Author Topic: A subject close to home for me. (Read 1176 times)

SAWgunner · « **on:** February 04, 2005, 08:42:18 AM »

My in-laws own a pretty sizable ranch here in my Non-southern home away from home, so this hits home with me. I have seen what a wolf can do to a herd, and it affects the game poulation too. What do you guys think?

SAW

Fox News

SEATTLE The gray wolf's recovery has been an incredible comeback story for some but a major headache for others.

Now, as the wolves are about to lose some of their legal protections, there's plenty of people worrying on both sides.

The gray wolf (search) went from being nearly extinct 10 years ago in the northern Rockies to a current population of more than 800 roaming in the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Over the last decade, this predator, which sits on top of the food chain, has been so protected that ranchers could only kill a wolf when it was on their property and engaged "in the act of killing" livestock.

That changes in a couple of weeks, ranchers will now be able to kill wolves on public or private land for just "threatening" sheep and cattle.

Wildlife advocates say "de-listing" the animal is the ultimate goal, but they worry that some will view these relaxed rules as open season on wolves.

"If the decline in wolves is great, if there's a slaughter going on," said Roy Farrar, president of the Wolf Education and Research Center (search) in Lewiston, Idaho, "of course everybody is going to step back in. That's not the intent."
But ranchers say the rule change doesn't go far enough. They've watched as the multiplying wolf packs have killed hundreds of cows, well over 1,000 sheep and scores of wild-game animals such as deer and elk.

Weiser, Idaho, sheep rancher Harry Soulen lost more than 300 sheep last year alone, costing him some $50,000.

"I think these damn wolves ought to be treated just like coyotes," said Soulen. "When you see them out there, you should be able to take care of the problem, shoot 'em, get rid of them any way you can".

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:06:37 AM »

I love wildlife, truly I do. I love to see them and have them around me as well as to hunt them. BUT there are some critters that some areas have no place for anymore. For sure wolves fall into that category. They are just not compatible with areas that have grown up and have high human populations and various livestock or pets. The same can be said for cougars and grizzly and to a lesser extent perhaps for black bears. These large predator just don't fit very well with modern man.

I think we need to let nature take it's course rather than trying to reintroduce them into places where common sense long ago told us they didn't belong.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:20:29 AM »

I agree with you, Graybeard. I am a big fan of predators, but marrying into a cattle ranching family, I know the truth about how they are. It is kinda sad, really.

Dali Llama · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2005, 01:38:34 PM »

Quote from: SAWgunner

marrying into a cattle ranching family, I know the truth about how they are. It is kinda sad, really.

Dali Llama say he sorry about in-laws... :-D

:-D :lol:

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2005, 03:38:34 PM »

I think about 90% of the people don't realize the damage Wolves and Coyotes do to Cattle and Sheep. Then when they look out in there backyard and see one munching on tabby or rover they wonder how this could happen. We have educated our children too well to preserve all wildlife. We need to teach them that some wildlife needs to be thinned to keep nature in it's delicate balance.

jh45gun · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2005, 06:10:03 PM »

Put it this way I am very unhappy the Liberals and Treehuggers have undone what the wolfers in the past worked so hard to accomplish! :x :x :x

Dali Llama · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2005, 02:59:25 AM »

Quote from: Nightrain52

We need to teach them that some wildlife needs to be thinned to keep nature in it's delicate balance.

The ol' "thinning of the herd" addressed by another forum member in the past, say Dali Llama.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2005, 02:44:25 PM »

In my state, the counties were/are responsible for stock loss to predators. When I followed this closely, the culprits were feral dogs, but we are getting some big coyote crosses these days.

I ain't big on giveaway programs, but if the gubmint wants to protect predators, it can bear the expense of the stock losses. Seems to me forbiding a rancher to protect his herd is is an unconstitutional taking of his property.

marv · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2005, 03:27:00 PM »

DJ you 100% correct, In the county I was raised in The reiner duced the Mexican wolf. Ranchers are having problems now, with wolf kills of
grown cows, I sold some last fall Over $900 That hurts when you one
or more, Marv.

Major · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2005, 02:32:05 PM »

Well just look at my avatar to see what I think about wolves but I too am with Graybeard on this one.

Wolves and Coyotes both will kill the easiest game it can find up to and including our pet dogs as well as those Cattle and Sheep. A Brittany retriever with his throat ripped out and his haunch eaten off is not a pretty sight folks.