
Huh?
Not sure of your point, are you trying to insult me?
Dogs may be related to wolves, but as tragedies have shown, wolves are not domesticated as dogs are.
Stray dogs don’t usually bother me unless they show aggression.
I live in what many would consider the back-woods, about as close to the natural world as modern life allows.
Nearest neighbor is about three miles away.
I look forward to collecting my own hides for a Wolf-Skin coat once hunting opens up in the lower 48.
Oh, sal...
The people involved in this article are closer to nature and the wild than most humans ever come. And they know an aggressive wolf is dangerous, just like a cougar stalking them.
The people involved in this article are closer to nature and the wild than most humans ever come. And they know an aggressive wolf is dangerous, just like a cougar stalking them.
Don't know anybody "afraid" of wolves.
I do know that in Chignik a woman was killed and eaten by wolves.
I do know that a friend of mine, who works for Alaska Dept of Fish and Game was forced to kill two wolves who came at him on a dead run. Could have been mistaken identity, but I doubt it.
People go missing here and again, a wolf typically devours everything and defecates hair and bones.
They said that ALL remaining Red Wolves were in pens somewhere around Bay City or such.
The wolf re-introduction program has failed so miserably in Arizona and New Mexico at a cost of about $400,000 per wolf; now the US Fish and Wildlife Services is floating a proposal to introduce the Mexican Gray Wolf from California to West Texas and south of I-40 in their so-called habitat.
Since our worthless Congress won’t reform the Endangered Species Act, the next step is to organize all affected counties in this area to request coordinated agency status under the NEPA process. The custom, culture, and economies of the counties of these four states will be greatly affected just as they have been in Eastern Ariz and Western NM.
The second thing to do is sight in all firearms as illegal killings will continue just as they have in the area of this article.
On the other hand, the wolves might be an effective tool against illegal immigration!
Actually, I was reading the article before I realized it was yours! Well written, as per usual.
One of our neighbors told us there is a bobcat who walks onto his deck about 5:30 every morning and surveys the neighborhood. That didn’t make me feel uber secure.
With pins and rods and reflective vest?
Seriously, it’s looking for pets to eat.
I have no doubt about it. Especially since we have a small blue heeler who disappeared about 5 weeks ago. If he were showing up on my deck, he would probably be long, and permanently, gone.
Oh, you gotta be kidding me!
Why don't they "introduce" the things into their own back yards, and not mine?
Didn't wolves at one time live in places like Massachusetts and New York and Washington? Why not reintroduce them there?
Ideal wolf population: zero.
[Coyote: the *other* other red meat]
They pulled that same stupid stunt out here in The Wastelands *years* ago.
The “protected” coyotes [*cough cough*...wolves] ate lambs and calves as they were being literally born and ignoring the bigger, nastier deer completely.
We can shoot all of them we want to, now.
Since that brilliant experiment worked out so well, they’re sneaking mountain lions in.
I just can’t imagine what’s gonna be coming from *that*.
a stray dog on the street.
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