Mikey,
Three44s original post said SPECIES, not subspecies. 'Subspecies' status is political balderdash. Notice how elk (wapiti) no longer exist. They are now all red deer. All brown bears from Europe to Kodiak to grizzlies are now one species. When wapiti from the Rockies were exported to New Zealand with its cool rainy climate they quickly mutated to a form resembling the elk 'subspecies' of the Pacific Northwest.
If the present wolves behave differently that those of old it is because they are in a different habitat than the originals.
No, everywhere in the West is not federal territory but a Hell of a lot is. Look at all the federal lands. No I would agree that if wolves leave those federal lands and cause trouble there should be some control of specific troublemakers. I do not oppose killing some wolves any more than I oppose killing some game. I just don't see the need to exterminate either. Too often on these boards we hear the word 'We" used in a very exclusive sense as when someone say federal lands are our lands and WE want this or that. Well federal lands are the People's lands, all the people, not just hunters, fishers, ranchers, lumbermen. Yup, those city people who may live half way across the country are US too. Very few people are dependent on wild game for their subsistence. Let's face it for most of us hunting is a hobby, a sport. and in a democracy it doesn't have any higher priority that bird watching whether we like it or not. Adopting an ''in your face' attitude of 'it's mine and your hands off of it' isn't going to win many friends and friends and allies are what we need. In an ever more populous and urbanized society hunters and fishers will inevitably become an increasing minority.