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]

No not really.

[Houndhunter7]

Yeah i'm sure we'll appreciate it when there are no more elk or deer to be found-which is rapidly becoming the case. Go hug a tree

[Houndhunter7]

russian Wolf hounds would be nice to run with the pack

[NoClones]

those sneaky bobcats probably paid off the wolves to kick the behinds of those yelping hound doggies!!

ha, ha, ha

[conservativeharleyguy]

I grew up hunting pretty much everything, including elk and deer, and still hunt and shoot (birds).

I also fur-trapped for coyotes, foxes, beaver, and bobcats for years (helped put me through college).

So sorry, but I'm certainly no tree hugger, and somewhat resent the implication.

What I am is a realistic conversationalist.

My opinion on this subject is formed from years in the field, and something with which you may not be familiar, called education (in the form of reading, you know...books!).

But, please tell me something.

If a few small, human-regulated packs of wolves are really threatening the deer and elk populations with extinction in today's modern world (a ludicrous assertion, BTW), then why didn't vastly greater numbers of wolves manage to kill off all of the herd species hundreds of years ago?

Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of wildlife biology understands the need for predation on ungulate herd species (deer and elk, Einstein).

If it were left solely to hunters, they generally kill the biggest, most fit animals, and leave the smaller, weaker animals to die of starvation, disease, and predation, resulting in faster herd die-offs.

People just hate wolves.

The primary reason is that most humans simply can't stand the reality that wolves (and coyotes) are a good bit smarter than they are.

The ideal solution is a balance of managed human predation (that's hunting for you "C" students), with effective natural selection from a variety of predatory species.

[Centurion2000]

The primary reason is that most humans simply can't stand the reality that wolves (and coyotes) are a good bit smarter than they are.

I agree with some of what you say but this is complete bullsh*t. Show me ANY wolf that can drive a car, balance a checkbook, shoot a rifle and pick up a telephone and call.

Wolves have their place, but they are never smarter than humans. Better instincts and cunning yes, more intelligent, no.

[conservativeharleyguy]

An animal's lack of ability to perform certain "human" tasks doesn't diminish its intelligence.

Attributing human qualities to entities which are not human (like animals) is known as anthropomorphism.

There is plenty of excellent literature on the subject of human-wolf relationships, please avail yourself of some.

As a start, I suggest the following:
Vicious: Wolves and Men in America, by Jon T. Coleman
Of Wolves and Men, by Barry Lopez.

And check out this one as well:
God's Dog: The North American Coyote, by Hope Ryden.

I realize that the entire subject is rife with strong opinion, but man has feared wolves for millenia.

There has never been a documented case of a human fatality caused by a wolf in North America.

But humans still insist on killing wolves for being wolves.

Things like killing elk and deer, killing dogs [a dumb interloping species], come naturally to wolves.

As far as livestock is concerned, most researchers agree that, more often than not wolves (and coyotes) were feeding on winterkilled or previously dead livestock (pretty much the same thing your dog would if afforded to opportunity).

In my personal experience, I'd be far more concerned with feral dogs than wolves.

Wolves have a healthy fear of man, and will pretty much keep their distance.

It's kind of ironic that we readily embrace the dumbed-down progeny of the wolf (dogs), but revile and fear the progenitor who is a far better creature.

I've been personally cornered by feral dogs twice in my life and have never been so scared.

Anyways, I love this whole debate, but I realize hat I'll never change anyone's mind.

Please read up and make up your own minds.

[Billthedrill]

Some folks have asked - this took place in northern Idaho, nearest town maybe Orofino, about 50 miles from my location at the moment. Northern part of Nez Perce National Park. Rugged terrain, not well roaded, superb hunting country.

There was an issue early on with wolf "re-introduction" programs concerning the extinction of wolves in the area. Many of the locals insist that they weren't, and hence bringing in new populations ran the risk of upsetting whatever balance did exist.

I have never sighted wolves in this area, but I have only done sporadic back-packing around here. I do NOT hike unarmed, however. The Nez Perce word for an unarmed hiker is "raw meat."

[Delphinium]

Wonder what caused the sudden interest in the story I posted in January?

concerning the extinction of wolves in the area.

The "Rocky Mountain" wolf that was native to this area was not extinct until they introdruced the "Canadian Gray" wolf that is twice the size. Now it is said that the native Rocky Mountain wolves are extinct, by being killed by the species they introduced.

The Rocky Mountain wolves were about 70 pounds and ran in twos, the Canadian Grays get 125 + pounds and run in packs of 7 and up.

They are only counting about 1/4 of the wolf pups being born.

These wolves are upsetting the balance that did exist here.

[Delphinium]

I have heard that wolves kill the other predators like bears and cougars too.

[Delphinium]

I have heard that wolves kill the other predators like bears and cougars too.