Wolves attack joggers' dogs on Fort Rich

The Anchorage Daily News ^ | December 22nd, 2007 | JAMES HALPIN

[george76]

'They were not afraid of us,' woman says.

Neither the three women nor their dogs heard the pack of wolves creeping up behind them as they jogged on Artillery Road in the frigid morning air.

One minute it was peaceful. Then she glanced back and saw the pack of about eight wolves spanning the road, only a few feet behind.

A melee ensued, accompanied by screaming, snarling, blood and pepper spray.

"It was the most terrifying thing I've ever been through."...

The increasingly emboldened Elmendorf wolf pack is blamed for killing one dog and wounding another in Eagle River this week as Anchorage saw its seventh wolf attack in the past month, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The wolves, possibly led by a hungry pack leader in search of easy meals, seem to have taken to attacking dogs during the day, even when groups of people are present, Anchorage-area wildlife biologist Rick Sinnott said.

"That's definitely a bit of escalation on the wolves' part," Sinnott said.

Wolves attack chained-up dogs fairly regularly in Alaska...

But for generally people-shy wolves to attack dogs in front of humans is more unusual -- and worrisome...

[biscuit jane]

“The animal rights people must be very happy ?

Many American are afraid to defend themselves , even when attacked.”

---

Wolf-huggers etc like it when a human is killed by a predator (except for the possible bit of negative publicity).

Of course they always try to find an angle to blame the human.

[Myrddin]

But I have read quite often that some people want the wolf eliminated altogether. I'm strongly opposed to that.

I'm amused when people are strongly opposed to something that doesn't affect them. Idaho is getting royally screwed because people outside of Idaho decided we needed to have wolves "re-introduced" into our state. It's easy to have such opinions when you don't have to live with the consequences. The native Idaho wolves weighed 45-60 pounds. What was introduced into Idaho was Canadian wolves. They are not native. They weigh 120+ lbs. They are devastating elk, deer and moose populations.

The solution to this propensity to foist bad decisions on others is to make them live with the same consequences. We need to introduce wolves into the neighborhoods of the fools who did this to Idaho.

This wolf was killed just outside the city limits of Boise. The guy holding the wolf is the cousin of my neighbor in Pocatello.

[biscuit jane]

” Let’s re introduce them to all their former ranges so they can attack little children as well. Envirowackos will say that the wolves deserved to be there and the dogs and humans were not. Someone do me a favor, let’s send all the envirowackos to live on the plains of Africa, in the nude like the beginning of time, and see if they and the lions can learn to be pals.”

---

Ya like I said the big glossy pix are good for propaganda .
People like the “idea” of large predators roaming free even if that means freely roaming in HUMAN HABITAT.

[Eska]

Rudder, I have a few friends that hunt from cubs and they don’t get all that many, in fact they do alot better trapping. Wolves are smart and once shot at stay in the trees. You can see them but 12 guage can’t get them.

Nobody in Alaska wants to see old wolf gone; kinda one of the things that makes this place so special. I saw tracks on my wood trail 1/4 mile from my house last week; too close; wish that I’d just hear them across the river.

When our house dogs go outside, its in 15x15x6 fence. I luv setting snares on sloughs and old kills; wolves seem to me to be smarter than most people too.

Wolves kill 6 moose for every moose harvested by a hunter in Alaska. Moose pops have collapsed in many areas due to combination of hunting and wolves. Alaskan tradition is every family deserves a moose for winter meat. Once that stops, you will see locals demanding massive wolf control. You will quickly have 2000 wolves rather than 20,000 wolves in Alaska.

In Sweden, they have 200 wolves, harvest 250,000 moose each year. In Alaska, 20,000 wolves, harvest less than 15,000 moose.

Once someone is killed, you’ll see change quick. I have had wolves follow my dogteam, then jump off trail when I came back thru. I’m lucky if I get within 500 yards of wolves eating salmon along yukon from my boat; man its tought to hit anything from the boat. They hear the snowmachine and all I see are tracks. I have caught a few when they had a moose or sheep in deep snow, they don’t take off until they have to.

Wolves belong here as much as people; but they must be effectively controlled and all that balance of nature junk is pure garbage.

Did you all see that german woman looking for wolves in BC. I never get that close to wolves, except pups in late summer.

[biscuit jane]

“I’m amused when people are strongly opposed to something that doesn’t affect them. Idaho is getting royally screwed because people outside of Idaho decided we needed to have wolves “re-introduced” into our state”

---

Yep that’s the way — city folk dictating to country people...

But I really just want to comment on the picture:

WHolly schnikeys !!! The thing is a massive beast !!

Imagine a pack of 5 or 8 or ....

[biscuit jane]

“... balance of nature junk is pure garbage.
...”

Ya balance in nature — pure myth no such thing. Lot of things affect plant/animal populations; fires, floods, weather, disease etc, but the propagandists constantly state that humans are upsetting some “perfect balance” .

Another long held myth (by me at one time too) is that
predators are so scared of humans ... sure maybe for about 5 minutes.

[redpoll]

If any wolf showed up here in the little village at the edge of the treeline, his fur would be hanging in someone’s shed within about one hour. As a result, the wolves tend to go away when they see or hear a person.

Wolves are like the rest of us. They seek greater opportunity where it can be found. I’ve lived in Palmer and out here, and interestingly, there was more game down there in the Mat Valley than there is up here, even though I’m surrounded by wilderness and the nearest next road is 280 miles away. Just like the Lower 48, too, there’s a fairly large population (compared to here) of people who don’t regularly hunt or fish, and people provide all sorts of habitat for the voles, squirrels, and moose of the area (not to mention dogs, cats, garbage...). It makes sense that wolves are moving into those places.

I’d say a limited hunting or trapping season in and around Fairbanks and Anchorage, and maybe an allowance to kill wolves on the spot attacking dogs. The wolves will learn quick about people. I like the wolves, personally. I’ve seen some and when I go out in the winter I wear them. I would not want to see removal of wolves... but I don’t want my dog turned into chow, either.

[george76]

They like the wolves so much, let them spread thru SF, DC, NYC...

[george76]

While they are at it : why not re-introduce the locus to Iowa farm lands, the plague to...

[george76]

Apparently, it is only one pack causing all the trouble in Anchorage. The other five packs stay away from humans.

So far.

[MarkL]

Time to start carrying a handgun on the daily jog. Hmm, I wonder what firearm is the most effective against wolves?

I don't think that I'd want to use a handgun against a wolf, but if I had to, I can't imagine using anything smaller than a .357mag. Personally, I'd prefer a .45ACP using "Flying Ashtrays" if I were to be forced to use a handgun. My preferred weapon would be a 12ga shotgun, using 3" shells, and nothing smaller than #4 buck.

Mark

[tubebender]

A Pro gun liberal was a anti gun liberal who was mugged by a pack of Wolves...

[glock rocks]

I never go outside without a sidearm whose caliber begins with a number lower than 4.

Was there a question?

Wolves? SSShhh.

[tubebender]

I never go outside without a sidearm whose caliber begins with a number lower than 4.

My 9 grade English teacher wants you to diagram that sentence...

[43north]

[Nothing I have ever hit with that gun has survived.]

[In the end, when the smoke clears, that is the desired effect.

The Remington 870 is a fine piece. Fine indeed.]

Okay, let me tell the truth. This Fall I was upland hunting out back of my house and flushed a flock of Hungarian Partridge. I fired three rounds of #4 shot from my 870 as they flew away from me. I’m SURE I hit several of them but none went down. I suspect they were wearing little birdie-size Kevlar vests... What do you think?

[Squantos]

When I was stationed at Elmendorf we were more worried about a bear protecting his dumpster than wolves when we did PT .....

Solutions are hard but tools are readily available in the form of a firearm.

[Squantos]

Nice place for a Glock 20 or a S&W 329 ........:o)

[tubebender]

Is there a prize for the right answer?

[Eaker]

Aw heck, I trust my .357 mag!

(I usually also have something starting with a 4 just in case)

[SatinDoll]

>>
...the attack reinforces the fact that wolves are predators and capable of attacking humans ...
>>