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Update: Western States Eye 2008 Wolf Hunts
Here’s the latest on western wolves, from the Billings Gazette:
With gray wolves in the Northern Rockies poised to come off the endangered species list in the coming weeks, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming are moving ahead with plans to begin hunts as early as this fall.
It's still unclear, though, how the states will use the hunts to manage the population in the long term and how many people will plunk down the money for a tag.
Our wolf population has really grown here in Michigan. It took forever to get them off the Endangered Species List. I don't think I'll live long enough to see a hunting season here. I think they'll be a problem if something happens and our deer population drops. It seems like they take their fair share of whitetails.
YooperJack
Posted by: YooperJack | January 09, 2008 at 07:27 PM
White tails are proven to not be a primary source of food for wolves. I'm not saying they don't eat them but most people would really be surprised at what the actual wolf diet is. Years ago there was a documentary about a guy that found that for wolves in the Canadian tundra their primary source of food was actually mice. I wonder if that is purely a geographical thing but in an area with Carribou migration routes it makes you wonder why they didn't focus more on the bigger game. Probably just a safer subsistence strategy with fewer calories used during hunting.
Posted by: William | January 11, 2008 at 02:03 AM
I remember that movie William. The guy drinking tea and running around naked, peeing on rocks to mark "his" territory!
Incapcitating injuries to wild animals are quite devastating. Since hunting larger animals is more likely to bring on such an injury, wolves don't normally take them. Injured deer and deep snows make the larger game more susceptible to wolf predation.
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | January 11, 2008 at 06:57 AM
I was watching that movie just last month! There's a scene where dude is eating mice and all the other mice are sitting on a shelf in horror watching him! Priceless!!
Posted by: Blue Ox | January 13, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Q. Do wolves make good soup?
A. Nope, only chili!! (Wolf Brand Chili!)
(c'mon guys, at least snicker a little!)
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | January 13, 2008 at 02:26 PM
They don't make very good pets, either.
Posted by: Blue Ox | January 13, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Blue Ox, what was the name of that movie? I can't recall but I'd love to watch it again.
Posted by: William | January 14, 2008 at 02:01 AM
I knew untill you asked me. I believe it was called 'A cry in the wild', or something like that. I could be wrong.
Posted by: Blue Ox | January 14, 2008 at 08:51 AM