[george76]

Yellowstone Wolf Experiment Out of Control

It is with great sadness that I write this column. You didn’t have to be a wildlife biologist to foresee the outcome when you mix Canadian timber wolves with the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone’s wildlife populations have plummeted.

Wolves are brutal, vicious predators and have a tremendous impact on all wildlife in any ecosystem.

The original plan was for 78-100 wolves to be introduced into Yellowstone. Of course, you realize hunting is not permitted in Yellowstone or any other National Park.

In less than 10 years the effect wolves have had on Yellowstone’s wildlife has been nothing less than devastating. Elk populations hang around 10,000; the moose and deer are almost completely gone. Antelope went from 600 to 200 specimens. Sheep populations have fallen from 300 to 40, possibly an inadequate amount to repopulate the Park.

Wolves are attacking horses, mules, livestock and stalking children. The economic health of the region has collapsed and so has the outfitting business north of Yellowstone.

The wolves are multiplying at the rate of 34% a year. There are now 370 wolves in Yellowstone and 770 in the tri-state area of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Wildlife in that region is getting hammered.

Forget what you heard about wolves killing only the weak and sick. Wolves are canines and like dogs, they kill by instinct and for fun.

Aerial photographs document dead, red wildlife carcasses over the landscape. Wolves practice “surplus killing” whether they are hungry or not.

http://www.theoutdoorlodge.com/features/articles/outdoors/yellowstone_wolf_experiment.html

[G8 Diplomat]

Yes, that is true. But people are taking my comments out of context. I am not saying wolf populations should be allowed to explode unchecked. That is foolish. Hunting them is essential to maintain ecological balance and keep livestock numbers from plummeting.

[Myrddin]

The number of wolves cited in your post is well below the current number. Idaho alone has upward of 1200 wolves. All the locals in Pocatello came up completely empty during the recent hunting. There's just nothing left to hunt. One my bi-weekly trips to Yellow, I've seen only a couple very young moose. There's plenty of elk along the Madison river and southward toward the Tetons. The only sheep I've seen in the park are around the meadow near the bridge at Madison Junction. I've seen ONE antelope in the last 5 years.

We're still waiting for wolf tags to be issued in Idaho. I have the 30-06 sighted and ready. Spring is coming. There's nothing quite like a pile of dead prairie dogs to lure the wolves and coyotes.