Wolves kill hunting dogs near Dent Bridge

CLEARWATER TRIBUNE | January 13, 2005 | Vicki McLeod

[Delphinium]

Wolves kill hunting dogs near Dent Bridge

Mike Stockton, guide for Reggear Outfitters, was conducting a hunt Tuesday morning, Jan. 11, around 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Cranberry Creek/Elk Creek area northeast of Dent Bridge when he says three of his hunting dogs were killed by wolves. A fourth is being treated at the vet for bite wounds to his hind quarters. According to Stockton, the vet documented the dog’s wounds as inflicted by an animal of at least one hundred pounds.

Stockton and Travis Reggear (Outfitter owner) were on Baldy Road, on the other side of Dent Bridge, running bobcat. Stockton says there are two packs of four wolves each (one in Elk Creek, one in Swamp Creek) that they’ve been watching for six weeks now. Because of this, prior to beginning the hunt, Stockton and Reggear (who hunt together in an effort to protect the dogs), circled the road by pickup to make sure no wolves were nearby.

The dogs’ treeing switches were activated showing that a bobcat was treed. Soon after, the treeing switches quit signaling “treed” but since he and Reggear had already circled the area, Stockton didn’t suspect that wolves were around.

At that point, a single dog was showing movement throughout the canyon area. Stockton called to the dog and heard a wolf howl. He saw a second wolf. As Stockton reached the scene, one of his dogs was dead near the tree with the full kill site one hundred yards wide. The fourth dog was still running around the hillside.

Stockton believes the wolves came from Swamp Creek, down Baldy Road two to two-and-a-half miles. It had only been a little over an hour from the time the dogs were originally let out until the attack.

Stockton, a 24-year outfitter, believes the wolves were only doing what wolves do. He blames the people in society for causing the wolves to be there to begin with.

[Delphinium]

A site you will find the truth about wolves.

http://www.usa4id.com/ciwc/

[Delphinium]

Clearwater County, Idaho

[weenie]

These dogs were probably worth alot but they will get no compensation.

"Well, Mister, you've got the wrong ambulance chaser handling your case!"

[Delphinium]

Shoot to kill if you know what I mean.

And risk huge fines, and possibly jail.

For sure you get seriously harrassed.

[Bon mots]

Right on. Manhattan, Queens, DC, Boston. Great wolf habitat

Not to mention how mountain lions and grizzlies would love San Francisco...

[weenie]

"Wolves...we ain't seen no steenkin' wolves"

[handy old one]

Not if it attack you dog!

[Ciexyz]

btt

[WorkingClassFilth]

Just practice what the some Westerners call the three S's.
That is, Shoot, Shovel and Shut-up.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Che who a who as are not real dogs.
They were bred as livestock by the Aztecs.

[joesnuffy]

Our pioneer fore fathers would roll over in their graves to see how we pander to predators..both two and four legged..

They spent the better part of their lives eradicating those that preyed on their farms and families...

And here we are actually bringing them back and protecting them..

[Delphinium]

When I post articles about wolves I already know that many freepers have been brainwashed by hollywood movies, and other leftist propaganda.

I keep posting, hoping that the discussion will educate.

[humblegunner]

At that point, a single dog was showing movement throughout the canyon area.
Stockton called to the dog and heard a wolf howl. He saw a second wolf.

The first wolf is mysteriously missing.
I find the timing of this to be highly suspect.

[Pylot]

Wolves have a natural place in America's modern society.

Its called a zoo.

Wait until some hapless camper gets eaten by a pack of these animals. Hopefully it will be a Sierra Club type.

Then changes will happen.

They are well enough populated in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming that they will be on the list of animals to be hunted soon.

All of Europe and all of North America was once populated with Wolves. We eradicated them once, we can do it again.

[Delphinium]

Then changes will happen.

911 happened and there are many who still want to defend terrorists.

[conservativeharleyguy]

OK, at the risk of stirring the pot.

In the vast majority of human/wolf interactions, the wolves just haul ass. They are extremely intelligent (think of the smartest dog with all of its instincts intact), and they are afraid of humans (w/good reason, people have been shooting at them at the drop of a hat for centuries).

Wolves live in the woods. Dogs live in houses, yards, farms, and ranches. If you take your dogs into the woods, and they get killed by wolves in wolf habitat, it's your fault, period.

If a wolf attacks your dog in dog habitat, then fire away. But if you go into the woods, then your dogs are just meat.

Besides, if that bobcat they were hunting w/dogs had gotten lucky and killed a dog or two, no-one would have ever heard about it. We are only hearing this because someone has an anti-wolf agenda.

People just have an irrational, ingrained fear of wolves that borders on supernatural.

Also, "your elk and moose"??? Guess what, the wolves, cougar, and bears were eating "our elk and moose" long before you and I were here, and left alone, they will be doing so long after we are gone. And the herds will be far better of for it.

In case you're wondering, I'm am certainly no tree or bunny-hugger. I have been hunting all of my life. But I've never once thought of game as "mine" (except maybe after I've bagged it). But, then I've always hunted for meat, not trophies.

Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of wildlife conservation principles knows that predators cull herds of predominantly old, sick, weak, and young animals. That is not to say that they don't occasionally take "trophy" quality animals, but that is the exception rather than the norm.

If you accept that, you then realize that predators manage ungulate herds far better that we have ever been able to accomplish.

A case in point: Pennsylvania has the largest deer herds and harvest in America, with hunters taking approximately 300,00 deer annually. Hell, they kill 60,000 a year just with their cars!

They announced this week that their deer herds are overpopulating and eating themselves out of fodder in the forests. They will have to either kill more (what, 300k+ isn't enough to manage their herds??), or provide fodder (which will just turn the whole place into a big Whitetail Deer theme park). Sounds to me like they could use some predators.

If you are a trophy hunter, then you should be glad that the wolves are back. Their presence will improve the quality and size of bulls and bucks.

It's a complex issue, but demagoguery and empty rhetoric will not solve it. Neither will just shooting the wolves.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[ArmyTeach]

Wolves in Alaska kill whole herds of dall sheep and munch on them all winter. Children can't play outdoors in the villages because wolves are always present and have been known to carry children off.
OTOH, a best friend of mine had a hybrid 89% wolf which she raised from cub-hood. Velma was in every essential way a wolf and one of the most wonderful animals I have known. She had her own 'territory' in the woods behind the house, recognized her 'Alpha',was fed appropriate foods and played well with the toddler. She was never loose, always supervised, and had a great 'singing voice.' She was companionable and had a sense of humor. Wolves, living in the wild or otherwise, are truly remarkable.

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!

[tarawa]

I've gotta gree with you on this one. Once we (Man) heads into the wilderness, we aren't always at the top of the food chain. It just wouldn't be the same out there without wolves and bears. What's the point of doing it if there's no risk?